Fujiwara clan

Japanese: 藤原氏 - ふじわらうじ

One of the most representative large clans. It is also called the Fuji clan for short. Its origins are of the divine origin (Tenjin), and it was from the Nakatomi clan, descendants of Amenokoyane no Mikoto, that Nakatomi no Muraji Kamatari was given the surname "Fujiwara" in the 8th year of the Tenchi era (669). In the 13th year of the Tenmu era (684), they were given the surname Ason, and then in the 2nd year of the Bunmu era (698), an imperial decree was issued allowing only the family of Kamatari's second son Fuhito to take the Fujiwara surname, while Omimaro and others were able to regain their maiden name of Nakatomi by serving in Shinto rituals. Fuhito's daughter, Kōmyōshi (Empress Kōmyō), became the wife of Emperor Shōmu, setting a precedent for an empress who was a human subject. The eldest son, Takechimaro, became the founder of the Southern family, the second son, Fusasaki, the Northern family, the third son, Umakai (Umayoshi), became the founder of the Ceremonial family, and the fourth son, Maro, became the founder of the Kyo family, and the four Fujiwara families were established. The Southern family was overthrown when Nakamaro (Emi no Oshikatsu) caused a rebellion during the reign of Empress Koken. The Ceremonial family rose to power in its place, but was thwarted by the Kusushi Incident, and the Kyo family's descendants also performed poorly, so only the Northern family continued to prosper. Fuyutsugu of the Northern family gained the trust of Emperor Saga and became the first Kurodo no kami (chief of the Chamberlains), and was promoted to the position of Sadaijin (Minister of the Left). His daughter, Junshi, became the empress of Emperor Ninmyo and gave birth to Emperor Montoku. Yoshifusa made his daughter, Akishi, the empress of Emperor Montoku, and wielded power as an in-law, marking the beginning of the Grand Minister of State and the regent. His adopted son, Mototsune, also became a regent, and then the first to become a Kanpaku (chief adviser). In this way, the Northern House established itself as the main branch of the Fujiwara clan, and developed the so-called regent government, which reached its zenith during the reigns of Michinaga and Yorimichi. The regent also served as the clan head, governing the clan temple Kofuku-ji, the clan shrine Kasuga-sha, and the private school Kangakuin. At the end of the Heian period, discord between the retired emperor and the emperor, and internal conflicts within the regent family came to the surface, and the regent family split into two, with Tadamichi's son Motozane establishing the Konoe family and Kanezane establishing the Kujo family. In the Kamakura period, Kanezane's great-grandson Norizane split into three families, the Kujo family, Yoshizane the Nijo family, and Sanetsune the Ichijo family. The Konoe family was also succeeded by Motozane's great-grandson Kanetsune, and Kanehira established the Takatsukasa family, resulting in the formation of the Five Regent Houses. From then on, regents and chancellors were appointed from among the Five Regent Houses, until the end of the Edo period. In addition, many of the upper-class court nobles, such as the Seiga family, the Daijin family, the Urin family, and the Meika family, which were ranked second only to the five regent families, were Fujiwara clan members, and many of the samurai families that established their bases in various provinces after the end of the Heian period were also descended from the Fujiwara clan. In the Meiji period, many of the upper-class court nobles were ranked as peers, and all of the five regent families were ranked as dukes.

Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica Concise Encyclopedia About Encyclopaedia Britannica Concise Encyclopedia Information

Japanese:

代表的な大族の一つ。略して藤氏 (とうし) ともいう。その出自は神別 (天神) であり，アメノコヤネノミコトの後裔，中臣 (なかとみ) 氏から出たが，天智8 (669) 年中臣連鎌足が「藤原」の姓 (せい) を賜わったのに始る。天武 13 (684) 年朝臣の姓 (かばね) を賜い，次いで文武2 (698) 年詔により鎌足の次男不比等 (ふひと) の門だけが藤原姓を襲うことを許され，意美麻呂 (おみまろ) などは神事に奉仕することにより，旧姓中臣に復した。不比等の娘，光明子 (光明皇后) は聖武天皇の后となり，人臣皇后の先例を開いた。長男武智麻呂が南家，次男房前が北家，3男宇合 (馬養) が式家，4男麻呂が京家の始祖となり，藤原4家が成立。南家は仲麻呂 (恵美押勝) が孝謙天皇のとき乱を起して失脚。代って式家が台頭したが，薬子の変で頓挫し，京家も麻呂の後裔がふるわず，北家だけ隆盛の一途をたどった。北家の冬嗣は嵯峨天皇の信任を得，初代の蔵人頭となり，累進して左大臣となった。その娘順子は仁明天皇の后として文徳天皇を生誕。良房はその娘明子を文徳天皇の后に立て，外戚として権勢をふるい，太政大臣，摂政の端緒を開いた。その養子基経もまた摂政となり，次いで初めて関白となった。こうして北家は，藤原氏の主流の位置を確立し，いわゆる摂関政治を展開し，道長，頼通の頃その最盛期を迎えた。摂関はまた氏長者 (うじのちょうじゃ) として氏寺興福寺，氏社春日社，私学勧学院などを統轄した。平安時代末期には，院と天皇の不和，摂関家内部の抗争が表面化し，忠通の子基実が近衛家，兼実が九条家を興して摂関家は2分。次いで鎌倉時代に兼実の曾孫教実が九条，良実が二条，実経が一条と3家に分れ，近衛家も基実の曾孫兼経が近衛家を継ぎ，兼平が鷹司家を興し，ここに五摂家となった。以後五摂家中から，摂政，関白が立てられ，江戸時代末期にいたった。このほか五摂家に次ぐ家格の清華家，大臣家，羽林家，名家など上層公家の多くは，藤原氏であり，また平安時代末期以降地方に割拠した武家のなかにも，藤原氏の流れをくむ者が少くない。明治になって上層公家の多くは華族に，五摂家はいずれも公爵に列せられた。

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