Fujiwara no Korechika - Fujiwara no Korechika

A nobleman in the mid-Heian period. The second son of Michitaka. His mother was Takako, daughter of Takashina Naritada. In 994 (Shoreki 5), he became Minister of the Interior, and the following year in 995 (Choutoku 1), he received the Nairan-senji (appointment to the Imperial Court). After Michitaka's death, he fought with his uncles Michikane and Michinaga over the position of next governor, and Korechika did not mind that the Nairan-senji was conditional on his father Michitaka's illness, and seemed to think that he would be given the Nairan or Sessho (regent) position. However, the position of Kanpaku was given to Michikane, and later, on the 7th, when Michikane died while he was Kanpaku, the Nairan-senji was given to Michinaga, much to Korechika's grief. The following year, he misunderstood Emperor Kazan due to a love affair involving Tamemitsu's woman, and after Ise and Takaie's attendants shot an arrow at Emperor Kazan in a threatening manner, rumors spread that he was practicing the Daigen method, which a vassal should not do, and that he was cursing Tosanjo-in Senshi. In 996 (Choutoku 2), he was demoted to Dazai Gon no Sochi, but was recalled the following year. In 1008 (Kanko 5), he was given a fief of 1,000 households, equivalent to that of a minister, and was called Gido Sanshi. It is incorrect to say in "Eiga Monogatari" that Ise was recalled because of the birth of Emperor Ichijo's first son, Prince Atsuyasu (whose mother was Ise's younger sister Teishi), but this was not the case. Ise had pinned his hopes on Prince Atsunaga becoming the crown prince, but his hopes were dashed by the birth of Prince Atsunari, the son of Michinaga's consort Shoshi, and the expansion of Michinaga's power led to the downfall of the Nakakanpaku family. He was not a particularly impressive politician, but he had literary talent, and in the "Okagami" he is described as "a man who is too precious for Japan." He died on January 29, 7th year of the Kanko era.

[Yutaka Yamanaka]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

平安中期の公卿(くぎょう)。道隆(みちたか)の二男。母は高階成忠(たかしなのなりただ)の女(むすめ)貴子。994年（正暦5）内大臣、翌995年（長徳1）内覧宣旨を受けた。道隆の死後、次の政権の地位をめぐり叔父道兼(みちかね)・道長と争うこととなり、伊周としては内覧宣旨は父道隆の病の間という条件付きであったことも問題とせず、自分に内覧または摂政(せっしょう)が下るものと考えていたようである。だが、道兼に関白は下り、その後、7日関白で道兼が死ぬと道長に内覧宣旨が下り、伊周の嘆きは大きかった。翌年、為光(ためみつ)の女をめぐっての恋愛事件によって花山(かざん)法皇を誤解し、伊周・隆家の従者が花山法皇におどしの矢を射たことをはじめとして、臣下の行うべからざる大元帥法(だいげんのほう)を修しているということ、および東三条院詮子(せんし)を呪詛(じゅそ)しているとの噂(うわさ)がたち、996年（長徳2）大宰権帥(だざいのごんのそち)に左遷されたが、翌年召還された。1008年（寛弘5）大臣に準じて封1000戸を与えられ、儀同三司とよばれた。『栄花物語』で、伊周の召還の原因を一条(いちじょう)天皇の第一皇子敦康(あつやす)親王（母は伊周の妹定子(ていし)）の誕生のためとしているのは誤りである。伊周は敦康親王の立太子に望みをかけていたが、道長の女中宮彰子(しょうし)の子敦成(あつひら)親王の出生によって希望は絶たれ、道長の勢力の拡大によって中関白家は没落した。政治家としてはさえない人物であったが、文才があり、『大鏡』に「御ざえ日本には余らせたまへる」とみえる。寛弘(かんこう)7年正月29日薨(こう)じた。

［山中　裕］

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