Fujiwara no Morozane

Who was Fujiwara no Morozane?

Fujiwara no Morozane was a regent of Japan and a chief of the Fujiwara clan during the late Heian period. He was known as Kyōgoku dono or Go-Uji dono. He held the positions of sessho or kanpaku for a twenty-year period, sessho from 1075 to 1086 during the reign of Emperor Shirakawa and from 1094 to 1099 during the reign of Emperor Horikawa, and kampaku from 1086 to 1094 during the reign of Emperor Horikawa.

He was the son of Fujiwara no Yorimichi and Fujiwara no Gishi, a daughter of Fujiwara no Tanenari, hence the grandson of Fujiwara no Michinaga. A contemporary document suggested he was the third born son, but this is uncertain. He was appointed to the positions of sadaijin, sessho and kampaku. He made his adopted daughter Kenshi a consort of Emperor Shirakawa. Kenshi died when she was very young, but she left a son who would later ascend to the throne as Emperor Horikawa.

Emperor Shirakawa seized political power and Morozane was unable to enjoy the monopolic power that his father and grandfather had enjoyed. Even after Emperor Horikawa reached adulthood, the cloistered Emperor Shirakawa seized power.