was a Japanese statesman, courtier, general and politician during the Nara period. The third son of Fujiwara no Fuhito, he founded the Shikike ("Ceremonials") branch of the Fujiwara clan.
Career
He was a diplomat during the reign of Empress Genshō; and he was minister during the reign of Emperor Shōmu. In the Imperial court, Umakai was the chief of protocol (Shikibu-kyō).
716 (Reiki 2): Along with , and , Umakai was named to be part of a Japanese diplomatic mission to Tang China in 717-718. Kibi no Makibi and the Buddhist monk Genbō were also part of the entourage. 724 (Jinki 1, 1st month): Umakai led an army against the emishi; but this military campaign was later judged to have been unsuccessful. 729 (Tenpyō 1): The emperor invested Umakai with the power to raise an army to quash a revolt, but the cause for alarm was dissipated without the need for military action. 737 (Tenpyō 9): Umakai died at age 44. A major smallpox epidemic caused the deaths of Umakai and his three brothers.
Genealogy
This member of the Fujiwara clan was son of Fujiwara no Fuhito. Umakai had three brothers: Muchimaro, Fusasaki, and Maro. These four brothers are known for having established the "four houses" of the Fujiwara.
Umakai's children included: Fujiwara no Hirotsugu and Fujiwara no Momokawa
Family
Father: Fujiwara no Fuhito
Mother: Soga no Shōshi (蘇我娼子, ?–?), daughter of Soga no Murajiko (蘇我連子). Wife: Isonokami no Kunimina no Ōtoji (石上国盛), daughter of Isonokami no Maro (石上麻呂). 1st son: Fujiwara no Hirotsugu (藤原広嗣, ?–740) 2nd son: Fujiwara no Yoshitsugu (藤原良継, 716–777) Wife: Takahashi no Aneko (高橋阿禰娘), daughter of Takahashi no Kasa no Ason (高橋笠朝臣). 3rd son: Fujiwara no Kiyonari (藤原清成, 716–777) Wife: unclear name (小治田功麿男牛養女) 5th son: Fujiwara no Tamaro (藤原田麻呂, 722–783) Wife: Kume no Wakame (久米若女), daughter of 久米奈保麻呂? 8th son: Fujiwara no Momokawa (藤原百川, 732-779) Wife: named (佐伯家主娘), daughter of 佐伯徳麻呂. 9th son: Fujiwara no Kurajimaro (藤原蔵下麻呂, 734–775) Children with unknown mother: 4th son: Fujiwara no Tsunate (藤原綱手, ?–740) Daughter: name unknown, wife of Fujiwara no Uona. Daughter: name unknown, wife of Fujiwara no Kosemaro (藤原巨勢麻呂). Daughter: named (掃子), possibly mother of Fujiwara no Tsunatsugu (藤原綱継).
Notes
References
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. OCLC 413099 Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric and Käthe Roth. (2005). Japan encyclopedia. Cambridge: Harvard University Press. ; OCLC 58053128 Titsingh, Isaac. (1834). Annales des empereurs du Japon (Nihon Odai Ichiran). Paris: Royal Asiatic Society, Oriental Translation Fund of Great Britain and Ireland. OCLC 5850691
