Fujiwara no Umakai explained

Fujiwara no Umakai
Birth Date:	694
Death Date:	7 September 737
Nationality:	Japanese
Parents:	Fujiwara no Fuhito (father)

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, and, 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).
    • 3rd son: Fujiwara no Kiyonari (藤原清成, 716–777)
  • 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?
    • 8th son: Fujiwara no Momokawa (藤原百川, 732-779)
  • Wife: named (佐伯家主娘), daughter of 佐伯徳麻呂.
    • 9th son: Fujiwara no Kurajimaro (藤原蔵下麻呂, 734–775)
  • 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).

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. ; 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

Notes and References

1. Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005). "Fujiwara no Umakai" in ; Brinkley, Frank et al. (1915).
2. Titsingh, Isaac. (1834). ; see "Fousiwara-no Nokiafi", pre-Hepburn romanization
3. Nussbaum, "Shikibu-kyō" at
4. Fogel, Joshua. (1996). ; 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,
6. Brinkley,
7. Titsingh,
8. Titsingh,
9. Brinkley,
10. Brinkley, ; 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
12. Nussbaum, "Fujiwara no Momokawa" at