Fujiwara no Naritsune
Encyclopedia
was a Japanese courtier
of the Heian period
who, after plotting against the Taira clan
, was exiled along with his father, Fujiwara no Narichika
, and a number of other co-conspirators to Kikai-ga-shima. He and his companions in exile, Taira no Yasunori and the monk Shunkan
, feature prominently in a number of traditional Japanese dramas, including the Noh
play Shunkan
and the jōruri
puppet play Heike Nyogo-ga-shima which was later adapted for kabuki
as well.
The lord of Tanba province, Naritsune was married to a niece of Taira no Kiyomori
, chief minister in the Imperial government. He features prominently in early chapters of the Heike Monogatari as it relates the tale of the plot and subsequent exile. According to that text, shortly after his father was exiled to Kikai-ga-shima, Naritsune was, in the sixth lunar
month of 1177, summoned to Fukuhara
and then to Bitchū province
before himself being sent to Kikai-ga-shima.
During his time on the island, Naritsune, along with Yasuyori, became a fervent adherent of the Kumano faith, regularly performing rituals and prayers for the kami
of the Kumano Shrine
s. After roughly one year on the island, towards the end of the ninth lunar month of 1178, Naritsune and Yasuyori received a pardon from the capital, on account of suffering experienced by the Empress being blamed on the angry spirit of the late Narichika. He returned to Kyoto
in the third month of the following year, after visiting his father's grave. He was then reunited with his young son, who had been roughly three years old (by Japanese traditional reckoning
), and another child, who had yet to be born when he was exiled. Reinstated into the service of the Retired Emperor
Go-Shirakawa
, he regained his rank, and would later be promoted.
Kuge
The was a Japanese aristocratic class that dominated the Japanese imperial court in Kyoto until the rise of the Shogunate in the 12th century at which point it was eclipsed by the daimyo...
of the Heian period
Heian period
The is the last division of classical Japanese history, running from 794 to 1185. The period is named after the capital city of Heian-kyō, or modern Kyōto. It is the period in Japanese history when Buddhism, Taoism and other Chinese influences were at their height...
who, after plotting against the Taira clan
Taira clan
The was a major Japanese clan of samurai in historical Japan.In reference to Japanese history, along with Minamoto, Taira was a hereditary clan name bestowed by the emperors of the Heian Period to certain ex-members of the imperial family when they became subjects...
, was exiled along with his father, Fujiwara no Narichika
Fujiwara no Narichika
Fujiwara no Narichika was a Japanese court noble who took part in a plot against the Taira clan's dominance of the Imperial court.Narichika was the son of Fujiwara no Ienari...
, and a number of other co-conspirators to Kikai-ga-shima. He and his companions in exile, Taira no Yasunori and the monk Shunkan
Shunkan
Shunkan was a Japanese monk who, after taking part in the Shishigatani plot to overthrow Taira no Kiyomori, was exiled along with two others to Kikai-ga-shima. His story is featured in the Heike monogatari, and in a number of traditional derivative works, including the Noh play Shunkan and jōruri...
, feature prominently in a number of traditional Japanese dramas, including the Noh
Noh
, or - derived from the Sino-Japanese word for "skill" or "talent" - is a major form of classical Japanese musical drama that has been performed since the 14th century. Many characters are masked, with men playing male and female roles. Traditionally, a Noh "performance day" lasts all day and...
play Shunkan
Shunkan (play)
' is a Noh play which takes place in the aftermath of the Shishigatani Incident, and focuses upon one of a trio exiled to "Devil's Island" , off the coast of Satsuma province, as punishment for a plot against the ruling Taira clan...
and the jōruri
Joruri
can refer to:*Jōruri , a type of sung narrative with shamisen accompaniment, typically found in Bunraku, a traditional Japanese puppet theatre.*Jōruri , an opera by Japanese composer Miki Minoru.*Jōruri-ji , a Buddhist temple near Nara....
puppet play Heike Nyogo-ga-shima which was later adapted for kabuki
Kabuki
is classical Japanese dance-drama. Kabuki theatre is known for the stylization of its drama and for the elaborate make-up worn by some of its performers.The individual kanji characters, from left to right, mean sing , dance , and skill...
as well.
The lord of Tanba province, Naritsune was married to a niece 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...
, chief minister in the Imperial government. He features prominently in early chapters of the Heike Monogatari as it relates the tale of the plot and subsequent exile. According to that text, shortly after his father was exiled to Kikai-ga-shima, Naritsune was, in the sixth lunar
Japanese calendar
On January 1, 1873, Japan adopted the Gregorian calendar. Before 1873, the Chinese style lunisolar calendar had been in use since 7th century. Japanese eras are still in use.-System:...
month of 1177, summoned to Fukuhara
Fukuhara
Fukuhara is a Japanese surname. The meaning of the kanji can be translated as "field of fortune", "field of blessings", or "lucky field".Alternate pronunciations that use the same kanji spelling include Fukubara and Fukuwara....
and then to Bitchū province
Bitchu Province
was a province of Japan on the Inland Sea side of western Honshū, in what is today western Okayama Prefecture. It was sometimes called , with Bizen and Bingo Provinces. Bitchu bordered Hōki, Mimasaka, Bizen, and Bingo Provinces....
before himself being sent to Kikai-ga-shima.
During his time on the island, Naritsune, along with Yasuyori, became a fervent adherent of the Kumano faith, regularly performing rituals and prayers for the kami
Kami
is the Japanese word for the spirits, natural forces, or essence in the Shinto faith. Although the word is sometimes translated as "god" or "deity", some Shinto scholars argue that such a translation can cause a misunderstanding of the term...
of the Kumano Shrine
Kumano Shrine
A ' is a type of Shinto shrine which enshrines the three Kumano mountains: Hongū, Shingū, and Nachi . There are more than 3000 Kumano shrines in Japan, and each has received its kami from another Kumano shrine through a process of propagation called or...
s. After roughly one year on the island, towards the end of the ninth lunar month of 1178, Naritsune and Yasuyori received a pardon from the capital, on account of suffering experienced by the Empress being blamed on the angry spirit of the late Narichika. He returned to Kyoto
Kyoto
is a city in the central part of the island of Honshū, Japan. It has a population close to 1.5 million. Formerly the imperial capital of Japan, it is now the capital of Kyoto Prefecture, as well as a major part of the Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto metropolitan area.-History:...
in the third month of the following year, after visiting his father's grave. He was then reunited with his young son, who had been roughly three years old (by Japanese traditional reckoning
East Asian age reckoning
East Asian age reckoning is a concept and practice that originated in China and is widely used by other cultures in East Asia, which share this traditional way of counting a person's age. Newborns start at one year old, and each passing of a Lunar New Year, rather than the birthday, adds one year...
), and another child, who had yet to be born when he was exiled. Reinstated into the service of the Retired Emperor
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...
Go-Shirakawa
Emperor Go-Shirakawa
Emperor Go-Shirakawa was the 77th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession...
, he regained his rank, and would later be promoted.