Taira no Masakado

Biographical Overview & Key Facts

Subject:

Taira no Masakado

Role / Field:

Heian period samurai who led a major uprising against the central government in Japan.

Born:

895

Died:

940-03-25

Century / Era:

895s Historical Era

Database Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Wikipedia CC BY-SA 4.0

Origins & Early Life

Taira no Masakado (平 将門; Japanese pronunciation: [taꜜi.ɾa no (|) ma.sa.ka.do], died March 25, 940) was a Heian period provincial magnate (gōzoku) and samurai based in eastern Japan, notable for leading the first recorded uprising against the central government in Kyōto. Along with Sugawara no Michizane and Emperor Sutoku, he is often called one of the "Three Great Onryō of Japan". Masakado was one of the sons of Taira no Yoshimasa (平良将), also known as Taira no Yoshimochi (平良持), of the Kanmu Taira clan (Kanmu Heishi), descendants of Emperor Kanmu (reigned 781–806) who were demoted from princely to commoner status and granted the Taira surname. Yoshimochi was one of the sons of Prince Takamochi, a grandson or great-grandson of Kanmu who was appointed the vice-governor of Kazusa Province (modern central Chiba Prefecture) in 889 (Kanpyō 1). Takamochi's sons who joined him there occupied a variety of provincial offices in the eastern part of the country such as that of chinjufu shōgun, the commander-in-chief of the defense garrison (chinjufu) in Mutsu Province tasked with subjugating the Emishi peoples of the north.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Not much is known of Masakado's birth and early life due to lack of written evidence. The genealogical record Sonpi Bunmyaku (compiled 1377–1395) identifies Masakado as the third of Yoshimochi's eight sons, while the genealogy of the Sōma clan (an offshoot of the Chiba clan, who were descended from Masakado's uncle Yoshifumi), the Sōma Keizu (相馬系図), identifies him as the second of seven sons. The latter text also claims that he was nicknamed Sōma no Kojirō (相馬小次郎, Kojirō meaning "little second son") during his childhood, suggesting that he was raised in the district of Sōma (相馬郡) in Shimōsa Province (part of modern southwest Ibaraki Prefecture and northwest Chiba Prefecture), though the factuality of this information has been disputed. Masakado's mother is sometimes identified as the daughter of a certain Agata (no) Inukai no Harue (県犬養春枝), perhaps a local magnate from Sōma District. Masakado's year of birth is also unclear.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Accounts of his exploits in the mid-930s suggest that his children were young enough to be still in the care of their mother, which may imply that he was born sometime around 900. Later legend portrays Masakado as the reincarnation of scholar and politician Sugawara no Michizane (later deified as the god Tenjin), who died in 903 (Engi 3). At some point in his late teens, Masakado went to the capital city of Heian-kyō (Kyōto) and served in the household of the imperial regent Fujiwara no Tadahira. He is said to have aspired for a position within the imperial police force, the Kebiishi, but failed to obtain court rank or any significant office in spite of his credentials and his patron's high status. Disagreement exists about the exact cause of Masakado's rebellion.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 895: Birth of Taira no Masakado — Heian period samurai who led a major uprising against the central government in Japan.
2. 940 (0940-03-25): Passing & Historical Legacy — Taira no Masakado passed away on 0940-03-25, leaving an enduring historical legacy.
3. 1377: 1377 Milestone — The genealogical record Sonpi Bunmyaku (compiled 1377–1395) identifies Masakado as the third of Yoshimochi's eight sons, while the genealogy of the Sōma clan (an offshoot of the Chiba clan, who were descended from Masakado's uncle Yoshifumi), the Sōma Keizu (相馬系図), identifies him as the second of seven sons.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Taira no Masakado

True or False: “Masakado's initial conflict with his uncle Taira no Yoshikane reportedly began over a dispute concerning land rights rather than personal honor.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): The Shōmonki suggests the conflict originally started in 931 as a dispute between Masakado and his uncle over a woman.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Taira no Masakado