Fujiwara no Maro

A politician of the Nara period. He was the fourth son of Fuhito and the founder of the Kyo family. In 717 (Yoro 1), when he was Minosuke, Emperor Gensho made a visit and bathed in the beautiful spring (Yoro Falls), which led to the era name being changed to Yoro. He was given the rank of Junior Fifth Rank for his achievements at the time. In 729 (Tenpyo 1), a turtle presented by Sakyo no Daibu Maro and others was said to be a sign of great auspiciousness, and on the back of the turtle was written the words "Tenno Kihei Chihyakunen" (Tenno Kihei Chihyakunen), so the era name was changed to Tenpyo. This was instrumental in making Kōmyōshi the empress. He later became a councilor and Minister of War, and in 737, as a loyal ambassador, he stayed at Taganosaku to conquer Ogatsu village in Dewa Province (the Ogatsu region of Akita Prefecture) and opened the way from Taganosaku to Ogatsu village, but died of smallpox in the same year, just like his three older brothers.

[Toshihiko Fukui]

"Various Aspects of Ritsuryo Politics" by Tadao Nomura (1968, Hanawa Shobo)

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

奈良時代の政治家。不比等(ふひと)の四男で京家の祖。717年（養老1）、美濃介(みののすけ)であったとき元正(げんしょう)天皇の行幸があり、天皇が美泉（養老(ようろう)の滝）に浴し、このため養老と改元したが、そのときの功により従(じゅ)五位下に叙せられた。729年（天平1）に左京大夫の麻呂らの献上した亀が大瑞(たいずい)の現れとされ、亀の背に「天王貴平知百年」の文字があったのに基づいて天平(てんびょう)と改元された。このことは光明子(こうみょうし)を皇后とするのに役だった。のち参議、兵部卿(ひょうぶきょう)となり、737年持節大使として出羽(でわ)国雄勝村（秋田県雄勝地方）を征するため多賀柵(たがのさく)にとどまり多賀柵より雄勝村に至る道を開いたが、同年他の兄3人と同じく天然痘のため病死した。

［福井俊彦］

『野村忠夫著『律令政治の諸様相』（1968・塙書房）』

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