The Fujiwara Hok-ke (藤原北家, lit. Fujiwara northern house) was cadet branch of the Fujiwara clan of Japan.

Quick Facts Fujiwara 藤原 (北家), Parent house ...
Fujiwara
藤原 (北家)
Thumb
Mon: Sagarifuji
Parent houseFujiwara clan
TitlesVarious
FounderFujiwara no Fusasaki
Founding year8th century
Cadet branches
Close

The other three were the Fujiwara Nan-ke, Fujiwara Kyō-ke and Fujiwara Shiki-ke. The Hok-ke branch issued the de facto rulers of Japan through their hereditary position as imperial regents (Sesshō and Kampaku). In the Kamakura period, it further split into the Five regent houses, who continued to monopolize the regency from the 12th century until 1868. After the Meiji Restoration, these houses were appointed Prince in the new hereditary peerage.

History

The branch was founded by Fujiwara no Fusasaki,[1] the second son of Fujiwara no Fuhito, in the Heian period.[2] Being located in the north (hoku) of his brother's mansion, the epithet Hoku-ke or abbreviated Hok-ke was given. Fusasaki had three brothers: Muchimaro, Maro and Umakai, and these four brothers are known for having established the "four houses" of the Fujiwara; the Hok-ke, Fujiwara Nan-ke, Fujiwara Kyō-ke and Fujiwara Shiki-ke.[3]

During the time of Fujiwara no Fuyutsugu, the Hok-ke became prosperous after Fuyutsugu was appointed kurōdo-no-tō (Head Chamberlain). His son Fujiwara no Yoshifusa became the first sesshō (regent in the place of a child Emperor), and his son, Fujiwara no Mototsune, became kampaku (regent in the place of an adult Emperor). After that, members of the Hokke continued to have a strong relationship with the Imperial Family by marrying Hokke daughters to the emperors. This allowed them to exclude other families and monopolize the regent position.[2]

The Hok-ke prospered during the time of Fujiwara no Michinaga and Yorimichi. In the Kamakura period, Hok-ke split into the Five regent houses, Konoe, Takatsukasa, Kujō, Ichijō, and Nijō.[2] These families continued to monopolize the regency until the Meiji Restoration in 1868. When the regency was abolished, a new hereditary peerage (kazoku) was established, and these houses were all appointed as Duke.[4]

Notable members

See also

Notes

References

Wikiwand in your browser!

Seamless Wikipedia browsing. On steroids.

Every time you click a link to Wikipedia, Wiktionary or Wikiquote in your browser's search results, it will show the modern Wikiwand interface.

Wikiwand extension is a five stars, simple, with minimum permission required to keep your browsing private, safe and transparent.