Fujiwara no Muchimaro


Fujiwara no Muchimaro was a Japanese courtier and politician of the early-Nara period.
The eldest son of Fujiwara no Fuhito, he founded the Nanke branch of the Fujiwara clan.
Muchimaro's mother was Soga no Shōshi, daughter of Soga no Murajiko. He married a granddaughter of Abe no Miushi, with whom he had two sons Fujiwara no Toyonari and Fujiwara no Nakamaro. Among his daughters was consort of Emperor Shōmu.
Muchimaro became the head of Ministry of Civil Services in 718. When Fuhito, Muchimaro's father, died in 720, Prince Nagaya was at the highest rank in the state government. Prince Nagaya was grandson of Emperor Tenmu, but not a son of Fujiwara family, therefore was seen as a threat by Muchimaro and his three brothers. After successfully removing Prince Nagaya in 729, Muchimaro rose to Counselor.
In 734, he was promoted to Udaijin or "Minister of the Right". In 737, he was made Sadaijin or "Minister of the Left", but died of smallpox the following day.
The History of the Fujiwara House included his biography and states the following: " Muchimaro, the Fujiwara Great Minister of the Left, was a man from the Sakyō district.128 He was the oldest son of the Head of the Council of State Fuhito, and his mother was a daughter of the Soga Great Minister of the Treasury.He was born in the mansion at Ōhara on the fifteenth day of the fourth month of 680, the ninth year since the enthronement of the sovereign Tenmu. Because he cultivated righteousness, he received this name."

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