Saionji family
Encyclopedia
The Saionji family was a Japanese kuge
(court aristocrat) family related to the Northern Fujiwara
branch of the Fujiwara clan and the Imadegawa clan.
The family's name was taken from that of the family's formal residence in Kyoto
, and its kamon
(crest) was a tomoe
.
's niece was married into the Saionji family, thus giving the Kamakura shoguns
of the Minamoto clan
some influence in, and protection from, the Imperial Court. Members of the Saionji family began to be appointed Kantō Mōshitsugi, acting alongside the Rokuhara Tandai
to manage communications and relations between the shogunate and the Court. This began the family's rise to important Court positions, including posts as high as Dajō Daijin
(Chancellor of the Realm). Ever since Kintsune's time, the family, with the support of the Kamakura shogunate, could exert influence over even the Imperial regents, the Sesshō and Kampaku
.
The family made its formal residence in the Kitayama (northern mountains) area of Kyoto; the residence was likewise called Saionji, meaning "Western Garden Temple." Thus the family came to be sometimes known as the Lords of Kitayama; when Ashikaga Yoshimitsu
became shogun
in 1368, he coopted the site for his Kinkakuji, thus laying some claim to a connection to the Saionji and to their prestige as Lords of Kitayama.
Saionji Sanekane joined the family to the Daikakuji line of the Imperial family, having become involved with the daughter of Emperor Go-Daigo
or Emperor Kameyama
and siring a son, Saionji Kinhira. Several decades later, in the time of Saionji Kinmune, the Kamakura shogunate came to an end, and the Saionji were dismissed from their post as Kantō Mōshitsugi. Kinmune helped hide the persecuted Hōjō Yasuie and, in the wake of the death of Emperor Go-Daigo, helped plot to set Emperor Go-Fushimi
on the throne. His schemes revealed by his younger brother Saionji Kinshige, Kinmune was arrested and executed. During the Nanboku-chō period (1336-1392) which followed, in which the two Imperial lines jousted for power, Kinmune's son Saionji Sanetoshi served the Northern Court as Minister of the Right (Udaijin
), restoring the prestige of the family's name.
A Saionji family is known to have existed in Edo period
(1600-1868) Kyoto, as producers of biwa
. Saionji Saneharu was made Minister of the Left (Sadaijin
), and gained influence and some financial support through connections to the Hosokawa
and Nagaoka clans. Towards the end of the Edo period
, Saionji Kinmochi
was adopted into the family from the closely related Tokudaiji branch of the Fujiwara clan. Kinmochi lived through the Meiji Restoration
, becoming one of the genrō
, or elder statesmen who were a part of the original Meiji government at its beginning. He subsequently held a number of Cabinet posts, becoming Prime Minister of Japan
in 1906.
As members of the kazoku
(Western-style system of peerage
), the Saionji maintained a considerable degree of prestige, and continued to be close to the world of politics, through the end of World War II
, when the kazoku were dissolved. The family continues today, and Saionji remains now an uncommon Japanese surname.
Kuge
The was a Japanese aristocratic class that dominated the Japanese imperial court in Kyoto until the rise of the Shogunate in the 12th century at which point it was eclipsed by the daimyo...
(court aristocrat) family related to the Northern Fujiwara
Northern Fujiwara
The Northern Fujiwara were a Japanese noble family that ruled the Tōhoku region of Japan from the 12th to the 13th centuries as if it were their own realm. They succeeded the semi-independent Emishi families of the 11th century who were gradually brought down by the Minamoto clan loyal to the...
branch of the Fujiwara clan and the Imadegawa clan.
The family's name was taken from that of the family's formal residence in Kyoto
Kyoto
is a city in the central part of the island of Honshū, Japan. It has a population close to 1.5 million. Formerly the imperial capital of Japan, it is now the capital of Kyoto Prefecture, as well as a major part of the Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto metropolitan area.-History:...
, and its kamon
Kamon
Kamon may refer to:*Kamon , a Japanese heraldic symbol*Kamon, Israel, a village in northern Israel-See also:*Kimon, an Athenian politician and general...
(crest) was a tomoe
Tomoe
A tomoe or tomoye is a Japanese abstract shape that resembles a comma or the usual form of magatama. It is a common design element in and corporate logos, particularly in triplicate whorls known as . Some view the mitsudomoe as representative of the threefold division at the heart of the...
