Background
Sadako no Fujiwara was born in 976. She was the daughter of Kampaka Michitaka.
Sadako no Fujiwara was born in 976. She was the daughter of Kampaka Michitaka.
She became a Court lady and Chugu (consort of the emperor ranking next to Kogo, the official empress-consort) of Emperor Ichijo in 990. Her elder brothers Korechika and Takaie struggled for power against their uncle, Michinaga. While she was away from the Court at Nijo Imperial Villa for childbirth, her brothers were exiled. At learning this, she cut her hair and became a nun, lamenting the misfortune of her brothers. The following year, at Imperial solicitation, she returned to the Court and enjoyed the favor of the emperor.
In 999, she retired from the Court for another childbirth. The following year, Michinaga's daughter, Akiko, became Chugu and Sadako was raised to the rank of Kogo. This was the first instance of Kogo and Chugu attending the emperor at the same time.