Nagaya
Encyclopedia
Nagaya (長屋王 Nagaya-no-ōkimi or Nagaya-ō) (684
– 20 March 729) was a politician of the Nara period
and an imperial prince of Japan, a son of Prince Takechi
(grandson of Emperor Temmu
).
His father was Prince Takechi and his mother Princess Minabe (a daughter of Emperor Tenji
and Empress Gemmei
's sister). He married Princess Kibi (his cousin, a daughter of Empress Gemmei
and Empress Genshō
's sister).
He had a great power in politics because he was a member of the Imperial family of the best birth, and there were no other competitive Imperial members in those days. A big residence was allocated to him in the very good part of Heijō-kyō.
The Fujiwara clan was the most powerful competitor of Nagaya. Fujiwara no Fuhito
, the leader of the house, had been the most powerful courtier in the court in those days when this country was reigned by Empress Genshō
, a cousin of Nagaya's. After Fuhito's death in 720, he seized a complete power in the court. This power shift was the source of later conflicts between him and Fuhito's four sons (Muchimaro, Fusasaki, Maro and Umakai) in the reign of Emperor Shōmu
.
In 729, the four sons charged him with a false crime and Nagaya received the death penalty. He was forced to commit suicide. His wife, Princess Kibi, and his children were killed at the same time.
684
Year 684 was a leap year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar. The denomination 684 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.- Asia :* Wu Ze Tian takes power in China.* The Ummayad...
– 20 March 729) was a politician of the Nara period
Nara period
The of the history of Japan covers the years from AD 710 to 794. Empress Gemmei established the capital of Heijō-kyō . Except for 5 years , when the capital was briefly moved again, it remained the capital of Japanese civilization until Emperor Kammu established a new capital, Nagaoka-kyō, in 784...
and an imperial prince of Japan, a son of Prince Takechi
Prince Takechi
was a member of the royal family in Japan during the Asuka Period. He was the eldest son of Emperor Tenmu. He fought on the side of his father in the Jinshin War , a battle of succession, which resulted in his father becoming Emperor...
(grandson of Emperor Temmu
Emperor Temmu
was the 40th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.Temmu's reign lasted from 672 until his death in 686.-Traditional narrative:...
).
His father was Prince Takechi and his mother Princess Minabe (a daughter of Emperor Tenji
Emperor Tenji
, also known as Emperor Tenchi, was the 38th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.Tenji's reign spanned the years from 661 through 671.-Traditional narrative:...
and Empress Gemmei
Empress Gemmei
, also known as Empress Genmyō, was the 43rd emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.Gemmei's reign spanned the years 707 through 715....
's sister). He married Princess Kibi (his cousin, a daughter of Empress Gemmei
Empress Gemmei
, also known as Empress Genmyō, was the 43rd emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.Gemmei's reign spanned the years 707 through 715....
and Empress Genshō
Empress Gensho
was the 44th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.Genshō's reign spanned the years 715 through 724.In the history of Japan, Genshō was the fifth of eight women to take on the role of empress regnant. The four female monarchs before Genshō were: Suiko, Kōgyoku/Saimei,...
's sister).
He had a great power in politics because he was a member of the Imperial family of the best birth, and there were no other competitive Imperial members in those days. A big residence was allocated to him in the very good part of Heijō-kyō.
The Fujiwara clan was the most powerful competitor of Nagaya. Fujiwara no Fuhito
Fujiwara no Fuhito
Fujiwara no Fuhito was a powerful member of the imperial court of Japan during the Asuka and Nara periods...
, the leader of the house, had been the most powerful courtier in the court in those days when this country was reigned by Empress Genshō
Empress Gensho
was the 44th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.Genshō's reign spanned the years 715 through 724.In the history of Japan, Genshō was the fifth of eight women to take on the role of empress regnant. The four female monarchs before Genshō were: Suiko, Kōgyoku/Saimei,...
, a cousin of Nagaya's. After Fuhito's death in 720, he seized a complete power in the court. This power shift was the source of later conflicts between him and Fuhito's four sons (Muchimaro, Fusasaki, Maro and Umakai) in the reign of Emperor Shōmu
Emperor Shomu
was the 45th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.Shōmu's reign spanned the years 724 through 723.-Traditional narrative:...
.
In 729, the four sons charged him with a false crime and Nagaya received the death penalty. He was forced to commit suicide. His wife, Princess Kibi, and his children were killed at the same time.
Wives and Children
- Princess Kibi (?-729)
- Prince Kashiwade (?-729)
- Prince Katsuragi (?-729)
- Prince Kagitori (?-729)
- A lady of Ishikawa clan
- Prince Kuwata (?-729)
- Fujiwara no Nagako, daughter of Fujiwara no FuhitoFujiwara no FuhitoFujiwara no Fuhito was a powerful member of the imperial court of Japan during the Asuka and Nara periods...
- Prince Asukabe (?-?)
- Prince Kibumi (?-757)
- Prince Yamashiro(Fujiwara no Otosada) (?-763)
- Princess Kyōshō, a nun
- Abe no Ōtoji
- Princess Kamo (?-?)
- Princess Chinu
- Princess Madokata (?-774)
Nagaya's Curse
It is said that, as Nagaya was forced to die because of unreasonable reasons, he kept a grudge against people in this world after his death. The following are believed to be the victims of Nagaya's curse:- Fujiwara no MuchimaroFujiwara no Muchimarowas a Japanese politician of the Asuka and Nara periods. The eldest son of Fujiwara no Fuhito, he founded Nanke , one of the principal kuge families led by the Fujiwara's. His mother was Soga no Shōsi, daughter of Soga no Murajiko...
, FusasakiFujiwara no FusasakiFujiwara no Fusasaki was a member of the Fujiwara clan and the founder of the Hokke branch of the Fujiwara.-Career:Fusasaki was a Sangi in the Daijō-kan....
, MaroFujiwara no Marowas a Japanese statesman, courtier, and politician during the Nara period.-Career:Maro was a minister during the reign of Emperor Shōmu....
and UmakaiFujiwara no Umakaiwas a Japanese statesman, courtier, general and politician during the Nara period.-Career:He was a diplomat during the reign of Empress Genshō; and he was minister during the reign of Emperor Shōmu...
, who killed Nagaya in 729, were suffered from smallpoxSmallpoxSmallpox was an infectious disease unique to humans, caused by either of two virus variants, Variola major and Variola minor. The disease is also known by the Latin names Variola or Variola vera, which is a derivative of the Latin varius, meaning "spotted", or varus, meaning "pimple"...
one after another and eventually all of them died in 737. - In 1988, the former site of Nagaya's residence was discovered with many wooden tablets and historic relics on the construction site of a SogoSogoSogo Co., Ltd. is a department store chain that operates an extensive network of branches in Japan. It once owned stores in locations as diverse as Beijing in China, Causeway Bay in Hong Kong, Taipei in Taiwan, Jakarta, Medan, Bandung & Surabaya in Indonesia, Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia, Singapore,...
department store. Sogo did not care and continued construction. Twelve years after the department store's completion, Sogo went bankrupt.