Oonakatomi Morona - Oonakatomi Morona

Japanese: 大中臣諸魚 - おおなかとみのもろな

Year of death: 21 February 16 (23 March 797)
Year of birth: Tenpyo 15 (743)
An official from the end of the Nara period to the early Heian period. Son of Minister of the Right Kiyomaro and his elder sister Tajihiko. Originally his surname was Nakatomi, but he changed it when his father was bestowed the title of Onakatomi in June of the third year of the Jingo Keiun era (769). During the reigns of Emperors Kōnin and Kanmu, he was active mainly as a military officer, holding the ranks of Chue no Shosho and Uegasa, while in March of the eighth year of the Enryaku era (789), he was appointed as the Minister of Jingi in March of the eighth year of the Enryaku era (789), succeeding his elder brother Shirō (who died in January of the same year), and held both posts. The following year he became a councilor. During this time he was in charge of the construction of Nagaoka-kyō and, following his elder brother Shirō who was ordered to carry out a geographical survey, he was appointed as the palace construction envoy, but perhaps this was due to his experience as a military officer. His assessment in the Nihon Kōki is harsh, stating that he had no talent other than a love of koto music, and that he was simply greedy for wealth and money, and was looked down upon by the people. Was his promotion due to his father's influence? In contrast to his father, who was said to have faithfully served the court until his death.

(Takinami Sadako)

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

Japanese:

没年：延暦16.2.21(797.3.23)
生年：天平15(743)
奈良末・平安初期の官人。右大臣清麻呂と多治比子姉の子。はじめの姓は中臣であったが,神護景雲3(769)年6月に父が大中臣を賜ったときに改姓。光仁・桓武天皇時代,中衛少将,右衛士佐など主に武官として活躍する一方,譜代の職である神祇関係では延暦8(789)年3月,兄の子老(同年1月没)の後任として神祇伯に就任,兼務している。翌年参議となる。この間長岡京造営を担当し,地相調査を命じられた兄子老に続き,造宮使に任じられているが武官の経験を買われたものか。『日本後紀』での評価は,琴歌を好むほかは才能がなく,ただ財貨を貪るだけで人々から蔑視されたと手厳しい。昇進は親の七光か。死ぬまで朝務に忠勤したという父とは対照的。

(瀧浪貞子)

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

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