Nakatomi Oshima

Japanese: 中臣大嶋 - なかとみのおおしま

Year of death: Jitō 7.3.11? (693.4.21)
Year of birth: Unknown
An official in the late 7th century. Son of Komae (Kome). Sometimes recorded under the surname Fujiwara no Ason. In 681, he wrote the Imperial Chronicles, which is said to have been written by hand, to record various ancient events. In 682, he toured the country with King Ise and others to determine the borders of various provinces, and in 686, he went to Tsukushi (Fukuoka Prefecture) to entertain the Silla envoys who came to Japan. He played an important role in both domestic and foreign affairs. In the same year, he is said to have given a speech at the funeral palace of Emperor Tenmu, and in 690, when Empress Jito ascended to the throne, he is said to have read the Tenjin no Joshi Kotoba as the Minister of Jingi. During the period when the Ritsuryo state was established, he played an important role in both politics and rituals. He also showed an understanding of Buddhism, such as by requesting the construction of Awawara Temple (now located in Sakurai City) for Prince Kusakabe, and was also a man of letters who left two Chinese poems in the Kaifu-mo.

(Kimio Mori)

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

Japanese:

没年：持統7.3.11?(693.4.21)
生年：生年不詳
7世紀後半の官人。渠毎(許米)の子。藤原朝臣姓で記される例もある。天武10(681)年帝紀,上古諸事を記定し,自ら筆を執って記録したという。同12年伊勢王らと共に天下を巡行して諸国の境界を定め,朱鳥1(686)年来日した新羅使を饗するために筑紫(福岡県)に赴くなど,内政・外交両面で活躍している。同年天武天皇の殯宮で兵政官の事を誄したとあり,また持統4(690)年持統天皇即位の際には神祇伯として天神寿詞を読んだといい,律令国家確立期にあって,政祭両面で重要な役割を果たしていた。また草壁皇子のために,粟原寺(跡地は桜井市)の建立を発願するなど仏教にも理解を示すほか,『懐風藻』に漢詩2首を残す文人でもあった。

(森公章)

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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