The Fujiwara Clan (Japan)

The Beginnings of The Fujiwara Clan

The Fujiwara Clan (Japan)

Natalie Brammer

• Moving it's capital to Kyoto (city of peace), Japan hoped for a more unified country.
• During this time period, the Fujiwara Clan came about where they were able to stabilize the throne for a few hundred years.
• It was the "northern" or "Hokke"branch of the family that took control gradually starting in 858.

Who was the Fujiwara clan?

Religion

Before the Fujiwara- Nara & Heian Periods

• Dynastic family
• Dominated the Japanese court government. This was in the 9th-12th centuries.

City of Nara was established as Japan's capital in 710.

During this time period, Nara was highly agricultural.

795- Capital moved from Nara to Kyoto.

• During the Nara and Heian periods, the Buddhism and Shinto religions were most prominently practiced.
• Shintoism- Natural wonders had super-powers and a "ghost of deity dwells in such objects."
• Later came up with ShingonBuddhism. Shinto gods were the manifestation of Buddha.
• Some started to believe in Zen (Chinese)- One can achieve themselves through meditation and enlightenment.

Fujiwara Fuhito

About the Fujiwara Clan

He was Kamatari's son who was the first to hold out the new name.

He was also the first to marry his daughter into the imperial family to emperor Shomu.

Heian Marriage's influence on the Fujiwara

Highest ranking of aristocrats.

They had systematic intermarriage between their family and the imperial family during the Nara period.

Nakatomi Kamatari was the "founder" of the Fujiwara family. He had close ties with emperor Tenji whom entrusted him with the affairs of the government. After Kamatari's death,he gained the name of Fujiwara.

Interesting Fact

Fujiwara Yoshifusa

• Father-in-law to the reigning monarch.
• First in Japanese history to be the emperor of not royal blood (emperor Seiwa).

• Married couples usually lived under the wife's roof.
• Fujiwara family took advantage and that is how they gained political power (marrying into the imperial family).
• The Fujiwara girls would then become empresses and consorts.
• The Fujiwara grandfathers would take charge in raising the children while women gave birth to those with Fujiwara and imperial blood.

Fuji- wara means "wisteria-grove." These flowers were their symbol in their family shrine, Kasuga Grand Shrine and Kofuku-ji Temple.

Citations

Decline of Power

• Serious rebellions
• Decline of economic basis
• Military family strength outdoing provinces.
• Michinaga died on 1027.
• Decline in Fujiwara family.
• Go-Sanjo was the emperor in 1068 whose wife was not of Fujiwara blood.
• "Cloistered Rule" which meant the family had to leave an infant on the throne and establish a second administration in a monastery.

• http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2132.html
• http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/221568/Fujiwara-Family
• http://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/Fujiwara+clan
• http://wiki.samurai-archives.com/index.php?title=Fujiwara_clan
• http://www.samurai-archives.com/HeianPeriod.html
• http://amoderngirl.wordpress.com/2013/07/23/chuson-ji-temple-of-the-northern-fujiwara-clan/
• http://www.personal.psu.edu/faculty/g/j/gjs4/textbooks/480/ch5.htm
• http://peregrinetravelgroup.com/browse-by-activity
• http://www.lakelandschools.us/lh/modonnell/virtualjapan/naraheian.htm
• http://www.asahi-net.or.jp/~qm9t-kndu/shintoism.htm
• http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=qsBx5NTyCdIHBM&tbnid=HVmQhtBn4Yu9MM:&ved=0CAQQjB0&url=http%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FFujiwara_no_Yoshifusa&ei=40KaUtCiD8TUoAT5ioD4Bg&bvm=bv.57155469,d.cGU&psig=AFQjCNGJFp2rNSsqspkz4VmRP12r9w66Dg&ust=1385927762895848
• http://stardustenglishwriting.blogspot.com/2011/05/wisteria-and-ancient-fujiwara-clan.html
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Empress_Sh%C5%8Dshi
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fujiwara_no_Michinaga
• http://www.rebeccanemser.com/1989/03/courtly-splendor-twelve-centuries-of-treasures-from-japan/

The Glorious Fujiwara Michinaga

The Tale of Genji & The Pillow Book

He was the peak of power and glory when three of his daughters married emperors and a fourth who married an heir.

His mansions were more magnificant than the palaces.

He held picnics, banquets, poetry contests and gained the love of many.

"The Tale of Genji" was the world's first novel written by Murasaki Shikibu.

She was a lady-in-waiting in the imperial court who served Michinaga's daughter, Empress Shoshi. She was inspired by Michinaga.

Sei Shônagun wrote "The Pillow Book" as she was also a lady-in-waiting.

These works were considered masterpieces of the Heian era.