Fujiwara no Mitsuyoshi

Fujiwara no Mitsuyoshi (藤原 光能, 1132 – March 23, 1183) was a court noble of the late Heian period. He was a personal attendant of Emperor Go-Shirakawa. He served as Associate Counselor, Commander of the Middle Palace Guards, Head Chamberlain, Governor of Shimotsuke Province, Lieutenant General of the Imperial Guard Division, and held the court rank of Senior Third Rank.

In this Japanese name, the surname is Fujiwara.
Fujiwara no Mitsuyoshi
藤原光能
Portrait of Fujiwara no Mitsuyoshi (stored at Jingo-ji)
Associate Counselor
In office
1179–1179
MonarchTakakura
Commander of Middle Palace Guards
In office
1182–1183
MonarchAntoku
Personal details
Born1132
DiedMarch 23, 1183 (aged 52)
NationalityJapanese
Parent
  • Fujiwara no Tadanari (father)
Occupationcourt noble

Life

Mitsuyoshi was born in 1132, the son of Junior Assistant Minister of Popular Affairs Fujiwara no Tadanari.[1][2] His mother was the daughter of Minamoto no Suetada.[2]

In his early career, he served as Lieutenant General of the Imperial Guard Division and Governor of Shimotsuke Province.[2]

In 1176, from his position as a personal attendant of Emperor Go-Shirakawa, he was promoted to Head Chamberlain (kurōdo no tō), surpassing the position of Taira no Kiyomori's favorite son Tomomori.[2]

In 1179, he briefly served as Associate Counselor, but was removed from office following Kiyomori's coup d'état the same year.[1][2] After the relocation of the capital to Fukuhara and the resumption of the imperial government the next year, Mitsuyoshi regained his position as Associate Counselor in 1181.[1] He was then promoted to Commander of Middle Palace Guards and given the court rank of Senior Third Rank.[1]

In 1183, Mitsuyoshi underwent pabbajjā. He died on March 23, 1183[2] at the age of 52.[1]

According to The Tale of the Heike, Mitsuyoshi presented the court order for the punitive expedition of the Taira clan and brought it to Minamoto no Yoritomo. According to Gukanshō, however, this story is pointed out to not be factual. Nevertheless, there is no doubt that Mitsuyoshi was a close attendant of Emperor Go-Shirakawa, and a portrait of him and Go-Shirakawa survives at Jingō-ji.[2]

Family
  • Father: Fujiwara no Tadanari
  • Mother: Minamoto no Suetada's daughter
  • Wife: Adachi Tōmoto's daughter
  • Wife: Nakahara Hirosue's daughter
  • Wife: Monk Kyōson's daughter
    • Fujiwara no Tadatsune[4]
  • Unknown mother:

References
  1. Ueda, Masaaki (2002). Kōdansha Nihon jinmei daijiten. 上田正昭, Kōdansha. Shuppan Kenkyūjo, 講談社. 出版研究所. Kōdansha. 藤原光能. ISBN 4-06-210800-3. OCLC 50718841.
  2. Asashi Nihon rekishi jinbutsu jiten. Asahi Shinbunsha. 1994. 藤原光能. ISBN 4-02-340052-1. OCLC 33014222.
  3. Nihon dai hyakka zensho. Shōgakkan, 小学館. 1989. 中原親能. ISBN 4-09-526001-7. OCLC 14970117.
  4. Kakimoto, Kotoo (1936). 大分県郷土史料集成　上巻　系図篇　戦記篇（前）. 大分県郷土史料刊行会. 大友系図.
  5. Seno, Seiichiro (1997). 中原親能 国史大辞典. Yoshikawa Kobunkan. 中原親能.
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