Minamoto no Michichika

Minamoto no Michichika Nguyên thông thân
Portrait from theTenshi Sekkan Miei(Thiên tử nhiếp quan ngự ảnh),held by theMuseum of the Imperial Collections
Born	1149
Died	November 7, 1202
Family	Murakami Genji
Father	Minamoto no Masamichi

In thisJapanese name,thesurnameisMinamoto.

Minamoto no Michichika(Nguyên thông thân,1149 – November 7, 1202)was a Japanese noble and statesman of the lateHeian periodand earlyKamakura period.Serving in the courts of seven different emperors, he brought theMurakami Genjito the peak of their success. He is also commonly known asTsuchimikado Motochika(Thổ ngự môn thông thân),and inSōtōZen buddhism asKoga no Michichika(Cửu ngã thông thân).

Life

Aide to Emperor Takakura

Born the heir of theMurakami Genjibranch of theMinamoto clanin 1149, and in 1158 was granted thelower junior fifth rank(従 ngũ vị hạ),via the Minamoto family head's prerogative to thus promote one individual each year. The Murakami Genji had previously enjoyed prosperity as the maternal relatives ofEmperor Horikawa,but after this were pushed back by descendants ofFujiwara no Kinsue's branch of theFujiwara clan,the Kan'in-ryū(Nhàn viện lưu).Michichika's father Masamichi servedBitokumon-induringEmperor Toba's cloistered rule, but changed his role under the cloistered rule ofEmperor Go-Shirakawa.In 1168, when Go-Shirakawa's wifeTaira no Shigekobecamekōtaigō,Masamichi became director of the Kōtaigō's Quarters(Hoàng thái hậu cung đại phu).Michichika was permitted entry into the court along withEmperor Takakura's ascension in the same year, serving as a close aid to the young emperor. Michichika's first wife was a daughter of thedaijō-daijinFujiwara no Tadamasa,but he soon took a daughter ofTairanoNorimoriorMichimorias his second wife, strengthening his ties with that powerful clan.

In 1179, Michichika became head of theKurōdo-dokoro,and in 1180 he was promoted both tosangi,thus joining the ranks of thekugyō,and to provisional lieutenant general of the imperial guard(Tả cận vệ 権 trung tương).AfterTaira no Kiyomori'scoup d'etatin late 1179, Emperor Takakura reluctantly abdicated the throne to begin his own cloistered rule, and Michichika supported his inexperienced efforts as head of his cloistered government. Michichika joined the imperial outing toItsukushimaand relocation of the capital toFukuhara-kyōin the first half of the year, but as the country fell into upheaval after thefirst battle of Uji,he returned toHeian-kyōin the autumn. The retired emperor Takakura's physical condition worsened and he fell ill. Michichika composed a poem praying for his recovery, but in 1181, Takakura died at 21 years old. As a close attendant of the dead sovereign, Michichika was bestowed an undyed white mourning dress. Lamenting the death of his longtime master, he recorded his plaintive feelings in theTakakura-in Shōkaki(Cao thương viện thăng hà ký).

Genpei War

Shortly thereafter Taira no Kiyomori died and Go-Shirakawa reopened his cloistered rule, and the center of power continued to change at a dizzying pace. Meanwhile, Michichika avoided relying on the patronage of any particular power, but participated passionately in debates at Go-Shirakawa's palace and worked diligently at the business of government, increasing his presence in the court. When the Taira clan fled the capital in 1183, he went visited Go-Shirakawa in order to bid them farewell. WhenEmperor Go-Tobatook the throne in the next month, the Imperial Regalia were in the possession of the Taira. Michichika raised the examples ofEmperor Guangwu of HanandEmperor Yuan of Jin,who obtained their imperial seals only after assuming the throne, in order to help Go-Toba ascend smoothly.He was present atHōjūjidonoduring theSiege of Hōjūjidonothat autumn.

Michichika's loyalty was recognized, and in spring of 1185 he was promoted to provisionalchūnagon,and that winter was appointed as one of ten ministers appointed to oversee the court, calledgisō(Nghị tấu).He was grantedInaba Provinceas a fief and recommended his second sonHorikawa Michitomoas itsgovernor.He married Emperor Go-Toba's wetnurse,Fujiwara no Hanshi,and adopted her daughterMinamoto no Zaishi.As Michichika headed the event teams forKujō Kanezane's proclamations asnairanand head of thesekkanFujiwara clan,and Kanezane praised Michichika's hard work in turn, the relationship between the two appears to have been healthy at the time. Under Kanezane's conservative administration, though, Michichika's promotion stalled. In 1188, Michichika protested against the promotion of Kanezane's younger and less experienced sonKujō Yoshitsuneover him to the senior second rank(Chính nhị vị),requesting that he too be promoted. Kanezane criticized Michichika harshly, calling him ungrateful for his promotion to junior second rank(従 nhị vị)the previous year, and in this no different from a bird or animal.After this, their relationship soured, and Michichika began to look for an opportunity to take Kanezane down.

