Fujiwara no Suetsune (藤原季経)

FUJIWARA no Suetsune (1131 - 1221) was a poet who lived from the end of the Heian period to the early Kamakura period. He was a son of Shosanmi (Senior Third Rank) kyoshiki (officer of government institutions within the capital) FUJIWARA no Akisuke. He was Shosanmi Kunaikyo (Minister of the Sovereign's Household). He had an adopted son, FUJIWARA no Yasusue, a son of FUJIWARA no Shigeie, who was Gyobukyo (Minister of Justice).

It is said that he and his older maternal half-brother, Shigeie, were beloved by their father, Akisuke. He served as a judge in 'Sengohyaku Ban Uta Awase' (1500 Sets of Poetry Match) and other poetry matches, and is known for his opposition to FUJIWARA no Teika. He entered into the priesthood in 1201, and his homyo (a name given to a person who enters the Buddhist priesthood) was Renkei. He left a private selection of poetry "Suetsune Nyudoshu" (Collection of Suetsune Nyudo's Poems).

[Original Japanese]