View source for Fujiwara Nan-ke

{{family name hatnote|Fujiwara|lang=Japanese}}
{{Infobox Japanese clan
|surname        = Fujiwara
|surname nihongo = 藤原 (南家)
|image           = File:Japanese_crest_Sagari_Fuji.svg
|caption         = [[Mon (badge)|''Mon'']]: ''Sagarifuji''
|home province  = [[Yamato Province]], [[Yamashiro Province]]
|parent house   = [[Fujiwara clan]]
|titles         = Various
|founder        =[[Fujiwara no Muchimaro]]
|final ruler    =
|current head   =
|founding year  = 8th century
|dissolution    =
|ruled until    =
|cadet branches ={{Plainlist | 
* [[Kudō clan|Kudō]]
* [[Itō clan|Itō]]
* [[Nikaidō clan|Nikaidō]]
* [[Sagara clan|Sagara]]
* [[Kikkawa clan|Kikkawa]]
* Numerous others}}
}}
The {{nihongo|'''Fujiwara Nan-ke'''|藤原南家||lit. ''Fujiwara southern house''}} was a cadet branch of the [[Fujiwara clan]] of Japan. 

== History ==
It was founded by [[Fujiwara no Muchimaro]].<ref>Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric ''et al.'' (2005).  "Fujiwara no Muchimaro" at {{Google books|p2QnPijAEmEC|''Japan Encyclopedia,'' p. 207|page=207}}.</ref> Muchimaro had three brothers: [[Fujiwara no Fusasaki|Fusasaki]], [[Fujiwara no Maro|Maro]] and [[Fujiwara no Umakai|Umakai]]. These four brothers are known for having established the "four houses" of the Fujiwara.<ref>Brinkley, {{Google books|JlUCAAAAYAAJ|p. 203.|page=203}}; excerpt, "Muchimaro's home, being in the south (''nan'') of the capital, was called ''Nan-ke''; Fusazaki's, being in the north (''hoku''), was termed [[Hokke (Fujiwara)|''Hoku-ke'']]; Umakai's was spoken of as [[Shikike|''Shiki-ke'']], since he presided over the [[Shikibu-shō|Department of Ceremonies]] (''shiki''), and Maro's went by the name of [[Kyōke|''Kyō-ke'']], this term also having reference to his office."</ref>

The [[epithet]] ''Nan-ke'' ("southern house") comes from the fact that Muchimaro's mansion was located south of the mansion of his younger brother. The Nanke served in the [[Imperial Court in Kyoto|imperial court]], but many of [[Fujiwara no Tamenori]]'s descendants later became [[samurai]] families such as [[Itō clan|Itō]], [[Nikaidō clan|Nikaidō]], [[Sagara clan|Sagara]] and [[Kudō clan|Kudō]].<ref>{{Cite book|last=Kuroita|first=Katsumi|title=Kokushi Daikei Henshukai (國史大系編修會)|publisher=Yoshikawa Koubunkan|year=1968|isbn=4642003622|location=Japan}}</ref>

== Nara period ==
The founder of Fujiwara Nanke, Fujiwara no Muchimaro, was the eldest son of [[Fujiwara no Fuhito]]. Shortly after the beginning of [[Nara period]], Muchimaro became the head of [[Ministry of Civil Services (Ritsuryō)|Ministry of Civil Services]] in 718. When Fuhito died in 720, [[Prince Nagaya]] was at the highest rank in the state government. Prince Nagaya was grandson of [[Emperor Tenmu]], but not a son of Fujiwara family, he was therefore seen as a threat by Muchimaro and his three brothers. After successfully removing Prince Nagaya in 729, Muchimaro rose to ''[[Dainagon]]'', "Counselor of the first rank". In 734, he was promoted to ''[[Udaijin]]'' or "Minister of the Right", and in 737, he was made ''[[Sadaijin]]'' or "Minister of the Left".<ref>{{Cite book|title=My Pedia|publisher=Heibonsha|year=1995|isbn=9784582096316|location=Japan|at=Fujiwara no Muchimaro}}</ref>

Nanke further prospered in the Nara period as [[Fujiwara no Nakamaro|Nakamaro]], the second son of Muchimaro, gained the trust of [[Empress Kōken]] and was given the name ''Emi no Oshikatsu.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|last=Gibney|first=Frank|title=Britannica International Encyclopaedia|publisher=TBS-BRITANNICA|year=1995|at=Nanke|oclc=55231838}}</ref>''

[[Tachibana no Naramaro]], who was unhappy about Nakamaro's monopolization of power, plotted a conspiracy to replace Nakamaro and to overthrow the Empress, but Nakamaro settled the rebellion and established [[dictatorship]]. However, Nakamaro was killed during [[Fujiwara no Nakamaro Rebellion]] after he attempted to overthrow the [[Imperial House of Japan|imperial family]] and become the [[Emperor of Japan|emperor]], after which [[Fujiwara Hok-ke]] replaced the Nan-ke as the leading house of Fujiwara.<ref name=":0" />

== Notable members ==

* [[Fujiwara no Muchimaro]]
* [[Fujiwara no Nakamaro]]
* [[Fujiwara no Suenori]]
* [[Fujiwara no Toshiyuki]]
* [[Ukon (poet)|Ukon]]
* [[Fujiwara no Michinori]]

==Family tree==
{{main|Fujiwara family tree}}
{{Fujiwara family tree}}

==See also==
* [[Hokke (Fujiwara)]]
* [[Shikike]]
* [[Kyōke]]

== Notes ==
{{reflist}}

==References==
* [[Frank Brinkley|Brinkley, Frank]] and [[Dairoku Kikuchi]]. (1915). ''A History of the Japanese People from the Earliest Times to the End of the Meiji Era.'' New York: Encyclopædia Britannica. [https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/413099 OCLC 413099]
* Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric and Käthe Roth. (2005). ''Japan Encyclopedia.'' Cambridge: Harvard University Press. {{ISBN|978-0-674-01753-5}}; [http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/58053128?referer=di&ht=edition  OCLC 58053128]


[[Category:Fujiwara clan]]
[[Category:Japanese clans]]
[[Category:Japanese nobility]]


{{Japan-hist-stub}}