Fujiwara no Fusasaki (藤原 房前, 681 – May 25, 737) was a Japanese court noble who was a member of the Fujiwara clan and the founder of the Hokke House of the Fujiwara.[1] He served as Sangi (Associate Counselor) in the Imperial Court.

Fujiwara no Fusasaki
Fujiwara no Fusasaki
Native name藤原 房前
Born681
Died737
NationalityJapanese
Spouse(s)Muro no Oukami (daughter of Mine-ō - a descendant of Emperor Bidatsu)
IssueFujiwara no Nagate
Fujiwara no Matate
Fujiwara no Mitate
Fujiwara no Kitanobunin
And many others
FatherFujiwara no Fuhito
MotherSoga no Shōshi
Notes
Relatives
Fujiwara no Muchimaro (brother)
Fujiwara no Miyako (brother)
Fujiwara no Nagako (brother)
Fujiwara no Umakai (brother)
Fujiwara no Maro (brother)
Empress Kōmyō (sister)
Fujiwara no Tabino (brother)

Career edit

Fusasaki was a Sangi (associate counselor) in the Daijō-kan.[2]

He founded the temple of Sugimoto-dera in Kamakura in 734 with the priest Gyōki (668–749). The temple's legend holds that Empress Komyo (701–760) in the Nara Period (710–794) instructed Fusasaki, the then high-ranking minister, and a famous priest named Gyoki (668–749) to build the temple enshrining a statue of Eleven-Headed Kan'non, or Ekadasamukha in Sanskrit, as the main object of worship. Priest Gyoki fashioned the statue himself because he was also a great sculptor.[3]

Fusasaki died during a major smallpox epidemic in 737.[1][2]

Family edit

  • Father: Fujiwara no Fuhito (藤原不比等, 659–720)
  • Mother: Soga no Shōshi (蘇我娼子, ?–?), daughter of Soga no Murajiko (蘇我連子)
  • Main-wife (seishitsu): Muro no O-Okimi (牟漏女王, ?–746), daughter of Minu-Ō (美努王)
Order Name Japanese Lifetime
2nd son Fujiwara no Nagate 藤原永手 714–771
3rd son Fujiwara no Matate 藤原真楯 715–766
6th son Fujiwara no Mitate 藤原御楯 ? –764
daughter wife of Emperor Shōmu 北殿 ? –760
  • Wife: Daughter of Kusagunokura no Oyu (春日倉老)
Order Name Japanese Lifetime
1st son Fujiwara no Torikai 藤原鳥養 ? – ?
  • Wife: Daughter of (片野朝臣)
Order Name Japanese Lifetime
4th son Fujiwara no Kiyokawa 藤原清河 ? –778
5th son Fujiwara no Uona 藤原魚名 721–783
  • Wife: Daughter of (阿波采)
Order Name Japanese Lifetime
7th son Fujiwara no Kaedemaro 藤原楓麻呂 723–776
  • Children with unknown mother:
Order Name Japanese Lifetime
daughter wife of Fujiwara no Toyonari 藤原豊成室 ? – ?
daughter Fujiwara no Ohirako 藤原宇比良古 ? – 762

Notes edit

  1. ^ a b Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005). "Fujiwara no Fusasaki" in Japan Encyclopedia, p. 202, p. 202, 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. 224., p. 69, at Google Books
  3. ^ "Sugimoto-dera". July 2002. Retrieved 2009-04-19.

References edit