Background
Fujiwara was born in 659. He is the second son of Fujiwara no Kamatari, he was ordered by Emperor Mommu to join with Prince Osakabe and others in compiling a ritswryo, or code of laws modeled on those of China.
Fujiwara was born in 659. He is the second son of Fujiwara no Kamatari, he was ordered by Emperor Mommu to join with Prince Osakabe and others in compiling a ritswryo, or code of laws modeled on those of China.
The ritswryo comprises two kinds of laws, the ritsu, penal code laws, which deal with criminal offenses and punishments, and the ryo, civil code laws, which regulate the functioning of the type of centralized bureaucratic system of government at this time. Fuhito was chosen to participate in the compilation of the code because his father, Kamatari, along with Prince Naka no Oe, had in 646 drawn up the Taika Reform Edict, which laid the foundation for the establishment of such a bureaucratic system of govern¬ment.
Fujiwara is the second son of Fujiwara no Kamatari. Fuhito’s oldest daughter married to Emperor Mommu, and his third daugh Ter married to Emperor Shomu to become Empress Komyo.
