Taira no Chikamune (平親宗)
TAIRA no Chikamune (1144 - August 10, 1199) was a court noble in the end of Heian Period. He was the second son of TAIRA no Tokinobu. His mother was a daughter of FUJIWARA no Mototaka. His last official title was Shonii (Senior Second Rank)・Chunagon (vice-councilor of state). TAIRA no Tokiko, TAIRA no Tokitada and TAIRA no Shigeko were his half brother/sister with the same father and Chikakuni, TAIRA no Chikanaga and Munenobu were his children.
Although he was a relative of TAIRA no Kiyomori, he consistently sided with the Cloistered Emperor Goshirakawa even during the period when Heishi (Taira clan) was increased its power probably because he was far younger than Tokitada, his half older brother with the same father. He gained the Cloistered Emperor's enormous trust through his job of rearing the ninth prince, the Cloistered Imperial Prince Shonin (the 63rd Tendai-zasu (head priest of the Tendai sect)), who was born between the Cloistered Emperor and Eguchi yujo (a prostitute). Due to such relations with the Cloistered Emperor, however, he was removed, along with other close aides of the Cloistered Emperor, from the position of Uchuben (Middle Controller of the Right) by the Coup of the Third Year of Jisho.
Under such circumstances, he didn't follow and remained in the capital when the people of TAIRA clan exiled themselves from the capital in 1183. When the confrontation between MINAMOTO no Yoritomo and MINAMOTO no Yoshitsune turned serious after the collapse of TAIRA clan, he was censured by Yoritomo, along with TAKASHINA no Yasutsune and TAIRA no Tomoyasu, for supporting Yoshitsune and was removed from office once again. Eventually, he was promoted to Chunagon, which was his highest post, in 1199 and died in the same year.
It is believed that he was close to the TAIRA no Shigemori family inside the TAIRA clan and one of his daughters became a concubine of TAIRA no Koremori, Shigemori's eldest son. Between Daijo-daijin (Grand minister of state) Kintsune SAIONJI, his other daughter gave birth to Sadaijin (Minister of the Left) Saneo SAIONJI.
"Chunagon Chikamune Shu (a collection of vice-councilor of state, Chikamune)" is his private anthology. He also wrote a diary entitled "Chikamunekyo Ki (a diary of Lord Chikamune)".
Record of rank and office
1166 (23 years old)
May 14: Hyobu gon-no-shobu (Assistant Minister of the Ministry of War)
1167 (24 years old)
February 26: Jugoinojo (Junior Fifth Rank, Upper Grade)
March 7: He concurrently assumed the position of Hoki no kami (Governor of Hoki Province).
1168 (25 years old)
May 6: Kotaigogu gon-no-daishin (Kotaigo (Empress Dowager) : Taira no Shigeko)
September 14: Shogoinoge (Senior Fifth Rank, Lower Grade (Shigeko received Gokyu (a kind of pension paid to members of the Imperial family))
October 13: He resigned from the position of Hyobu gon-no-shobu.
1169 (26 years old)
February 26: He resigned from the position of Hoki no kami.
April 21: Kageyushi-jikan (vice minister of Kageyushicho)
1170 (27 years old)
February 20: Sanuki no kami (Governor of Sanuki Province)
He remained in the same position of Kageyushi-jikan.
September 15: Kurodo
He remained in the same position of Kageyushi-jikan.
1172 (29 years old)
March 26: Ushoben (Minor Controller of the Right)
Remained in the same position of Kurodo.
1173 (30 years old)
October 3: Uemon gon no suke (Provisional Assistant Captain of the Right Division of Outer Palace Guards)
He concurrently assumed the position of Kebiishi (a police and judicial chief) (holding three posts).
1176 (33 years old)
January 28: Gonuchuben (Provisional Middle controller of the Right)
Jushinoge (Junior Fourth Rank, Lower Grade)
January 30: Koto (an officer) of Ritsubunsho (storage)
1178 (35 years old)
February 23: Jushiinojo (Junior Fourth Rank, Upper Grade)
1179 (36 years old)
November 8: Uchuben (Middle Controller of the Right)
He remained in the same position of Koto of Ritsubunsho.
November 20: Shuriukyujoshi
December 15: He was removed from office.
1181 (38 years old)
November 8: Sachuben (Middle Controller of the Left)
January 17, 1182 - Udaiben (Major Controller of the Right)
Kurodo no to (Head Chamberlain)
1182 (39 years old)
April 19: Shoshiinoge (Senior Fourth Rank, Lower Grade)
1183 (40 years old)
February 23: He was appointed to Sangi (Councilor)
Remained in the same position of Udaiben.
February 18, 1184: He was removed from office.
1184 (41 years old)
April 28: Jusanmi (Junior Third Rank)
October 13: He was reappointed to Sangi.
1185 (42 years old)
February 28: He concurrently assumed the position of Sanuki gon no kami (Provisional Governor of Sanuki Province).
January 28, 1186: He was removed from office
1187 (44 years old)
March 11: He was reappointed to Sangi
June 19: Sadaiben (Major Controller of the Left)
1188 (45 years old)
February 28: He concurrently assumed the position of Tanba gon no kami (Provisional Governor of Tanba Province).
1189 (46 years old)
January 23: Shosanmi (Senior Third Rank)
Augusut 30: Gon Chunagon (provisional vice-councilor of state)
1194 (51 years old)
February 5: Junii (Junior Second Rank)
1198 (55 years old)
October 21: Daijoe Gokeishozokushi Chokan (the head of Daijoe Gokeishozoku office)
November 23: He resigned from the position of Daijoe Gokeishozokushi Chokan (due to the request by Kofuku-ji Temple's Daishu (monks residing in the temple).
1199 (56 years old)
February 8: Shonii (Senior Second Rank)
July 23: Chunagon
August 17: He passed away.