Fujiwara no Motofusa
Encyclopedia
was an imperial regent
in the late 12th century, serving both Emperor Rokujō
and Emperor Takakura
. He was also called , as he came from the village of Matsudono, near Kyoto. Fujiwara no Tadataka
and Matsudono Moroie
were his first and third sons, respectively.
Though wielding great power as sesshō and kampaku
, Motofusa was prevented from becoming the head of the Fujiwara family
by the political maneuvers of Taira no Kiyomori
. An incident in 1170, while Motofusa was on his way to the Hōjuji Palace
, further cemented his rivalry with the Taira clan. The Regent, along with a large retinue, was making his way to the palace for a ceremony which the cloistered
Emperor Go-Shirakawa
was supposed to attend, when a young boy refused to make way for him and his retinue. As a result, the Regent's men smashed the boy's carriage and humiliated him. The boy was a grandson of Kiyomori and so, after a few failed attempts at reprisal, followers of Taira no Shigemori
(the boy's father) attacked the Regent's men on their way to a solemn ceremony, dragging them from their horses and humiliating them. These events, while seemingly minor on the surface, led to a rift between Emperor Go-Shirakawa and the Taira, and therefore to closer relations between Go-Shirakawa and the Minamoto
, enemies of the Taira.
Sessho and Kampaku
In Japan, was a title given to a regent who was named to assist either a child emperor before his coming of age, or an empress. The was theoretically a sort of chief advisor for the emperor, but was the title of both first secretary and regent who assists an adult emperor. During the Heian era,...
in the late 12th century, serving both Emperor Rokujō
Emperor Rokujo
Emperor Rokujō was the 79th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. His reign spanned the years from 1165 through 1168.-Genealogy:...
and Emperor Takakura
Emperor Takakura
Emperor Takakura was the 80th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. His reign spanned the years from 1168 through 1180.-Genealogy:...
. He was also called , as he came from the village of Matsudono, near Kyoto. Fujiwara no Tadataka
Fujiwara no Tadataka
, first son of regent Matsudono Motofusa, was a Kugyō of the late Heian and Kamakura periods.Despite being first-born, he was treated as if he were not, while his stepbrother Moroie inherited the male-line. Hence, he called himself , avoiding the use of the name Matsudono...
and Matsudono Moroie
Matsudono Moroie
, third son of Matsudono Motofusa, was a kugyo from the late Heian period to the early Kamakura period. Regent Fujiwara no Tadataka and Buddhist monks Gyōi and Jituson are his stepbrothers....
were his first and third sons, respectively.
Though wielding great power as sesshō and kampaku
Sessho and Kampaku
In Japan, was a title given to a regent who was named to assist either a child emperor before his coming of age, or an empress. The was theoretically a sort of chief advisor for the emperor, but was the title of both first secretary and regent who assists an adult emperor. During the Heian era,...
, Motofusa was prevented from becoming the head of the Fujiwara family
Fujiwara family
The Fujiwara clan , descending from the Nakatomi clan, was a powerful family of regents in Japan.The clan originated when the founder, Nakatomi no Kamatari , was rewarded by Emperor Tenji with the honorific "Fujiwara", which evolved as a surname for Kamatari and his descendants...
by the political maneuvers of Taira no Kiyomori
Taira no Kiyomori
was a general of the late Heian period of Japan. He established the first samurai-dominated administrative government in the history of Japan.After the death of his father Taira no Tadamori in 1153, Kiyomori assumed control of the Taira clan and ambitiously entered the political realm in which he...
. An incident in 1170, while Motofusa was on his way to the Hōjuji Palace
Hojujidono
The ' was a Buddhist temple in Kyoto which was, for a time, the home of the Cloistered Emperor Go-Shirakawa.The temple was originally built and founded, as 'Hōjūji', by Fujiwara Tamemitsu in 988. However, it was destroyed in 1032....
, further cemented his rivalry with the Taira clan. The Regent, along with a large retinue, was making his way to the palace for a ceremony which the cloistered
Cloistered rule
The Insei system , or cloistered rule, was a specific form of government in Japan during the Heian period. In this bifurcated system, an Emperor abdicated, but he retained power and influence. The emperors who withdrew to live in monasteries continued to act in ways which were intended to...
Emperor Go-Shirakawa
Emperor Go-Shirakawa
Emperor Go-Shirakawa was the 77th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession...
was supposed to attend, when a young boy refused to make way for him and his retinue. As a result, the Regent's men smashed the boy's carriage and humiliated him. The boy was a grandson of Kiyomori and so, after a few failed attempts at reprisal, followers of Taira no Shigemori
Taira no Shigemori
was the eldest son of the Taira clan patriarch, Taira no Kiyomori. He took part in the Hōgen and Heiji rebellions. He died of illness in 1179....
(the boy's father) attacked the Regent's men on their way to a solemn ceremony, dragging them from their horses and humiliating them. These events, while seemingly minor on the surface, led to a rift between Emperor Go-Shirakawa and the Taira, and therefore to closer relations between Go-Shirakawa and the Minamoto
Minamoto clan
was one of the surnames bestowed by the Emperors of Japan upon members of the imperial family who were demoted into the ranks of the nobility. The practice was most prevalent during the Heian Period , although its last occurrence was during the Sengoku Era. The Taira were another such offshoot of...
, enemies of the Taira.
Service as Regent
- 1166–1168: Sessho under Emperor RokujōEmperor RokujoEmperor Rokujō was the 79th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. His reign spanned the years from 1165 through 1168.-Genealogy:...
. - 1168–1172: Sessho under Emperor TakakuraEmperor TakakuraEmperor Takakura was the 80th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. His reign spanned the years from 1168 through 1180.-Genealogy:...
. - 1172–1179: Kampaku under Emperor Takakura.