User:Bamse/Fujiwara no Hirotsugu Rebellion




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 * RS: 栄原永遠男「藤原広嗣の乱の展開過程; Sakaehara Towao "Fujiwara no Hirotsugu no ran no tenkai katei"
 * RS: 藤原広嗣の乱.大林太良編『戦く日本古代文化/探求〉』(社会思想社); "Fujiwara Hirotsugu no ran", Obayashi Taryo ed., Ikusa, pp. 205-24, Shokai Shisosha, 1984
 * RS: "Tenpyo ju ni nen Fujiwara Hirotsugu no ran no ikkosatsu", In Ritsuryo kokka ho kiseki kozo, ed. Osaka rekishi gakkai, pp. 293-312
 * RS: Fujiwara Hirotsugu on CiNii
 * RS: User:Bamse/Fujiwara no Hirotsugu Rebellion/RS1,
 * RS:
 * RS:, , User:Bamse/Fujiwara no Hirotsugu Rebellion/RS3,
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 * page 105 map, page 59 shomu travel map
 * ,, , , ,
 * Shoku Nihongi, on incorrect dates
 * Titsingh

The Fujiwara no Hirotsugu Rebellion (藤原広嗣の乱) was a Nara period rebellion in which Fujiwara no Hirotsugu (藤原広嗣), dissatisfied with the political powers, raised an army in Dazaifu, Kyushu but was defeated by government forces.

Historical source
The Fujiwara no Hirotsugu Rebellion is sparsely documented and most of what is known about it including exact dates are due to a single historical source, the Shoku Nihongi. Completed in 797, this is one of the imperially commissioned Six National Histories and covers the time from 697 to 791. It is a valuable document for historians, though not all dates in it should be considered exact.

Background
The Fujiwara clan had influenced Japanese politics since its founder Nakatomi no Kamatari assisted in a coup d'état in 645 overthrowing the Soga clan and shortly thereafter launching a reform program (Taika Reform) aimed at reinforcing imperial authority. In the 730s, the imperial advisory body known as Council of State (Daijō-kan) was controlled by four sons of Fujiwara no Fuhito known as the "Fujiwara Four": Fujiwara no Muchimaro, minister of the right since 729; Fujiwara no Fusasaki, consultant since 729; Fujiwara no Umakai and Fujiwara no Maro who joined the council in 731. Together they held four out of ten positions of this important council which was placed directly under the emperor and in charge of all kinds of secular affairs.

In 735 a devastating smallpox epidemic eventually killing about one third of the Japanese population broke out on Kyushu and subsequently spread north-east. While most victims were from the producer populace of westen and central Japan, by 737, the epidemic had reached the capital at Heijō-kyō (Nara) causing death and terror among the aristocracy. Emperor Shōmu was spared, but by the 8th month of 737 ten officials of fourth rank or higher were dead including the "Fujiwara Four". The death of their top figures, considerably weakened the influence of the Fujiwara clan.

The following reappointments brought about a shift in power towards nobles closely related to the emperor and away from nonimperial clans such as the Fujiwara. In 737 Prince Suzuka, brother of Prince Nagaya, was appointed to Chancellor (Daijō Daijin), the highest position of the Council of State. In the beginning of the following year, Tachibana no Moroe, half-brother of Empress Kōmyō, took the position of minister of the right that had been held by Muchimaro before his death. The only Fujiwara in the council at the time was Muchimaro's son, Fujiwara no Toyonari who had a relatively low rank. In addition, all the clans that had opposed the Fujiwara Four such as the Ōtomo, the Saeki or the Agata Inukai were Moroe backers. Unlike under the Fujiwara Four, the Emperor was not opposed by a single strong faction anymore as members of this new council originated from various clans.

Kibi no Makibi and Genbō were promoted to important posts, despite lacking prestigious family backgrounds. Both had spent 17 years in Tang China and returned to Japan in 735. Makibi who had brought several important Confucian texts to Japan would advise the Emperor on the latest continental developments in legal codes, warfare and music. He was promoted to a higher rank and became Imperial professor (daigaku no suke) at court. The monk Genbō who returned with more than 5000 Buddhist scrolls and commentaries was given a large plot of land, eight servants and a purple kesa by the court. When the plague reached the court in 737, he was asked to perform healing rituals for the imperial family; and his activities were thought to actually heal the Emperor's mother, Fujiwara no Miyako. Consequently his influence at court increased and Genbō became chief priest of Kōfuku-ji, head of the northern branch of the Hossō sect of Buddhism, and he gained the highest monastic rank sōjō (primary prelate).

Several Fujiwara were exiled to posts in distant provinces. Fujiwara no Hirotsugu, the oldest son of Umakai and nephew of Empress Kōmyō, was the leader of the Shikike branch of the Fujiwara family. Seeing the Fujiwara influence waning, Hirotsugu impeached Genbō and vocally opposed Makibi. However Shōmu confided in his most influential advisors and had Hirotsugu demoted from his position as governor of the central Yamato Province, which he had assumed a year earlier, to remote Kyushu where he became vice-governor of Dazaifu in 738.


