Fujiwara no Yorinaga

Who was Fujiwara no Yorinaga?

Fujiwara no Yorinaga, of the Fujiwara clan, held the position of Imperial Palace Minister of the Right.

Born in 1120, Yorinaga ascended quickly through the political ranks achieving a formidable office of Naidaijin by the age of 17. In 1150, he was appointed Minister of the Right, the highest rank under the Regent.

Yorinaga was one of the last major advocates of restoring the once powerful Fujiwara Regency, which was the ruling political faction in Japan from about 794-967. In addition to his political aspirations, Yorinaga was a scholar of sorts who kept detailed memoirs that described his studies in Indian logic and other foreign studies.