Fujiwara no Korekimi

was a Japanese aristocrat and statesman of the Nara period. He reached the court rank of Junior Second Rank and the position of Minister of the Right (udaijin), and was posthumously promoted to Junior First Rank. He was also called .

Life Fujiwara no Kuromaro (藤原黒麻呂) was born as the son of kugyō Fujiwara no Otomaro in 727. He is later known as Fujiwara no Korekimi.

In 761, Korekimi was promoted from to . After his uncle Fujiwara no Nakamaro's rebellion in 764, Korekimi served successively as governor of Harima Province and Yamashiro Province. He rose rapidly in the court of Empress Shōtoku. In 765 he was promoted to and of the imperial guard, and changed his name from Kuromaro to Korekimi. In 766 he was promoted again to .

His rise continued under Emperor Kōnin, and he was promoted to in 773, and in 774 joined the ranks of the kugyō with a promotion to sangi. In 779 he was promoted to . In this period, while holding important posts in the imperial guard and daijō-kan, he also supported Prince Yamabe, the future Emperor Kanmu, as .

Shortly after Kanmu's ascension to the throne in 781, a number of important officials since Kōnin's time, including sadaijin Fujiwara no Uona, udaijin Ōnakatomi no Kiyomaro, dainagon Isonokami no Yakatsugu, and udaijin Fujiwara no Tamaro, died or left office, and Korekimi was again rapidly promoted. In 781 he was promoted to and chūnagon, in 782 to dainagon, and in 783 to udaijin, making him the most powerful man in the daijō-kan.

Korekimi died in 789, at the age of 63. His rank at the time of his death was , and he held positions both as udaijin and as a general in the imperial guard. He was posthumously promoted to .

Personality

According to the Shoku Nihongi, Korekimi had a large build and majestic presence. He was a capable official, well versed in the governmental affairs of the day, who made decisions quickly and without delay.

Genealogy

Father: Mother: daughter of or Wife: , daughter of , ex-wife of Otomaro Second son: Third son: Son: Unknown wife: Son: Daughter: , wife of Emperor Kanmu, mother of Prince Iyo