Fujiwara no Michitaka

Japanese: 藤原道隆 - ふじわらのみちたか

Year of death: 10th April 1995 (12th May 995)
Year of birth: Tenryaku 7 (953)
A nobleman in the mid-Heian period. He was known as Nakakanpaku and Machijiridono. He was the eldest son of regent Kaneie and Fujiwara no Nakamasa's daughter Tokihime. In 986, due to his father's strategy of seizing power, he was promoted from non-councillor to Gon Dainagon after only ten days as Gon Chunagon, an unusual promotion. In 990, his father handed over the position of Kanpaku to him and he became the head of the clan. In the same year, his daughter Teishi, who entered the court of Emperor Ichijo, was appointed as Chugu. Later, his second daughter Harumi also married Crown Prince Ise (later Emperor Sanjo), who was the Crown Prince. However, the prosperity of the Nakakanpaku family did not last long. Michitaka, who fell ill, tried to appoint his eldest son Korechika as nairan and hand over the position of Kanpaku, but this did not come to fruition, and Michitaka's early death led to the downfall of the Nakakanpaku family. It is said that the cause of his death was diabetes caused by heavy drinking. He had a refined and elegant appearance and was well-mannered, and founded Sekizenji Temple in one area of Hoko-in Temple, which was built by his father. His personality and the glorious state of the Nakakanpaku family are vividly described in "The Pillow Book."

(Oboriya Hisashi)

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

Japanese:

没年：長徳1.4.10(995.5.12)
生年：天暦7(953)
平安中期の公卿。中関白,町尻殿と称される。摂関兼家と藤原中正の娘時姫の嫡男。寛和2(986)年権力を掌握した父の策により,非参議から権中納言を10日余り経験しただけで権大納言という異例の昇進をした。正暦1(990)年,父から関白を譲られて氏長者となり,この年に一条天皇に入内した娘の定子が中宮に冊立された。その後,次女の原子も東宮の居貞親王(のちの三条天皇)に入っている。しかし中関白家の春も長くは続かなかった。病を得た道隆は嫡男の伊周を内覧として,関白を譲ろうと図ったが実現できず,道隆の早死にが中関白家の失墜につながった。死因は深酒による糖尿病といわれる。上品で優美な容貌をしており気だてもよく,父の手になる法興院の一郭に積善寺を創建した。『枕草子』に彼の人となりや華やぐ中関白家の様子が活写されている。

(朧谷寿)

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

<<: Mother of Michitsuna Fujiwara

>>: Fujiwara no Michikane