(b 1162; d 1241). Poet, editor and calligrapher, son of (5) Fujiwara no Shunzei. He inherited his talents as a waka (Japanese classical) poet from his father, whom he eventually exceeded. Unlike his genial father, however, he was aloof, hot-tempered and obstinate; consequently his advancement as a court official was slow, although he did, in 1232, reach the rank of Provisional Middle Counsellor. He took the tonsure in 1233 and assumed the priestly name Myojo but continued literary work until his death.

Part of the Fujiwara family

See the Abbreviations for further details.

The Concise Grove Dictionary of Art. Copyright © 2002 by Oxford University Press, Inc.. All rights reserved.