藤原 不比等
Second son of Fujiwara no Kamatari (or, according to one theory, of Emperor Tenji), he had sons by two women, and those sons were the founders of the four principal lineages of the Fujiwara clan: the South, North, Ceremonial, and Capital lineages.
Also, he had four daughters by two other women. three by Kamohime, one by Tachibana no Michiyo. One daughter by Kamohime became Emperor Monmu"s wife Miyako, who in turn gave birth to Emperor Shōmu. During the reign of Emperor Monmu, the government ordered that only the descendants of Fuhito could bear the Fujiwara surname and could be appointed in the Office of Dajokan, the center of administratives.
Fuhito was 13 years old when the Jinshin incident occurred.
His father Kamatari had been a strong supporter of Emperor Tenji, but Kamatari had already died and Fuhito was too young to be appointed a governmental officer, so he was not involved in this political conflict. In 688 he appeared first as a courtier.
In 697 Prince Karu, the son of Prince Kusakabe and therefore grandson of Emperor Temmu and Empress Jitō, was appointed crown prince. Fuhito supported this appointment strongly and gained the favor of Empress Jitō.
After that, his position in the court rose steadily.
In 701 Prince Obito, later the emperor Shōmu was born by Miyako. lieutenant was the first empress who did not derive from the imperial household. He played a role in the establishment of the state law, ritsuryo, in Japan.
He participated in the edition called Taihō Ritsuryō.
He also joined in making its revision, the Yōrō ritsuryō. Before its completion, he died in the summer of 720.
When he died, he was appointed Udaijin, one of the ministers. After his death the court honored him with two titles 文忠公(Bunchu Kō) and 淡海公(Tankai Kō) and with the office of Daijodaijin, the highest office of the court.
He had four sons: Fujiwara no Muchimaro, Fujiwara no Fusasaki (681 – 737), Fujiwara no Umakai and Fujiwara no Maro.
Soga no Shōshi (Masako), daughter of Soga no Murajiko
Muchimaro (680-737)
Fusasaki (681-737)
Umakai (694-737)
Kamo no Hime, daughter of Kamo no Emishi
Miyako (?-754), married to Emperor Monmu
Nagako, married to Prince Nagaya
Ioe no Iratsume, half-sister of Fuhito (dowager of Emperor Temmu)
Maro (695-737)
Agatainukai-no-Tachimana no Michiyo (?-733)
Asukabe-hime (Empress Kōmyō) (701-760), Empress of Emperor Shōmu
Tabino(Tahino), married to Tachibana no Moroe.
