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Fujiwara no Tametoki

950 – 1029

Japanese poet

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About Fujiwara no Tametoki

Lived 950 – 1029 (aged 78–79). Fujiwara no Tametoki was a Japanese poet.

(died 1029?) was a Japanese aristocrat, author of Japanese waka and Chinese poetry of some repute, and the father of Murasaki Shikibu (Lady Murasaki", author of The Tale of Genji, born ca. 970 or 973). Tametoki's position at the Shikibu-shō ministry was what probably became part of his daughter's historical appellation, "Murasaki Shikibu".

Life Tametoki was well-read and an accomplished poet. Three of his waka poems were selected to the Goshūi Wakashū (1086) and one to the Shin Kokin Wakashū Also thirteen of his Chinese verses are in the anthology of 1010.

Tametoki served as tutor to the Crown Prince Morosada, and when the prince ascended the throne as Emperor Kazan, he was elevated to . Tametoki also simultaneously held the office of more specifically . Tametoki's position as kurōdo gained him special privileges to attend court (and thus meet with Emperor Kazan).

With the resignation of Emperor Kazan in 986, Tametoki was relieved of all his posts, and devoted his time to educating his son . in marked contrast to the man who would become Lady Murasaki's husband, who was at one time Tametoki's predecessor on the same job (secretary of Shikibe-jō and chamberlain) yet continued to gain lucrative governorships.

Tametoki finally wrote a poem to Emperor Ichijō that so moved the monarch it garnered him governorship of Echizen Province. Kojidan includes an episode that the governorship of Echizen had already gone to who had to be recalled in order to give way to Tametoki wrested the position away. This so distressed Kunimori he fell ill, and even though he was awarded Harima as replacement, he never recovered and died.

Tametoki was promoted to the rank of "Senior fifth rank, lower grade" (正五位下), and in 1009. Subsequently he was commissioned as governor of Echigo Province He became a monk at Mii-dera temple (located in what is now Ōtsu, Shiga) two years later. although some give his death year as 1029.

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Important facts

Born
950
Birth century
Died
1029
Occupation
Nationality

People in Fujiwara no Tametoki's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Fujiwara no Tametoki's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Fujiwara no Tametoki?

Japanese poet

When was Fujiwara no Tametoki born?

Fujiwara no Tametoki was born in 950.

When did Fujiwara no Tametoki die?

Fujiwara no Tametoki died in 1029.

What was Fujiwara no Tametoki's occupation?

Fujiwara no Tametoki was a poet.

What nationality was Fujiwara no Tametoki?

Fujiwara no Tametoki was Japanese.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Fujiwara no Tametoki

· Wikidata: Q759338

· DBpedia: Fujiwara no Tametoki

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Fujiwara no Tametoki. https://biography.guide/fujiwara-no-tametoki/

MLA: "Fujiwara no Tametoki." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/fujiwara-no-tametoki/.

Chicago: "Fujiwara no Tametoki." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/fujiwara-no-tametoki/.

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