Isonokami Maro

A nobleman from the end of the Asuka period to the beginning of the Nara period. Son of Umano (Umaro), father of Otomaro. Former clan name was Mononobe no Muraji. During the Jinshin War, he was on the side of Prince Otomo, but was also used during the reign of Emperor Tenmu, perhaps because he was praised for his loyalty in accompanying Emperor Otomo to his final days. In 684 (the 13th year of Emperor Tenmu's reign), he changed his clan name to Isonokami Ason, and in 686 (the first year of the Shucho era), he gave a eulogy for the law officials at Emperor Tenmu's funeral palace. In 690 (the 4th year of the reign of Empress Jitō), he erected a large shield and served at the enthronement ceremony of the emperor, and in 696, he was promoted to Jikikoichi (equivalent to Shoshi no Ge) and was given 50 retainers. He subsequently served as Chunagon, Dainagon and Dazai no Sochi, and in 704 (Keion 1), he became Minister of the Right and in 708 (Wado 1), he became Minister of the Left with the rank of Shonii. He was highly popular, and when he died in 717 (Yorō 1), he was awarded the rank of Juichii, and it is said that the people were greatly in love with him and mourned his loss.

[Yamamoto Yukio]

"Politics in the Nara Period and the Fujiwara Clan" by Tadao Nomura (1995, Yoshikawa Kobunkan)

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

飛鳥(あすか)末期・奈良初期の公卿(くぎょう)。宇麻乃(うまの)（宇麻呂(うまろ)）の子、乙麻呂(おとまろ)の父。旧氏姓は物部連(もののべのむらじ)。壬申の乱(じんしんのらん)では大友(おおとも)皇子側にあったが、大友の最期に付き添った忠節を賞されてか天武(てんむ)朝でも用いられた。684年（天武天皇13）石上朝臣(あそん)に改氏姓、686年（朱鳥元）には天武天皇の殯宮(もがりのみや)で法官(のりのつかさ)の事を誄(しのびごと)した。690年（持統天皇4）大盾(おおたて)を樹(た)て天皇の即位式に奉仕、696年には直広壱(じきこういち)（正四位下(しょうしいのげ)に相当）となり資人(しじん)50人を与えられた。その後、中納言(ちゅうなごん)、大納言、大宰帥(だざいのそち)を歴任し、704年（慶雲1）右大臣、708年（和銅1）正二位で左大臣となった。人望があつく、717年（養老1）に没すると従一位(じゅいちい)が贈られ、人民も追慕して痛惜しない者はなかったという。

［山本幸男］

『野村忠夫著『奈良朝の政治と藤原氏』（1995・吉川弘文館）』

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