Kujō family
For the horror novel by Stephen King, see Cujo.
The Kujō family (九条家 Kujō-ke) was a Japanese noble family and a branch of the Fujiwara clan derived from Fujiwara no Tadamichi. They were counted as one of the Sekke, the five regent houses and therefore one of the most politically powerful families among the kuge (court officials).
As one of the Sekke, the five regent houses, the Kujō clan monopolized the offices of Sessho and Kampaku along with the Konoe, Takatsukasa, Nijo and Ichijo clans from the 12th century until 1867. With the exception of Tokugawa Masako, wife of the Emperor Mizunoo, all Empresses of that long period were of the clans that formed the Sekke or from branches of the imperial family itself.
In addition, the Nijō and Ichijō families derived from the Kujō family.
The clan was founded by Fujiwara no Kanezane (1149-1207), at the recommendation of Minamoto no Yoritomo. The name Kujō means literally the ninth avenue, a district in Kyoto where Kanezane had his residence.
The fourth and fifth Shogun of the Kamakura shogunate, Kujō Yoritsune and Kujō Yoritsugu, came from this clan.
Some sources claim the clan was founded by Fujiwara no Morosuke (908-960) [citation needed].
The Kujō family were sponsors of the Kitano Shrine. In 1219, Kujō Michiie (1191-1252) offered "Kitano Tenjin Engi Emaki" (Illustrated Scroll of the History of the Kitano Shrine) to the Kitano shrine.
After the Meiji Restoration, members of the Kujō clan were elevated to princedom and given the title Prince. Sadako, the empress of Emperor Taisho was of this family.
In Present-day
After WW2 all of kujō member lost their title "Prince". The head of family, Toshihito died during WW2. His son's Masahito became next head of family. And still holding position. Masahito son's Susumu change his and all of his sibling last name to Fujiwara.
List of current members
- Masahito Kujō (Head of Family)
- Sachiko Yoshikuni and Kuniumi Yoshikuni
- Susumu Fujiwara and Fujiwara Manami
- Yamashita Aiko
- Yoshitoki Fujiwara and Fujiwara Riko
- Ishimaru Miku and Ishimaru Hatsuharu
- Fujiwara Kyousuke and Fujiwara Rika
- Fujiwara Takumi and Fujiwara Yumi
- Tsukako Fujiwara
- Tsuyoko Fujiwara
- Taiji Fujiwara and Fujiwara Mishiyo
- Sadako Kuroi and Heikichi Kuroi
Recently deceased members of the Family include
- Princess Kujō Misuko(Head of Family mother) Died in 1957
- Kujō Kumiko (Head of Family spouse) Died in 2003
- Hamano Michiko (Kujō Michiko, Head of family sibling) Died in 2004
- Kinji Yamashita (Head of Family son-in-law) Died in 2007
External links
- Kujo Kamon The Kamon of the Kujō family
- kitanomakimetropolitan online exhibition on the Kitano Tenjin Engi Emaki
Books
- A History of Japan to 1334 By George Bailey Sansom Published by Stanford University Press, 1958 ISBN 0804705232, 9780804705233 512 pages