Fujiwara no Kusuko - Fujiwara no Kusuko

Japanese: 藤原薬子 - ふじわらのくすこ

Year of death: 12th September 1st of the Kōnin period (13th October 810)
Year of birth: Unknown. She was a shouji (female attendant) to Emperor Heizei in the early Heian period. Daughter of Fujiwara no Tanetsugu, wife of Fujiwara no Nawanushi. Her elder brother was Nakanari. Her father Tanetsugu was a favorite of Emperor Kanmu and promoted the relocation of the capital to Nagaoka, but was assassinated by opponents in 785. Kusuko gave birth to three sons and two daughters with Nawanushi, and when her eldest daughter became the wife of Heizei when he was still the crown prince, she became the Togu Senshi (a close aide to the crown prince) and was favored by Heizei. Later, Kanmu, who was concerned about her influence over Heizei, temporarily dismissed her. However, after Kanmu's death, when Heizei ascended to the throne, she was appointed again, and was appointed as a shouji (female attendant) and then a shouji (female attendant), and rose to the rank of Junior Third Rank. The shouji (female attendant) was always an important position that served as an intermediary between the emperor and the government officials, but at the same time, there was also a growing tendency for them to become the emperor's wives and concubines. The Heizei period was a time when the Ritsuryo system was changed, especially the bureaucratic system, which underwent a major reorganization. It is unclear how involved Kusuko was in these policies, but the emperor seems to have had great trust in her, and her brother Nakanari also expanded his power. In 810, Heijō abdicated due to illness, and his younger brother Saga ascended to the throne. However, when Heijō recovered from his illness, a power struggle arose between the two, eventually dividing the imperial court in two. Heijō attempted to raise an army based in the old Heijō capital, but failed, Nakanari was shot to death, and Kusuko committed suicide (Kusuko Incident). The actual circumstances are unclear as all existing historical documents are from Emperor Saga's side, but it is certain that the cause of the rebellion was a power struggle between the two emperors. Despite this, Saga tried to settle the situation by placing all the responsibility on Kusuko and her sister, and Kusuko has been considered a villainous woman for generations to come. Furthermore, during this rebellion, Saga appointed Kurodo no Kami to handle confidential information, which greatly reduced the political role of the Naishi.

(Yukiko Nishino)

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

Japanese:

没年：弘仁1.9.12(810.10.13)
生年：生年不詳
平安前期,平城天皇の尚侍。藤原種継の娘,藤原縄主の妻。兄に仲成がいる。父種継は桓武天皇の寵臣として長岡遷都を進めたが,延暦4(785)年反対派に暗殺された。薬子は縄主との間に3男2女を生むが,長女が皇太子時代の平城の妃になると,皇太子側近の職である東宮宣旨となり,平城の寵愛を受けた。その後,平城への影響力を懸念した桓武により一時退けられる。しかし桓武の死後,平城が即位すると再び登用され,典侍,次いで尚侍に任ぜられ,従三位に上った。尚侍は常に天皇に近侍し天皇と官人を媒介する重要な職であるが,一方で天皇の妻妾化する傾向も生まれつつあった。平城朝は律令制の改変,特に官僚機構の大幅な再編が行われた時期である。こうした政策に薬子がどのようにかかわったかは不明であるが,天皇の信頼は絶大であったらしく,兄仲成も権力を拡大していった。弘仁1(810)年平城は病により退位,弟の嵯峨が即位した。しかし平城の病が治ると両者の間に権力争いが生じ,ついに朝廷を二分する。平城は平城旧京に拠って挙兵しようとし失敗,仲成は射殺され薬子も自殺した(薬子の変)。現存の史料はすべて嵯峨天皇側のものであるため実態は不明だが,乱の原因が両天皇の権力対立によるのは確かである。にもかかわらず嵯峨はすべての責任を薬子兄妹に負わせることで事態の収拾を図り,薬子は後世まで悪女とされてしまった。なお,この乱のなかで嵯峨が蔵人頭を置いて機密を扱わせたことによって,尚侍の政治的な役割は大きく低下した。

(西野悠紀子)

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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