Fujiwara no Yasunori
Encyclopedia
was a Japan
ese court noble and an administrator in early Heian Period
. His father was Fujiwara no Sadao from South-fujiwara clan. His first son, Fujiwara no Kiyotsura (藤原 清貫), was appointed Dainagon
(counsellor).
In 866, Yasunori was appointed Kokushi (official) of Bitchū Province
. At the time, this province was beleaguered with water shortages and misgovernment. Yasunori rescued the poor and improved government through a policy promoting agriculture. After that, he left for Bizen Province
and enjoyed great popularity because of his competence in government.
In 876, Yasunori returned to Kyoto
, and was appointed Emon-no-Suke (The guard of Kyoto), Kebiishi (検非違使, peace maintenance and civil administration of Kyoto), and Minbu-Daiyū (Assistant secretary in the Ministry of Taxation).
In 878, Yasunori was appointed Kokushi of Dewa Province
. At the time, Emishi
started a rebellion in Dewa Province, and completely defeated the government army. Yasunori was appointed a provincial governor, because he was respected for his governance. After arriving at his new post in Dewa, Yasunori deployed soldiers and supplied the government's reserve supply of rice to the people. When he heard about Yasunori's good government, Emishi gave in without further resistance. The Japanese court ordered Yasunori to suppress the rebellion completely, but he advised the Court that a generous policy was good for Dewa Province. This rebellion, known as Gangyō-Rebellion, ended without the use of force.
Yasunori was appointed Kokushi of Sanuki Province
in 882, and appointed Dazai-no-Daini (Assistant secretary of Dazaifu Province). Because Emperor Uda was evaluating Yasunori's abilities, Yasunori returned to Kyoto and was promoted to Minbu-kyō (民部卿, the secretary in Ministry of Taxation) in 891. At the age of seventy, he had a premonition that death was near. He went to Mountain Hiei, and died while chanting a prayer to Buddha.
, wrote a biography of Yasunori. In the Late Edo period
, Saitō Chikudō
opined that Yasunori was equal to Nakatomi no kamatari in politics; was as intellectual a person as Miyoshi Kiyotsura; and was a person of as high a caliber as Sugawara no Michizane
. Unfortunately Yasunori did not meet an Emperor who could make him a statesman in the central government, so he could show his prowess only in local politics.
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese court noble and an administrator in early 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...
. His father was Fujiwara no Sadao from South-fujiwara clan. His first son, Fujiwara no Kiyotsura (藤原 清貫), was appointed Dainagon
Dainagon
was a counselor of the first rank in the Imperial court of Japan. The role dates from the 7th century.This advisory position remained a part of the Imperial court from the 8th century until the Meiji period in the 19th century....
(counsellor).
Career
In 855, Yasunori was appointed Jibu-shō-shō (fourth assistant to the Minister). He held the posts of Minbu-shō-shō (民部少丞), Hyōbu-shō-shō (secondary staff officers), and Shikibu-shō-shō. In 860, he was appointed Hyōbu no dai-jō (兵部大丞).In 866, Yasunori was appointed Kokushi (official) of 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....
. At the time, this province was beleaguered with water shortages and misgovernment. Yasunori rescued the poor and improved government through a policy promoting agriculture. After that, he left for Bizen Province
Bizen Province
was a province of Japan on the Inland Sea side of Honshū, in what is today the southeastern part of Okayama Prefecture. It was sometimes called , with Bitchu and Bingo Provinces. Bizen borders Mimasaka, Harima, and Bitchū Provinces....
and enjoyed great popularity because of his competence in government.
In 876, Yasunori 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:...
, and was appointed Emon-no-Suke (The guard of Kyoto), Kebiishi (検非違使, peace maintenance and civil administration of Kyoto), and Minbu-Daiyū (Assistant secretary in the Ministry of Taxation).
In 878, Yasunori was appointed Kokushi of Dewa Province
Dewa Province
is an old province of Japan, comprising modern-day Yamagata Prefecture and Akita Prefecture, except for the city of Kazuno and the town of Kosaka. It was sometimes called .-Historical record:...
. At the time, Emishi
Emishi
The constituted a group of people who lived in northeastern Honshū in the Tōhoku region. They are referred to as in contemporary sources. Some Emishi tribes resisted the rule of the Japanese Emperors during the late Nara and early Heian periods...
started a rebellion in Dewa Province, and completely defeated the government army. Yasunori was appointed a provincial governor, because he was respected for his governance. After arriving at his new post in Dewa, Yasunori deployed soldiers and supplied the government's reserve supply of rice to the people. When he heard about Yasunori's good government, Emishi gave in without further resistance. The Japanese court ordered Yasunori to suppress the rebellion completely, but he advised the Court that a generous policy was good for Dewa Province. This rebellion, known as Gangyō-Rebellion, ended without the use of force.
Yasunori was appointed Kokushi of Sanuki Province
Sanuki Province
was an old province of Japan on the island of Shikoku, with the same boundaries as modern Kagawa Prefecture. It was sometimes called .It faced the Inland Sea and bordered on Awa and Iyo Provinces. Across Naruto strait it bordered Awaji Province too. Administratively it was included as a part of...
in 882, and appointed Dazai-no-Daini (Assistant secretary of Dazaifu Province). Because Emperor Uda was evaluating Yasunori's abilities, Yasunori returned to Kyoto and was promoted to Minbu-kyō (民部卿, the secretary in Ministry of Taxation) in 891. At the age of seventy, he had a premonition that death was near. He went to Mountain Hiei, and died while chanting a prayer to Buddha.
Evaluation by historians
A historian in the Heian period, Miyoshi KiyotsuraMiyoshi Kiyotsura
was a Japanese scholar-statesman who was very inspired by Chinese classical learning, but very antagonistic to Buddhism.- Life :Kiyotsura was the author of a certain memorial which called the attention of the emperor to current abuses...
, wrote a biography of Yasunori. In the Late Edo period
Edo period
The , or , is a division of Japanese history which was ruled by the shoguns of the Tokugawa family, running from 1603 to 1868. The political entity of this period was the Tokugawa shogunate....
, Saitō Chikudō
Saitō Chikudō
was a Japanese confucian, historian and poet. His real name was Kaoru . His pen name was Chikudō or Bōyōshi .- Life :...
opined that Yasunori was equal to Nakatomi no kamatari in politics; was as intellectual a person as Miyoshi Kiyotsura; and was a person of as high a caliber as Sugawara no Michizane
Sugawara no Michizane
, also known as Kan Shōjō , a grandson of Sugawara no Kiyotomo , was a scholar, poet, and politician of the Heian Period of Japan...
. Unfortunately Yasunori did not meet an Emperor who could make him a statesman in the central government, so he could show his prowess only in local politics.