Guardian to Senyōmon-in

In late 1189, Michichika invited Go-Shirakawa to the Koga estate and presented him with various gifts. A month and a half later, Go-Shirakawa's youngest daughterPrincess Kinshiwas proclaimed an imperial princess, and Michichika was appointed as her guardian, strengthening his relationship with her birth motherTakashina no Eishi.In 1191, Princess Kinshi was bestowed the Buddhist name of Senyōmon-in(Tuyên dương môn viện),and Michichika became the steward of her household, appointing his sons Michitomo and Michimune to positions within it. When Go-Shirakawa died in 1192, it was Senyōmon-in who inherited his largest territory Chōkōdō-ryō(Trường giảng đường lĩnh),and as Michichika was its effective manager, he brought the courtiers in control of it into his jurisdiction, forming a strong political foothold for himself.

WhenMinamoto no Yoritomoentered the capital in 1190, Michichika remembered to curry favor with him by acting as event manager for his appointment to general of the imperial guard(Hữu cận vệ đại tương),but also planned to strengthen his relationship with Yoritomo's confidantŌe no Hiromoto.In 1191, he broke with tradition by appointing Hiromoto as a professor(Minh pháp bác sĩ)in theDaigaku-ryōand captain in the imperial guard(Tả vệ môn đại úy).

After Go-Shirakawa's death, Kujō Kanezane controlled the court through the young Emperor Go-Toba, but his strict adherence to tradition and stress on lineage in personnel affairs fostered opposition amongst the middle and lower ranking nobles, and he gradually lost popularity in the court. Michichika won over the noble families ofFujiwara no Akisueand the Kashūji-ryū(Khuyên tu tự lưu)branch of the Fujiwara, who Kanezane had treated coldly, as allies. Meanwhile, he used Takashina no Eishi as an intermediary to alienate Yoritomo, who wanted to marry his daughterŌ-himeto the Emperor, from Kanezane, who had already married his own daughterKujō Ninshito said emperor. In 1195, Michichika was promoted todainagon,and when his adopted daughter Zaishi bore the Emperor a prince, the futureEmperor Tsuchimikado,his position in the court suddenly solidified. In 1196, he made Kujō Ninshi leave the palace and overthrew Kanezane, replacing him withKonoe Motomichiin a coup d'etat.

Minamoto Hakuriku

In 1198, Michichika forced the enthronement of Emperor Tsuchimikado against both precedent and the opposition of the shogunate. Though Michichika tried to use the case ofEmperor Kōninas a precedent for the sudden enthronement,Fujiwara no Teikascathingly commented "If Tsuchimikado is Kōnin, then who isDōkyō?"After this, Michichika reached the height of his power as the Emperor's maternal grandfather, and was called Minamoto Hakuriku(Nguyên bác lục).The term "Hakuriku" here refers to the position ofkampaku,although Michichika himself never officially held the title.

In 1199, Michichika became a general of the imperial guard(Hữu cận vệ đại tương).He tried to lessen the shogunate's opposition by appointing the heirMinamoto Yoriieas lieutenant general of the imperial guard(Tả cận vệ trung tương),but shortly thereafter received news that Yoritomo had fallen seriously ill. Once Yoritomo's death was publicly announced, it would become necessary to delay Yoriie's promotion, and so Michichika hurriedly conducted both appointments in a simplified fashion. Teika once again criticized Michichika for enforcing the appointment while knowing of Yoritomo's demise and then expressing his condolences and making a show of mourning the next day, calling this an "egregious plot".Yoritomo's death upset the political situation, and in the capitalIchijō Yoshiyasuplotted an attack on Michichika, forcing him to hide in the retired emperor's palace. Executives of the shogunate, with Ōe no Hiromoto at the center, supported Michichika, suppressing the movement to remove him and restoring peace to the capital.

Michichika made various preparations, rebuilding Tsuchimikado's palace and adding a gate,and that summer was promoted tonaidaijin.While respecting the viewpoint of the now-mature retired emperor Go-Toba, Michichika placed Kujō Yoshitsune assadaijinandKonoe Iezaneasudaijinto preserve peace between and with both families. Since both were still young, Michichika was effectively in control of theDaijō-kan.Around this time, he also marriedFujiwara no Motofusa's daughter Ishi.

In 1200 Go-Toba's third son Prince Morinari, the futureEmperor Juntoku,became crown prince. Michichika became his tutor(Đông cung phó),while his brother-in-law Fujiwara Terumitsu(Đằng nguyên phạm quang)became vice-steward of the Crown Prince's Quarters(Xuân cung lượng),and his heir Minamoto Michiteru(Nguyên thông quang)provisionally assumed the same title, filling the Crown Prince's Quarters with the Murakami Genji and his Fujiwara relatives. Even 1202 he appeared vigorous, acting as event manager when his adopted daughter Zaishi received the Buddhist name Shōmeimon-in(Thừa minh môn viện),and welcoming Go-Toba to a palace built by his sworn friendFujiwara no Muneyori,but he suddenly died that autumn at age 54. When Konoe Iezane heard of his death, he recorded in his diary that Michichika had handled all the business of government,and the court granted him the posthumous junior first rank(従 nhất vị).Go-Toba was also said to have expressed his sorrow by stopping holding poetry contests. After Michichika's death, there was nobody left who could dissuade Go-Toba, and he began his cloistered rule in earnest.

