Fujiwara no Akiyori (藤原顕頼)
FUJIWARA no Akiyori (1094 - February 3, 1148) was a Kugyo (court noble), who lived in the end of the Heian period. He was the eldest son of FUJIWARA no Akitaka, who held the title of Gon Chunagon (a provisional vice-councilor of state). His mother was Etsushi (she held the title of Naishi no suke (a court lady of the first rank) and the wet nurse of Emperor Toba), who was the daughter of FUJIWARA no Suetsuna, who was the Echigo no kami (Provincial Governor of Echigo). His children were FUJIWARA no Mitsuyori, FUJIWARA no Korekata, Hisayori, FUJIWARA no Nariyori, Sukeko (a wife of TAIRA no Tokinobu and the mother of TAIRA no Shigeko), the wife of FUJIWARA no Suenari (The mother of Kinmitsu), and the wife of FUJIWARA no Tadataka (mother of FUJIWARA no Nobuyori), the wife of FUJIWARA no Moronaga (divorced afterwards).
He successively held posts of Zuryo (the head of the provincial governors) of Izumo, Mikawa, Tango, and Tanba Provinces, and was governmental official responsible for practical works after he was appointed to the court rank of Jugoinoge (Junior Fifth Rank, Lower Grade) in 1108. He became Sanjikentai (managing three assignments of Benkan, Kurodo (Chamberlain), and Kebiishi (a police and judicial chief)) after he was assigned to be Ushoben (Minor Controller of the Right) while staying as the Kurodo and Kebiishi no suke (assistant official of the Police and Judicial Chief) in 1122. He became the Sangi (councilor) in 1131 and was promoted to Gon Chunagon and also held the additional post of the Dazai gon no sochi (Provisional Governor-General of the Dazai-fu offices). He resigned as Gon chunagon and became Minbukyo (Minister of Popular Affairs) before being granted with the rank of Shonii (Senior Second Rank) in 1141.
As the trusted man of retired Emperor Toba, he was praised as 'the one who controls the power inside and out, and is confronted by serious matters more than others' ('Honcho Shinshu Ojo-den' (New collection of hagiographies of those born in the Pure Land)) and participated in important political agendas even after retiring from the Giseikan (Legislature). He spoke out for the protection of Tadamori and Kiyomori when Enryaku-ji Temple strongly demanded the exile of TAIRA no Tadamori (son) and Kiyomori (father) in 1147 by quelling the opinion of FUJIWARA no Yorinaga, who sided with the Enryaku-ji Temple. On the other hand, he had good relations with the Sekkan-ke (the families which produced regents) for having one of his daughters become the wife of the child of Yorinaga, Moronaga and this struck a balance between the In (retired emperor) and the Sekkan-ke in conflict. He passed away at the age of 55 in 1148. FUJIWARA no Sinzei became the close adviser of the Cloistered Emperor Toba and quickly became powerful and the opposition between the Sekkan-ke and the In no Kinshin (the retired emperor's courtier) grew severe and led to the Hogen War.
Record of Office and Rank
Dates and months are in the old calendar. 1105: 12 years old.
December 24: Assumed the position of Daizen no Gon no suke (the title of a provisional person who was in charge of meals in the court)
1107: 14 years old. December 8: Became the Kurodo.
1108: 15 years old. January 24: Appointed to the rank of Jugoinoge. Assumed the position of the Izumo no kami (Provisional Governor of Izumo Province).
1114: 21 years old. December 14: Assumed the position of the Mikawa no kami (Provisional Governor of Mikawa Province).
1115: 22 years old. March 24: Admitted to the imperial court.
1116: 23 years old. December 22: Assumed the position of Kageyushi no suke (Vice-minister of the Office of Investigators of the Records of Outgoing Officials). Retained his position as Mikawa no Kami.
1117: 24 years old. January 5: Appointed to the rank of Jugoinojo (Junior Fifth Rank, Upper Grade).
1118: 25 years old. January 18: Assumed the position of Tango no Kami (Provisional Governor of Tango Province). January 26: Also assumed the position of Chugu Gon no taijo (Provisional Senior Secretary in the Office of the Consort's Household) (Chugu was FUJIWARA no Shoshi (Tamako)).
1119: 26 years old. April 6: Assumed the position of Uemon Gon no suke (provisional assistant captain of the Right Division of Outer Palace Guards). Also served as Kebiishi (a police and judicial chief).
1120: 27 years old. November 29: Became Kurodo (Chamberlain). Retained his position as Uemon Gon no suke.
1121: 28 years old. June 26: Assumed the position of Saemon no Gon no suke (provisional assistant captain of the Left Division of Outer Palace Guards).
1122: 29 years old. January 6: Appointed to the rank of Shogoinoge (Senior Fifth Rank, Lower Grade). September 20: Assumed the position of Bokashi (administration of the Kamo-gawa River). December 22: Assumed the position of Ushoben.
1123: 30 years old.
January 28: Assumed the position of Kurodo of New Emperor (Emperor Sutoku) (a secretary to the new Emperor)
April 5: Assigned to be the Tanba no Kami (Provisional Governor of Tanba Province). Retained his position as Ushoben and Chugu Gon no taijo.
December 20: Assumed the position of Gon Uchuben (provisional Middle Controller of the right).
1124: 31 years old. January 5: Appointed to the rank of Jushiinoge (Junior Fourth Rank, Lower Grade). November 24: Resigned the post of Chugu Gon no taijo (by issuing an Imperial letter).
1125: 32 years old. January 6: Appointed to the rank of Joshiinojo (Junior Fourth Rank, Upper Grade). November 11: Appointed to the rank of Shoshiinoge (Senior Fourth Rank, Lower Grade).
1130: 37 years old. October 5: Assumed the position of Uchuben (Middle Controller of the Right). Assumed the position of Kurodo no to (Head Chamberlain).
1131: 38 years old. December 22: Assigned to be the Sangi (councilor).
1132: 39 years old. January 22: Served as an additional post of Uhyoe no kami (Captain of the Right Division of Middle Palace Guards) and Harima gon no kami (Provisional Governor of Harima Province).
1133: 40 years old. December 26: Assigned to be the Kebiishi no betto (Superintendent of the Imperial Police).
1134: 41 years old. January 5: Appointed to the rank of Jusanmi (Junior Third Rank). February 22: Assumed the position of Gon Chunagon. Retained his position as Uhyoe no kami and Kebiishi no betto.
1135: 42 years old. March 14: Retired from the position of Kebiishi no betto.
1136: 43 years old. December 21: Assumed the position of Kogogu-Daibu (Master of the Empress's Household) (Empress Dowager was FUJIWARA no Taishi (Yasuko)).
1139: 46 years old. January 5: Appointed to the rank of Shosanmi (Senior Third Rank). January 24: Served as an additional post of Dazai gon no sochi. July 28: Retired from the Dazai gon no sochi (by issuing an Imperial letter). October 26: Appointed to the rank of Junii (Junior Second Rank) (made an imperial visit and held a memorial service at the Seisho-ji Temple).
1141: 48 years old. December 2: Retired from Gon Chunagon and Dazai gon no sochi positions. Reassigned to the position of Minbukyo.
1143: 50 years old. January 3: Appointed to the rank of Shonii (Senior Second Rank).
1148: 55 years old. January 3: Became a Buddhist priest.