.
History
The family was descended from Saionji Michisue (1090-1128), son of Fujiwara no Kinzane. In the time of Michisue's great-grandson Saionji Kintsune (1171-1244), Minamoto no YoritomoMinamoto no Yoritomo
was the founder and the first shogun of the Kamakura Shogunate of Japan. He ruled from 1192 until 1199.-Early life and exile :Yoritomo was the third son of Minamoto no Yoshitomo, heir of the Minamoto clan, and his official wife, a daughter of Fujiwara no Suenori, who was a member of the...
's niece was married into the Saionji family, thus giving the Kamakura shoguns
Kamakura shogunate
The Kamakura shogunate was a military dictatorship in Japan headed by the shoguns from 1185 to 1333. It was based in Kamakura. The Kamakura period draws its name from the capital of the shogunate...
of the Minamoto clan
Minamoto clan
was one of the surnames bestowed by the Emperors of Japan upon members of the imperial family who were demoted into the ranks of the nobility. The practice was most prevalent during the Heian Period , although its last occurrence was during the Sengoku Era. The Taira were another such offshoot of...
some influence in, and protection from, the Imperial Court. Members of the Saionji family began to be appointed Kantō Mōshitsugi, acting alongside the Rokuhara Tandai
Rokuhara Tandai
was the post of the chiefs of the Kamakura shogunate in Kyoto whose agency kept responsibility for security in Kinai and judicial affairs on western Japan, and negotiated with the imperial court. Despite keeping security, they were also a sort of secret police and widely feared.Rokuhara Tandai was...
to manage communications and relations between the shogunate and the Court. This began the family's rise to important Court positions, including posts as high as Dajō Daijin
Dajo Daijin
The or Chancellor of the Realm was the head of the Daijō-kan in Heian Japan and briefly under the Meiji Constitution....
(Chancellor of the Realm). Ever since Kintsune's time, the family, with the support of the Kamakura shogunate, could exert influence over even the Imperial regents, the Sesshō and Kampaku
Sessho and Kampaku
In Japan, was a title given to a regent who was named to assist either a child emperor before his coming of age, or an empress. The was theoretically a sort of chief advisor for the emperor, but was the title of both first secretary and regent who assists an adult emperor. During the Heian era,...
.
The family made its formal residence in the Kitayama (northern mountains) area of Kyoto; the residence was likewise called Saionji, meaning "Western Garden Temple." Thus the family came to be sometimes known as the Lords of Kitayama; when Ashikaga Yoshimitsu
Ashikaga Yoshimitsu
was the 3rd shogun of the Ashikaga shogunate who ruled from 1368 to 1394 during the Muromachi period of Japan. Yoshimitsu was the son of the second shogun Ashikaga Yoshiakira....
became shogun
Shogun
A was one of the hereditary military dictators of Japan from 1192 to 1867. In this period, the shoguns, or their shikken regents , were the de facto rulers of Japan though they were nominally appointed by the emperor...
in 1368, he coopted the site for his Kinkakuji, thus laying some claim to a connection to the Saionji and to their prestige as Lords of Kitayama.
Saionji Sanekane joined the family to the Daikakuji line of the Imperial family, having become involved with the daughter of Emperor Go-Daigo
Emperor Go-Daigo
Emperor Go-Daigo was the 96th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession....
or Emperor Kameyama
Emperor Kameyama
was the 90th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. His reign spanned the years from 1259 through 1274.-Genealogy:...
and siring a son, Saionji Kinhira. Several decades later, in the time of Saionji Kinmune, the Kamakura shogunate came to an end, and the Saionji were dismissed from their post as Kantō Mōshitsugi. Kinmune helped hide the persecuted Hōjō Yasuie and, in the wake of the death of Emperor Go-Daigo, helped plot to set Emperor Go-Fushimi
Emperor Go-Fushimi
Emperor Go-Fushimi was the 93rd emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession...
on the throne. His schemes revealed by his younger brother Saionji Kinshige, Kinmune was arrested and executed. During the Nanboku-chō period (1336-1392) which followed, in which the two Imperial lines jousted for power, Kinmune's son Saionji Sanetoshi served the Northern Court as Minister of the Right (Udaijin
Udaijin
Udaijin , most commonly translated as the "Minister of the Right", was a government position in Japan in the late Nara and Heian periods. The position was consolidated in the Taihō Code of 702. The Asuka Kiyomihara Code of 689 marks the initial appearance of the Udaijin in the context of a central...
