Ki no Yoshimitsu (紀淑光)
KI no Yoshimitsu (869 - October 31, 939) was a low to middle rank government official and a composer of Chinese poems during the mid-Heian period. He was the third son of the Chunagon (vice-councilor of state) KI no Haseo. His mother was from the Bunya clan.
In 898, Yoshimitsu was posted to Daigaku-ryo (Bureau of Education under the Ritsuryo system). After working the posts of jo, suke and kurodo in the Hassho (eight ministries and agencies), he served as Benkan (official of the dajokan) from 919 and was admitted to the court in 927. Later on, after serving as Kageyushi (Board of Discharge Examiners) and Udaiben (Major Controller of the Right), he was appointed to Sangi (councilor) in 934. In September of 939, he was awarded the rank of Jusanmi (Junior Third Rank) in the Imperial Household Ministry, but died on October 31 of the same year at the age of 71.
One of Yoshimitsu's poems was selected for "Gosen Wakashu" (Later Selected Collection of Japanese Poetry) (poem number 327). The poem he composed at Jonan suisekitei in 901, following FUJIWARA no Tokihira, is included in "Zatsugenhowa."
Record of offices and ranks held
Appointed as Jibu shojo (Junior Secretary of the Ministry of Civil Administration) on April 9, 902.
Transferred to the post of Hyobu shojo (Junior Secretary of the Ministry of War) on April 1, 903.
Transferred to the post of Shikibu shojo (Junior Secretary of the Ministry of Ceremonial) on February 12, 906.
Appointed as Kurodo (Chamberlain) on March 26, 907
Reassigned to the post of Shikibu taijo (Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Ceremonial) on February 21, 908. Appointed as Bokkai shokyakushi on May 9.
Awarded the rank of Jugoinoge (Junior Fifth Rank, Lower Grade) on February 6, 909. Transferred to the post of Gyobu no sho (Junior Assistant Minister of Justice) on May 19.
Transferred to the post of Nakatsukasa no Shoyu (Junior Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Central Affairs) on September 20, 910.
Transferred to the post of Shonagon (lesser councilor of state) on March 13, 913.
Promoted to Jugoinojo (Junior Fifth Rank, Upper Grade) on January 7, 918.
Reassigned to the post of Ushoben (Minor Controller of the Right) on March 9, 919. Appointed as 侍従厨別当 on May 24.
Reassigned to the post of Sashoben (third-ranked officer of the left) on March 17, 921.
Promoted to Shogoinoge (Senior Fifth Rank, Lower Grade) on February 11, 922. Reassigned to the post of Uchuben (deputy minister of the department overseeing a number major ministries) on March 6.
Reassigned to the post of Sachuben (middle controller of the left) on February 6, 923.
Promoted to Jushiinoge (Junior Fourth Rank, Lower Grade) on February 7, 925.
Admitted to the court on March 23, 927.
Took up the additional post of Mikawa no Gon no kami (Provisional Governor of Mikawa Province) on March 18, 929.
Promoted to Jushiinojo (Junior Fourth Rank, Upper Grade) on December 18, 930.
Took up the additional post of Kageyu no kami (chief investigator of the records of outgoing officials) on April 8, 931.
Reassigned to the post of Udaiben (Major Controller of the Right) on November 19, 933.
Appointed to Sangi (councilor) on February 2, 935. Retained his position as Udaiben and Kageyu no kami.
Resigned from the post of Kageyu no kami in January of 936.
Took up the additional post of Bizen gon no kami (provisional governor of Bizen Province) on February 29, 936.
Promoted to Shoshiinoge (Senior Fourth Rank, Upper Grade) on February 13, 938.
Promoted to Jusanmi (Junior Third Rank) in September of 939. Took up the additional post of Kunaikyo (Minister of the Sovereign's Household). Died at the age of 71 on October 31. At the time, he was a Sangi (councilor) with the rank of Jusanmi (Junior Third Rank) and a Kunaikyo.