was a Japanese statesman, known for his opposition to the
Insei system.
He was the son of
Fujiwara no Morozane.
Career
Moromochi's career spanned the years from 1069 to his death in 1099. He was made Regent (
Kampaku) in 1094. During his lifetime he was seen as being a good and virtuous man, who ruled justly and with strength. The country was at peace during his time in office, and he was well-read, an ardent student.
Moromichi was an opponent of the system of cloistered rule began by
Emperor Go-Sanjō
was the 71st emperor of Japan,Imperial Household Agency (''Kunaichō'') 陽成天皇 (71)/ref> according to the traditional order of succession. His given name was .
Go-Sanjō's reign spanned the years from 1068 through 1073.
This 11th centur ...
. He was hostile to the cloistered emperor himself,
Shirakawa and the class of lesser aristocrats, 'new men', who supported him. The titular emperor,
Horikawa, was joined with Moromichi in this opposition.
Notably, Moromichi took action against the monks who at that time terrorised the Court in the name of their gods and spirits. They came down from the mountains, where their temples were situated, in armed bands and invaded the capital. No previous Regent or other statesman had possessed the courage to oppose them – Moromichi was the first to take action.
He also authored a memoir titled ''Go-Nijō kampaku-ki.'', signed under his nickname Go-Nijō Kampaku
[Frederic, Louis (2002). Japan Encyclopedia. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press]
Death
Due to his opposing the monks, a legend developed around Moromichi's fatal illness. A
Shinto
, also called Shintoism, is a religion originating in Japan. Classified as an East Asian religions, East Asian religion by Religious studies, scholars of religion, it is often regarded by its practitioners as Japan's indigenous religion and as ...
ritualist had cursed him in front of an icon, and it was believed that Moromichi dreaded this curse so much that boils broke out on his skin. Though they briefly disappeared, they returned and this time killed him. After his death it was said that groans could be heard from beneath a stone, midway between the
Ikuta Shrine
is a Shinto shrine in the Chūō Ward of Kobe, Japan, and is possibly among the oldest shrines in the country.
It was founded by Empress Jingu when she returned from the Three Han (三韓, Korea) campaign.
She was nearly shipwrecked but manag ...
and
Hachiōji
is a Cities of Japan, city located in the Western Tokyo, western portion of the Tokyo Metropolis, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 561,344, and a population density of 3,000 persons per km2. The total area of the city is . It is ...
.
Bibliography
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References
{{Authority control
1062 births
1099 deaths
11th-century Japanese people
11th-century regents
Sesshō and Kampaku