Sanekane Saionji - Saionji Sanekane

Japanese: 西園寺実兼 - さいおんじ・さねかね

Year of death: Genkyo 2.9.10 (1322.10.21)
Year of birth: Kencho 1 (1249)
A court noble from the late Kamakura period. He was involved in the affairs of the court and the bakufu through his position as Kanto no Magotsuji, and brought the Saionji family to its peak. His father was Saionji Kinso and his mother was the daughter of the Daigaiki Nakahara Morotomo. He was the father of Eifukumon'in, the Empress of Emperor Fushimi, and Shōkunmon'in, the Harem of Emperor Kameyama. In January 1261 (Kōchō 1), he was awarded the rank of Junior Third Rank, and in October 1266 (Bun'ei 3), he was promoted to Gon Chunagon. His grandfather Saneuji, who was in charge of liaison and negotiations between the court and the bakufu as Kanto no Magotsuji, passed away in June 1266, but his father Kinso had already passed away, and Sanekane inherited the position. Sanekane's first tenure as Kanto no Magotsuji lasted for 35 years, until he was replaced by his eldest son Kinhira in the summer of 1304 (Kagen 2). After the death of Emperor Gosaga, a struggle for the Imperial throne began between the Jimyoin line of Emperor Gofukakusa and the Daikakuji line of Emperor Kameyama, and the role and status of Kanto Shintsugu, who negotiated with the Kamakura shogunate on important matters for the court society, including the issue of the Imperial throne, increased. He also negotiated between the Imperial Court and the Shogunate during the Mongol invasion. During this time, his official rank progressed, and he reached the position of Dajo Daijin in December 1291 (Shoo 4), but resigned the following year. In June 1299 (Shoan 1), he became a monk, and took the post of Kusei. His second Kanto Shintsugu period was from September 1315 (Showa 4), the year Kinhira died, to September 1322 (Genko 2). Of particular note during this period was the so-called Bunpo Peace Talks of 1317-18 (Bunpo 1-2). Emperor Gouda supported Sanekane and influenced the shogunate to realize Emperor Go-Daigo's accession to the throne and the establishment of his grandson, Prince Kuniyoshi, as crown prince. Emperor Hanazono of the Jimyoin lineage described Sanekane as "the court's elder statesman and the country's best adviser" and "a senior vassal for several generations." He was also a poet, with over 200 poems included in imperial anthologies. It is believed that the lover "Yuki no Akebono" who appears in Gofukakusain Nijō's "Towazugatari" refers to Sanekane. <References> Mori Shigeaki, "Relationships between the Court and the Shogun in the Kamakura Period"

(Mori Shigeruaki)

Source: Asahi Japanese Historical Biography: Asahi Shimbun Publications Inc. About Asahi Japanese Historical Biography

Japanese:

没年：元亨2.9.10(1322.10.21)
生年：建長1(1249)
鎌倉時代後期の公家。関東申次の役職を介して朝幕間の枢機に関与し,西園寺家の全盛を築く。父は西園寺公相,母は大外記中原師朝の娘。伏見天皇の中宮・永福門院,亀山天皇の後宮・昭訓門院の父。弘長1(1261)年1月従三位に叙され,文永3(1266)年10月権中納言に昇進。関東申次として朝幕間の連絡・交渉に当たっていた祖父実氏は文永6年6月に没したが,父公相はすでに亡く,実兼がこの職を受け継いだ。実兼の最初の関東申次在任は,これより嘉元2(1304)年夏に嫡子公衡と交代するまでの35年間。後嵯峨上皇の没後,後深草上皇流の持明院統と亀山上皇流の大覚寺統による皇位争奪戦が始まると,皇位問題をはじめ公家社会の重要事項について鎌倉幕府と交渉に当たる関東申次の役割と地位は高まった。蒙古襲来の際も朝幕間の交渉に当たっている。この間官位は累進し,正応4(1291)年12月太政大臣に達したが翌年辞官。正安1(1299)年6月出家。法名空性。2度目の関東申次は公衡が没した正和4(1315)年9月から元亨2(1322)年9月までの7年間。この間注目されるのは,文保1～2(1317～18)年のいわゆる文保の和談である。後宇多上皇は実兼をだきこみ,幕府を動かして,後醍醐天皇の践祚,嫡孫邦良親王の立太子を実現させた。持明院統の花園上皇は実兼を「朝の元老,国の良弼」「数代の重臣」と評している。歌人でもあり勅撰集入集200首余。なお,後深草院二条の『とはずがたり』に登場する愛人の「雪の曙」は実兼のことと考えられている。<参考文献>森茂暁『鎌倉時代の朝幕関係』

(森茂暁)

出典　朝日日本歴史人物事典：（株）朝日新聞出版朝日日本歴史人物事典について　情報

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