Fujiwara no Yorinaga - Fujiwara no Yorinaga

Japanese: 藤原頼長 - ふじわらのよりなが

Year of death: 14 July 1156 (1156.8.1)
Year of birth: Security 1.5 (1120)
A noble and scholar in the late Heian period. Son of the regent Fujiwara Tadazane and the daughter of Tosa no Kami Fujiwara Morizane. Adopted by his older brother Tadamichi. Childhood name Shobudowaka. Known as Uji Sadaijin and Akuzafu. In 1131, he became a nobleman without the rank of councilor and Junior Third Rank, and was rapidly promoted to Gon Chunagon in 1132 and Gon Dainagon in 1133, and in 1136 he became Toba Incho betto and Naidaijin. At just 17 years old, he surprised the public. In 1149, he was promoted to Sadaijin. Aiming to seize the position of regent as the emperor's relative by marriage, he had his adopted daughter Takiko (daughter of his brother-in-law Fujiwara Kinyo) enter the court of Emperor Konoe. Thanks to the favor of his father Tadazane, who was at the time in conflict with his elder brother Tadamichi, he became the head of the clan in the sixth year of the same year, and furthermore, thanks to Tadazane's recommendation to Emperor Toba, he was granted the position of Nairan in 1151, surpassing the position held by the regent Tadamichi. In 1155, he lost the trust of Emperor Toba on suspicion of having cursed Emperor Konoe, leading to his death, and was subsequently overthrown, taking refuge in Uji. In an attempt to regain his power, he allied with the retired Emperor Sutoku, and invited samurai including Minamoto no Tameyoshi to raise an army on July 10, 1156, but was wounded in the battle. He fled to Nara, but died from his wounds. He was buried in Hannyano. Later, Jien described him in the Gukansho as "Japan's greatest university student," and he was the most scholarly man of his time, well versed in all things, collecting and reading a huge number of books, both domestic and foreign. He was particularly knowledgeable about court ceremonies, and he actively applied his knowledge to the revival of these ceremonies. Through his studies, he also built friendships with literati aristocrats and practical government officials, such as Fujiwara Michinori (Shinzei). He left behind a diary, the Daiki, which is packed with anecdotes that show his knowledge and the fiery temperament befitting the name of Akusafu. After his death, in 1177, he was awarded the title of Grand Minister of State. He is a unique figure who stands out in the political history of the Insei period. <References> Yoshihiko Hashimoto, Fujiwara no Yorinaga; Haruyuki Higashino, "Fujiwara no Yorinaga's homosexual relationships as seen in his diary" (Historia, no. 84); Fumihiko Gomi, Research on Society in the Insei Period

(Kazuhiko Uesugi)

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

Japanese:

没年：保元1.7.14(1156.8.1)
生年：保安1.5(1120)
平安後期の公卿,学者。関白藤原忠実と土佐守藤原盛実の娘の子。兄忠通の養子。幼名菖蒲若。宇治左大臣,悪左府と称せられた。天承1(1131)年非参議従三位で公卿に列し,長承1(1132)年権中納言,同3年権大納言と急速な昇進を遂げ,保延2(1136)年には鳥羽院庁別当・内大臣となる。時に弱冠17歳で,世人を驚かしめた。久安5(1149)年左大臣に昇る。天皇外戚として執政の地位を掌握することを目指し,養女多子(義兄藤原公能の娘)を近衛天皇に入内させた。折しも兄忠通と対立関係に入っていた父忠実の寵愛により,同6年氏長者となり,さらに忠実の鳥羽法皇に対する推挙により,仁平1(1151)年内覧の地位を得て,関白忠通の立場をしのいだ。久寿2(1155)年,近衛天皇を呪咀し死に至らしめたとの嫌疑により,鳥羽法皇の信任を失い失脚,宇治に籠居した。勢力巻き返しを図るべく,崇徳上皇と結び,源為義らの武士を誘って,保元1(1156)年7月10日兵をあげたが,戦いの中で負傷。奈良に逃れたが,その傷がもとで没した。般若野に葬られる。のちに,慈円が『愚管抄』の中で「日本第一大学生」と評したごとく,諸事万端に通じた当代随一の学究の人物で,収集・読破した内外の書籍は膨大な数にのぼる。特に朝儀典礼に詳しく,その学識を諸儀礼の再興のため積極的に傾けた。また,学問を通じて,藤原通憲(信西)らの文人貴族・実務官人との交友関係を築いた。日記『台記』を遺し,その記事内容には,学識と,悪左府の名にふさわしい激しい気性を示す逸話が豊富に収められている。没後の安元3(1177)年太政大臣位を贈られる。院政期の政治史にひときわ異彩を放つ,個性的な人物である。<参考文献>橋本義彦『藤原頼長』,東野治之「日記にみる藤原頼長の男色関係」(『ヒストリア』84号),五味文彦『院政期社会の研究』

(上杉和彦)

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