Fujiwara no Muchimaro - Fujiwara no Muchimaro

A politician of the Nara period. He was the eldest son of Fuhito and the founder of the Nanke clan. He lost his mother at a young age and was sickly, but he loved reading and was deeply devoted to Buddhism. In 701 (Taiho 1), he became an Udoneri (Uchi no Toneri), and later became the head of the University, where he devoted himself to the development of the university, and also became the head librarian, collecting books that had been scattered during the Jinshin War. He then became Shikibukyo (Minister of Ceremonies), and in 721 (Yoro 5), he became Chunagon (Chuunagon), and in February 729 (Tenpyo 1), he went to investigate the Nagaya no O Incident, and was promoted to Dainagon the following month, and then to Junior Second Rank Right Minister in 734. However, three years later he contracted smallpox and died on July 25, Tempyo 9, the day he was promoted to Shoichii (Senior First Rank) and Sadaijin (Minister of the Left). His biography is in the "Mutsushimaro Den" ("Toshi Family Chronicles", Volume 2) written by the monk Enkei.

[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)の長男で南家(なんけ)の祖。幼くして母を失い、病弱であったが、読書を好みまた仏教に深く帰依(きえ)したという。701年（大宝1）に内舎人(うどねり)になり、以後大学頭(かみ)となり大学の発展に尽くし、また図書頭(ずしょのかみ)となって壬申(じんしん)の乱で散逸していた図書を集めた。その後式部卿(しきぶきょう)を経て721年（養老5）中納言(ちゅうなごん)に進み、729年（天平1）2月の長屋王の変にあたっては王の糺問(きゅうもん)に赴き、翌月大納言、さらに734年に従(じゅ)二位右大臣に昇進した。しかるに3年後に天然痘にかかり、天平(てんぴょう)9年7月25日、正一位左大臣に昇進した日に死去した。伝記に僧延慶撰述(せんじゅつ)の『武智麻呂伝』（『藤氏(とうし)家伝』下巻）がある。

［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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