), restoring the prestige of the family's name.
A Saionji family is known to have existed in Edo period
Edo period
The , or , is a division of Japanese history which was ruled by the shoguns of the Tokugawa family, running from 1603 to 1868. The political entity of this period was the Tokugawa shogunate....
(1600-1868) Kyoto, as producers of biwa
Biwa
The is a Japanese short-necked fretted lute, often used in narrative storytelling. The biwa is the chosen instrument of Benten, goddess of music, eloquence, poetry, and education in Japanese Shinto....
. Saionji Saneharu was made Minister of the Left (Sadaijin
Sadaijin
, most commonly translated as "Minister of the Left", was a government position in Japan in the late Nara and Heian periods. The position was consolidated in the Taihō Code of 702. The Asuka Kiyomihara Code of 689 marks the initial appearance of the Sadaijin in the context of a central...
), and gained influence and some financial support through connections to the Hosokawa
Hosokawa clan
The ' was a Japanese samurai clan, descended from Emperor Seiwa and a branch of the Minamoto clan, by the Ashikaga clan. It produced many prominent officials in the Ashikaga shogunate's administration. In the Edo period, the Hosokawa clan was one of the largest landholding daimyo families in Japan...
and Nagaoka clans. Towards the end of the Edo period
Late Tokugawa shogunate
, literally "end of the curtain", are the final years of the Edo period when the Tokugawa shogunate came to an end. It is characterized by major events occurring between 1853 and 1867 during which Japan ended its isolationist foreign policy known as sakoku and transitioned from a feudal shogunate...
, Saionji Kinmochi
Saionji Kinmochi
Prince was a Japanese politician, statesman and twice Prime Minister of Japan. His title does not signify the son of an emperor, but the highest rank of Japanese hereditary nobility; he was elevated from marquis to prince in 1920...
was adopted into the family from the closely related Tokudaiji branch of the Fujiwara clan. Kinmochi lived through the Meiji Restoration
Meiji Restoration
The , also known as the Meiji Ishin, Revolution, Reform or Renewal, was a chain of events that restored imperial rule to Japan in 1868...
, becoming one of the genrō
Genro
was an unofficial designation given to certain retired elder Japanese statesmen, considered the "founding fathers" of modern Japan, who served as informal extraconstitutional advisors to the emperor, during the Meiji, Taishō and early Shōwa periods in Japanese history.The institution of genrō...
, or elder statesmen who were a part of the original Meiji government at its beginning. He subsequently held a number of Cabinet posts, becoming Prime Minister of Japan
Prime Minister of Japan
The is the head of government of Japan. He is appointed by the Emperor of Japan after being designated by the Diet from among its members, and must enjoy the confidence of the House of Representatives to remain in office...
in 1906.
As members of the kazoku
Kazoku
The was the hereditary peerage of the Empire of Japan that existed between 1869 and 1947.-Origins:Following the Meiji Restoration of 1868, the ancient court nobility of Kyoto regained some of its lost status...
(Western-style system of peerage
Peerage
The Peerage is a legal system of largely hereditary titles in the United Kingdom, which constitute the ranks of British nobility and is part of the British honours system...
), the Saionji maintained a considerable degree of prestige, and continued to be close to the world of politics, through the end of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, when the kazoku were dissolved. The family continues today, and Saionji remains now an uncommon Japanese surname.
Family members of note
- Saionji Michisue (1090-1128)
- Saionji Kintsune (1171-1244)
- Saionji Kinuji (1194-1269)
- Saionji Sanekane
- Saionji Kinhira (1264-1315)
- Saionji Reishi (1292-1357)
- Saionji Kinmune (1310-1335)
- Saionji Kinshige
- Saionji Sanetoshi
- Saionji Sanemitsu (1510-1565)
- Saionji Kinhiro (1537-1587)
- Saionji Saneharu (1601-1673)
- Saionji KinmochiSaionji KinmochiPrince was a Japanese politician, statesman and twice Prime Minister of Japan. His title does not signify the son of an emperor, but the highest rank of Japanese hereditary nobility; he was elevated from marquis to prince in 1920...
(1849-1940)