Fujiwara no Hidesato
Fujiwara no Hidesato was a Japanese aristocrat, courtier, folk hero and samurai lord of the tenth century in the Heian period. He is famous for his military exploits and courage, and is regarded as the common ancestor of numerous clans, including the Ōshū branch of the Fujiwara clan.
Hidesato served under Emperor Suzaku, and fought alongside Taira no Sadamori in 940 in suppressing the revolt of Taira no Masakado. His prayer for victory before this battle is commemorated in the Kachiya Festival. Hidesato was then appointed Chinjufu shōgun and Governor of Shimotsuke Province.
According to legend, he slew a giant centipede in Ōmi Province that plagued the Dragon Palace. He was also nicknamed Tawara Tōda.
Hidesato in legend
Hidesato, also known by the moniker Tawara Tōda or Tawara no Tōta, is known in legend for his exploit of slaying the giant centipede of Mount Mikami. Hidesato was recruited to this task by a giant dragon-snake, which was, in fact, a resident of the Ryūgū-jō. Hidesato meets the Dragon King and is showered with rewards, which included an inexhaustible bale of rice, from which he allegedly earned his nickname. A more rational explanation is that Tawara, also written differently as "田原", represents either a surname or a place name.This centipede story, Tawara Tōda Monogatari, together with a romanticized account of his Masakado expedition comprise the Tawara Tōda Monogatari. The monogatari texts have been copied and printed profusely in emakimono and illustrated books throughout the Edo period.
Legendary arms
The Ise Shrine's houses two swords that allegedly once belonged to Hidesato.One is the, a tachi of the or "tweezer" type. According to tradition, it was the sword obtained by Hidesato from the Ryūgū-jō, which later became an heirloom of the. After changing hands several times, it came into the shrine's possession in 1793. Although the Hidesato provenance is unverifiable, this sword is dated to be of the correct period.
The other alleged Hidesato sword at the museum is called "Centipede-cutter". Although its inscriptions claim it to be the work of the swordsmith Shinsoku from the 8th century, the sword has been dated to the 14th century.
There is also another "tweezer" type sword alleged to have belonged to Hidesato held in Chikubu Island, the.
Genealogy
Father: Fujiwara no Murao Mother: daughter of Shimatsuke-no-jō no Kashima- * Wife: daughter of Minamoto no Michi of the Board of Chamberlains.
- ** Son: Fujiwara no Chitsune
- * Children by unknown mother:
- ** Son: Fujiwara no Chitoki
- ** Son: Fujiwara no Chiharu
- ** Son: Fujiwara no Chikuni
- ** Son: Fujiwara no Chigusa
- ** Daughter Hintia no Chigusa