- Kujō family
"For the horror novel by Stephen King, see
Cujo ."The Kujō family (九条家 Kujō-ke) was a
Japan ese noble family and a branch of theFujiwara clan derived fromFujiwara no Tadamichi . They were counted as one of theSekke , thefive regent houses and therefore one of the most politically powerful families among thekuge (court officials).As one of the Sekke, the five regent houses, the Kujō clan monopolized the offices of
Sessho and Kampaku along with the Konoe, Takatsukasa, Nijo and Ichijo clans from the 12th century until1867 . With the exception ofTokugawa Masako , wife of the Emperor Mizunoo, all Empresses of that long period were of the clans that formed the Sekke or from branches of the imperial family itself.In addition, the Nijō and Ichijō families derived from the Kujō family.
The clan was founded by
Fujiwara no Kanezane (1149-1207), at the recommendation ofMinamoto no Yoritomo . The name Kujō means literally "the ninth avenue", a district inKyoto where Kanezane had his residence.The fourth and fifth
Shogun of theKamakura shogunate ,Kujō Yoritsune andKujō Yoritsugu , came from this clan.Some sources claim the clan was founded by
Fujiwara no Morosuke (908-960) Fact|date=February 2008.The Kujō family were sponsors of the Kitano Shrine. In 1219,
Kujō Michiie (1191-1252) offered "Kitano Tenjin Engi Emaki" (Illustrated Scroll of the History of the Kitano Shrine) to the Kitano shrine.After the
Meiji Restoration , members of the Kujō clan were elevated toprincedom and given the titlePrince . Setsuko, the empress ofEmperor Taisho was of this family.External links
* [http://www.harimaya.com/o_kamon1/kuge/kuzyou.jpgKujo Kamon] The
Kamon of the Kujō family
* [http://www.metmuseum.org/explore/kitanomaki/kitano_home.htm kitanomaki] metropolitan online exhibition on the Kitano Tenjin Engi Emaki
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