Fujiwara no Ienari (藤原家成)
FUJIWARA no Ienari (1107 - July 11, 1154) was a court noble in the end of Heian Period. He was the third son of FUJIWARA no Ieyasu. His mother was Muneko (Naishi no suke (a court lady of the first rank) of the Emperor Horikawa and later on, menoto (a woman providing breast-feed to a highborn baby) of the Emperor Sutoku), a daughter of FUJIWARA no Takamune. His last official title was Shonii (Senior Second Rank)・Chunagon (vice-councilor of state). FUJIWARA no Takasue, FUJIWARA no Ieaki, FUJIWARA no Narichika, Sanenori, FUJIWARA no Keishi (TAIRA no Shigemori's lawful wife), FUJIWARA no Tadamasa's lawful wife (mother of FUJIWARA no Kanemasa), MINAMOTO no Sadafusa's lawful wife and FUJIWARA no Kimichika's lawful wife were his children.
During the era of the Emperor Toba, he was active as the most favorite retainer of the Retired Emperor Toba. While being deeply involved, along with his cousin FUJIWARA no Nariko, in the center of state affairs in Kyoto, he also established a lot of shoen (manor in medieval Japan) in various provinces and achieved remarkable economic success.
On September 24, 1132 when the retired Emperor visited Uji to inspect kyozo (sutra repository) of Byodoin Temple, FUJIWARA no Tadazane exceptionally permitted Ienari to enter kyozo in violation of the policy prohibiting the entry of outsiders. ("Zoku kojidan")
Based on this kyozo, Ienari constructed in 1134 Shokomyo-in and hozo (treasure house) at the Toba Palace.
Although Tadazane adopted conciliatory attitude toward Ienari, his son FUJIWARA no Yorinaga expressed his caution about Ienari's power by saying 'Ienari is a happy person second to none'. When Ienari climbed Mt. Hiei in 1145 with his brother- in- law MINAMOTO no Masamichi and his son- in- law FUJIWARA no Kimichika leading him, Yorinaga condemned Masamichi and Kimichika, who came of prestigious families, for leading Ienari, who came of Shodaibu (aristocracy lower than Kugyo), by saying 'They will lose the name of hero for long' ("Taiki" (diary of FUJIWARA no Yorinaga)).
Under such circumstances, his residence was destroyed completely in 1151 by the attack made by Yorinaga on the pretext of a squabble between their servants. Such impatient as well as nearsighted action by Yorinaga evoked the rage of the Retired Emperor Toba and this incident foreshadowed Yorinaga's downfall that led to the outbreak of Hogen War.
It is said that he was closely acquainted with TAIRA no Tadamori and TAIRA no Kiyomori, father and son, and Kiyomori often visited Ienari's residence in his youth. With the official marriage of Shigemori, the eldest son of Kiyomori, and a daughter of Ienari at the head of the list, both families were related by marriage several times.
He constructed a villa-cum-temple in Washio-cho, Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto City while in life and was buried there after death. His descendant prospered as the Shijo family, one of the Urin family.
Record of office and rank
1122 (16years old)
February 28: Kurodo (a chamberlain)
March 10: Sakonoe no shogen (Lieutenant of the Left Division of Inner Palace Guards)
July 7: Jugoinoge (Junior Fifth Rank, Lower Grade)
1125 (19 years old)
March 11: Wakasa no kami (Governor of Wakasa Province) (under control by the in-no-cho of the Retired Emperor Toba)
He concurrently assumed the position of Sahyoe no gon no suke (Provisional Assistant Captain of the Left Division of Middle Palace Guards)
1126 (20years old)
February 2: Jugoinojo (Junior Fifth Rank, Upper Grade) (the Retired Emperor Toba received Gokyu (a kind of pension paid to members of Imperial family))
1127 (21 years old)
March 10: Kaga no kami (Governor of Kaga Province) (under control by the in-no-cho of the Retired Emperor Toba)
1128 (22 years old)
February 23: Jushiinoge (Junior fourth Rank, Lower Grade) (the Retired Emperor Toba received Gokyu)
1129 (23 years old)
February 17: Jushiinojo (Junior Fourth Rank, Upper Grade) (the Retired Emperor Toba received Gokyu)
November 29: Shoshiinoge (Senior Fourth Rank, Lower Grade)
December 3: Sama no kami (Captain of Samaryo, Left Division of Bureau of Horses)
February 13, 1130 - Sanuki no kami (Governor of Sanuki Province)
1130 (24 years old)
June 5: He was admitted the access to the imperial court
December 6: Harima no kami (Governor of Harima Province)
1134 (28 years old)
March 26: He concurrently assumed the position of Sakyo no daibu (Master of the Eastern Capital Offices)
1135 (29 years old)
February 23:- Shoshiinojo (Senior Fourth Rank, Upper Grade)
1136 (30 years old)
November 17: Jusanmi (Junior Third Rank) (Memorial service for the pagoda of Hokongo-in Temple, the retired Emperor Toba received Gokyu)
He remained in the same position of Sakyo no daibu.
December 6: Uhyoe no kami (Captain of the Right Division of Middle Palace Guards)
He resigned from the position of Sakyo no daibu.
January 21, 1137: Kogo no miya gon no daibu (Provisional Master of the Empress's Household) (Empress FUJIWARA no Yasuko)
1137 (31 years old)
November 27: He was appointed to Sangi (Councilor)
He remained in the same position of Kogo no miya gon no daibu and Uhyoe no kami.
1138 (32 years old)
December 27: Gon Chunagon (provisional vice-councilor of state)
He remained in the same position of Kogo no miya gon no daibu and Uhyoe no kami.
1139 (33 years old)
August 31: He resigned from the position of Kogo no miya gon no daibu (due to the issuance of an Imperial letter to permit use of "in" title).
September 18: Togu gon no daibu (Provisional Master of the Crown Prince's Quarters) (Crown Prince Narihito)
1141 (35 years old)
March 16: Uemon no kami (Captain of the Right Division of Outer Palace Guards)
January 12, 1142: He resigned from the position of Togu gon no daibu (Emperor Konoe ascended the throne).
January 31: Shosanmi (Senior Third Rank) (Imperial visit to Iwashimizu and Kamo and related events)
1143 (37 years old)
January 27: Junii (Junior Second Rank) (the Cloistered Emperor Toba received Gokyu)
1147 (41 years old)
September 14: Shonii (Senior Second Rank) (Memorial service for Toba Kutai Amida-do Hall (the hall of nine Amidas of Toba, Imperial visit)
1149 (43 years old)
September 8: Chunagon
He remained in the same position of Uemon no kami.
1150 (44 years old)
September 29: Saemon no kami (Captain of the Left Division of Outer Palace Guards)
1152 (46 years old)
March 14: He resigned from the position of Saemon no kami.
1154 (48 years old)
June 26: He entered into the Buddhist priesthood (due to illness).