Fujiwara no Umakai

Fujiwara no Umakai
Fujiwara no Umakai drawn by Kikuchi Yōsai
Born694
Died7 September 737
NationalityJapanese
ParentsFujiwara no Fuhito (father)

Fujiwara no Umakai (藤原 宇合, 694 – September 7, 737) was a Japanese statesman, courtier, general and politician during the Nara period.[1] The third son of Fujiwara no Fuhito, he founded the Shikike ("Ceremonials") branch of the Fujiwara clan.

Career

He was a diplomat during the reign of Empress Genshō;[2] and he was minister during the reign of Emperor Shōmu. In the Imperial court, Umakai was the chief of protocol (Shikibu-kyō).[3]

  • 716 (Reiki 2): Along with Tajihi no Agatamori (多治比縣守), Abe no Yasumaro (阿倍安麻呂) and Ōtomo no Yamamori (大伴山守), Umakai was named to be part of a Japanese diplomatic mission to Tang China in 717-718.[2] Kibi no Makibi and the Buddhist monk Genbō were also part of the entourage.[4]
  • 724 (Jinki 1, 1st month): Umakai led an army against the emishi;[5] but this military campaign was later judged to have been unsuccessful.[6]
  • 729 (Tenpyō 1): The emperor invested Umakai with the power to raise an army to quash a revolt, but the cause for alarm was dissipated without the need for military action.[7]
  • 737 (Tenpyō 9): Umakai died at age 44.[8] A major smallpox epidemic caused the deaths of Umakai and his three brothers.[9]

Genealogy

This member of the Fujiwara clan was son of Fujiwara no Fuhito.[1] Umakai had three brothers: Muchimaro, Fusasaki, and Maro. These four brothers are known for having established the "four houses" of the Fujiwara.[10]

Umakai's children included: Fujiwara no Hirotsugu[11] and Fujiwara no Momokawa[12]

Family

  • Father: Fujiwara no Fuhito
  • Mother: Soga no Shōshi (蘇我娼子, ?–?), daughter of Soga no Murajiko (蘇我連子).
    • Wife: Isonokami no Kunimina no Ōtoji (石上国盛), daughter of Isonokami no Maro (石上麻呂).
      • 1st son: Fujiwara no Hirotsugu (藤原広嗣, ?–740)
      • 2nd son: Fujiwara no Yoshitsugu (藤原良継, 716–777)
    • Wife: Takahashi no Aneko (高橋阿禰娘), daughter of Takahashi no Kasa no Ason (高橋笠朝臣).
    • Wife: unclear name (小治田功麿男牛養女)
      • 5th son: Fujiwara no Tamaro (藤原田麻呂, 722–783)
    • Wife: Kume no Wakame (久米若女), daughter of 久米奈保麻呂?
    • Wife: named (佐伯家主娘), daughter of 佐伯徳麻呂.
    • Children with unknown mother:
      • 4th son: Fujiwara no Tsunate (藤原綱手, ?–740)
      • Daughter: name unknown, wife of Fujiwara no Uona.
      • Daughter: name unknown, wife of Fujiwara no Kosemaro (藤原巨勢麻呂).
      • Daughter: named (掃子), possibly mother of Fujiwara no Tsunatsugu (藤原綱継).

Notes

  1. ^ a b Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005). "Fujiwara no Umakai" in Japan Encyclopedia, p. 211, p. 211, at Google Books; Brinkley, Frank et al. (1915). A History of the Japanese People from the Earliest Times to the End of the Meiji Era, p. 203., p. 203, at Google Books
  2. ^ a b Titsingh, Isaac. (1834). Annales des empereurs du japon, p. 65, p. 65, at Google Books; see "Fousiwara-no Nokiafi", pre-Hepburn romanization
  3. ^ Nussbaum, "Shikibu-kyō" at p. 856, p. 856, at Google Books
  4. ^ Fogel, Joshua. (1996). The Literature of Travel in the Japanese Rediscovery of China, p. 22, p. 22, at Google Books; excerpt, "Like Genbō, Kibi no Makibi remained in China after the embassy ships returned to Japan, returning home himself at the same time as Genbo seventeen years later."
  5. ^ Brinkley, p. 223., p. 223, at Google Books
  6. ^ Brinkley, p. 220., p. 220, at Google Books
  7. ^ Titsingh,p. 68, p. 68, at Google Books
  8. ^ Titsingh,p. 69, p. 69, at Google Books
  9. ^ Brinkley, p. 190., p. 190, at Google Books
  10. ^ Brinkley, p. 203., p. 203, at Google Books; excerpt, "Muchimaro's home, being in the south (nan) of the capital, was called Nan-ke; Fusazaki's, being in the north (hoku), was termed Hoku-ke; Umakai's was spoken of as Shiki-ke, since he presided over the Department of Ceremonies (shiki), and Maro's went by the name of Kyō-ke, this term also having reference to his office."
  11. ^ Nussbaum, "Fujiwara no Hirotsugu" at p. 202, p. 202, at Google Books
  12. ^ Nussbaum, "Fujiwara no Momokawa" at p. 206, p. 206, at Google Books

References

  • Brinkley, Frank and Dairoku Kikuchi. (1915). A History of the Japanese People from the Earliest Times to the End of the Meiji Era. New York: Encyclopædia Britannica. OCLC 413099
  • Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric and Käthe Roth. (2005). Japan encyclopedia. Cambridge: Harvard University Press. ISBN 978-0-674-01753-5; OCLC 58053128
  • Titsingh, Isaac. (1834). Annales des empereurs du Japon (Nihon Odai Ichiran). Paris: Royal Asiatic Society, Oriental Translation Fund of Great Britain and Ireland. OCLC 5850691


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