Michichika was also a skilled poet and also served in thewaka-dokoro(Hòa ca sở),where he led the planning for a new poetry collection that would later become theShin Kokin Wakashū.However, he died without seeing its completion. That collection, along with many others, includes some of Michichika'swaka.

Famous works

Takakura-in Itsukushima Gokōki(Cao thương viện nghiêm đảo ngự hạnh ký),written in 1180, is Michichika's travel diary from retired Emperor Takakura's Imperial visit toItsukushimainAki Province.Takakura-in Shōkaki(Cao thương viện thăng hà ký),written in 1181, records the state of affairs at the time of Emperor Takakura's death and mourns him. Both are written in a mix ofkanaandkanji,as is modern Japanese. The two together are known as "Minamoto no Michichika's Diaries"(Nguyên thông thân nhật ký).

Genealogy

• Father: Minamoto no Masamichi(Nguyên nhã thông)
• Mother: daughter of Fujiwara no Yukikane(Đằng nguyên hành kiêm),court lady of Bifukumon-in
• Wife: daughter of Fujiwara no Tadamasa(Đằng nguyên trung nhã)
  • Eldest son: Minamoto no Michimune(Nguyên thông tông,1168–1198)
• Wife: daughter of Taira no Norimori(Bình giáo thịnh)or Taira no Michimori(Bình thông thịnh),court lady ofEmperor Takakura
  • Second son: Horikawa Michitomo(Quật xuyên thông cụ,1171–1227),descendants became Horikawa clan (died out inMuromachi period)
• Wife: Fujiwara no Hanshi(Đằng nguyên phạm tử),junior third rank(従 tam vị),daughter of Fujiwara no Norikane(Đằng nguyên phạm kiêm)
  • Third son: Koga Michiteru(Cửu ngã thông quang,1187–1248),descendants carried onKoga clan
  • Fourth son: Tsuchimikado Sadamichi(Thổ ngự môn định thông,1188–1247),descendants became Tsuchimikado clan (died out in Muromachi period)
  • Fifth son: Nakanoin Michikata(Trung viện thông phương,1189–1239),descendants became Nakanoin clan
  • Adopted daughter: Minamoto no Zaishi(Nguyên tại tử,1171–1257),aka Shōmeimon-in(Thừa minh môn viện),biological daughter of Nōen(Năng viên),wife ofEmperor Go-Tobaand birth mother ofEmperor Tsuchimikado
• Wife: Fujiwara no Ishi(Đằng nguyên y tử),daughter ofFujiwara no Motofusa
  • Son?:Dōgen(Đạo nguyên,1200–1253),possibly instead a grandchild via Michitomo
• Wife: Owari no Tsubone(Vĩ trương cục),lady-in-waiting of Shōmeimon-in
  • Sixth son: Tsuchimikado Michiyuki(Thổ ngự môn thông hành,1202–1270)
• Other children:
  • Son: Shin'en(Thân duyên)
  • Son:Unkai(Vân khoái)
  • Son: Sadachika(Định thân,1203–1266)
  • Daughter: Minamoto no Chikako(Nguyên thân tử),wetnurse ofEmperor Go-Saga
  • Adopted son: Shōkū(Chứng không,1177–1247)
  • Adopted son: Ōe no Chikahiro(Đại giang thân quảng,?–1242),heir ofŌe no Hiromoto

Michichika's eldest son Michimune rose to the lower senior fourth rank(Chính tứ vị hạ)and position ofsangi,as well as lieutenant general in the imperial guard(Tả trung tương),but in 1198 he died at the age of 31. However, Michimune's daughter Minamoto no Tsūshi(Nguyên thông tử)andEmperor Tsuchimikado's son becameEmperor Go-Saga,and so Michichika's family gained the position of maternal relatives to both Tsuchimikado and Go-Saga.

Later, theSaionji familyrose to power, and Michichika's clan never regained the stature it had during his life. Even so, his children Michitomo, Michiteru, Sadamichi, and Michikata split the family into the Horikawa clan,Koga clan,Tsuchimikado clan, and Nakanoin clan. The Horikawa and Tsuchimikado clans died out in theMuromachi period,but the Koga and Nakanoin families persisted until theMeiji restoration,joining theKazokupeerage upon its creation. Meanwhile, the Nakanoin clan produced its own branch family in the Kitabatake clan(Bắc điền gia),while the Koga went on to spawn the Iwakura clan(Nham thương gia).

Michichika's most famous descendant was the Zen monkDōgen,who returned fromSong dynastyand created theSōtō school24 years after Michichika's death.

Michichika's adopted sonShōkūbecame a disciple ofHōnen,and became the founder of theSeizansub-sect ofJōdo-shūbuddhism.

References

• Hashimoto, Yoshihiko (1992).Nguyên thông thân[Minamoto no Michichika] (in Japanese).Yoshikawa Kōbunkan(Cát xuyên hoằng văn quán).ISBN4642051961.