 * 738 banishment
 * h. had assumed position of governor of yamato in 738 but only a year later he was banished to remote dazaifu
 * The great Confucianist, Makibi, and the Buddhist prelate, Gembo, met with misfortune and became the victims of an unjust accusation because they attempted to assert the Imperial authority as superior to the growing influence of the Fujiwara. Makibi held the post of chamberlain of the Empress' household, and Gembo officiated at the "Interior monastery" (Nai-dojo) where the members of the Imperial family worshipped Buddha. The Emperor's mother, Higami, who on her son's accession had received the title of "Imperial Great Lady" (vide sup.), fell into a state of melancholia and invited Gembo to prescribe for her, which he did successfully. Thus, his influence in the palace became very great, and was augmented by the piety of the Empress, who frequently listened to discourses by the learned prelate. Makibi naturally worked in union with Gembo in consideration of their similar antecedents. Fujiwara Hirotsugu was then governor of Yamato. Witnessing this state of affairs with uneasiness, he impeached Gembo. But the Emperor credited the priest 's assertions, and removed Hirotsugu to the remote post of Dazai-fu in Chikuzen. </s


 * general
 * h. was apparently the victim of factional intrigue: shomu accused h. of unfilial behaviour; h. vocally opposed shomu's most influential advisors: scholar makibi, priest genbo and powerful great minister of right moroe


 * power shift
 * loss of fujiwara brothers was tragic (for fujiwara clan) because they had rotated most powerful positions at court amongst themselves
 * not long after death of fujiwara 4, moroe assumed control at court
 * resulting reappointments after epidemic left Outomo no Yakamochi in a fairly strong position with Tachibana no Moroe (an ally of the Outomo clan) as major counselor


 * after epidemic and death of 4 fujiwara brothers, Fujiwara clansmen were overshadowed by a clique headed by Tachibana no Moroe (684-757). Several Fujiwara men, including Hirotsugu, were transferred (demoted) to posts in distant provinces. Eventually, Hirotsugu decided that Fujiwara fortunes could be restored only by military action.


 * The demise of the four Fujiwara brothers was accompanied by a shift of power toward nobles closely related to the emperor and away from aristocrats belonging to such great nonimperial clans as the Fujiwara, even though Emperor Shomu (who had a Fujiwara mother and a Fujiwara empress) continued to reign. The shift was most clearly seen in two council appointments made in 737 and 738. First, Prince Suzuka (a ranking imperial son and a younger brother of Prince Nagaya) was appointed as acting chancellor. Second, Tachibana no Moroe (684-757) was advanced to minister of the right, the very position that had been held by Fujiwara no Muchimaro before his death a few months earlier. The princely stature of Suzuka was unmistakable, but Tachibana no Moroe's court connections were also impressive. Descended from Emperor Bidatsu and a half-brother of Empress Komyo, Moroe was once considered a member of the imperial clan and called Prince Kazuragi. But in 736 he was removed from the imperial clan and named Tachibana no Moroe. After being promoted to minister of the right and advanced to senior third rank, Moroe was not seriously challenged by members of the great Fujiwara clan. Indeed, the only Fujiwara on the council at the time was Fujiwara no Toyonari (704-65), Muchimaro's eldest son, who had the relatively low rank of junior fourth rank lower grade. Furthermore, all those clans that had opposed the four Fujiwara brothers - such as the Otomo, Saeki, and Agata-Inukai - were Moroe backers. This group, referred to as the "princely clique," wished to strengthen its anti-Fujiwara stance by having Prince Asaka (whose mother was not a Fujiwara) ascend the throne as Shomu's successor. But as powerful as the "princely clique" had become, it was not able to keep Shomu and his influential Empress Komyo from disregarding


 * H. was leader of shikike branch of fujiwara family and oldest son of umakai
 * high-ranking member of the Fujiwara clan, Fujiwara no Hirotsugu (d. 740) who was Empress Komyo's nephew


 * H. was appointed to minor position in dazaifu in 738
 * as a result of the epidemic shomu juggled advisors and in the process antagonized a grandson of fuhito (=h.) whom he exiled to dazaifu (=court's fortified outpost and regional headquarters in kyushu)
 * hirotsugu wurde infolge der verschiebung der machtverhaeltnisse nach kyushu verbannt
 * h. of southern fujiwara branch was exiled to kyushu by northern leading branch of fujiwara
 * h. was a former governor of yamato who had been demoted to Dazai Shoni (Vice-Governor) of kyushu on account of court politics


 * Hirotsugu demands
 * h. demanded that the court cleanse iself from corruption by ridding the kofuku-ji of Genbō who was not worthy of his priestly status as the head of the northern branch of the hosso sect of buddhism;
 * h. demanded removal of Genbō from court
 * Genbō’s removal from the palace had been one of Fujiwara Hirotsugu’s demands when he raised a rebel army in 740. Genbō, together with Kibi Makibi (two long-time China residents), had been the focus of wide discontent
 * Tension and rivalry between imperial and nonimperial clans continued throughout the Moroe period, breaking into open warfare when Fujiwara no Hirotsugu (d. 740), the eldest son of Umakai, became upset over his transfer (in 738) to a low-ranking post in distant Dazai-fu. He complained that two China specialists (Kibi no Makibi and the priest Genbō) were the principal cause of the current difficulties at the capital, and so he requested their dismissal.


 * fujiwara rule
 * Fujiwara muchimaro became senior counselor; fusasaki became consultant (both in 729); umakai and maro were added to the council of state in 731; four out of 10 positions of council of state were held by Fujiwara Fuhito's sons
 * Council of State was controlled by the four Fujiwara brothers,
 * Fujiwara Fuhito’s political gains from securing important administrative posts for his four sons, oft en against resistance by the imperial clan, were wiped out when all four died in the 737 smallpox epidemic. His daughter Miyako, who had become Emperor Mommu’s consort in 697, bore him a son in 701, the future Emperor Shōmu, but she suffered from a debilitating depression for the next thirty-six years (Watanabe Akihiro, Heijō-kyō, 131, 207). His other daughter, Kōmyō, as the fi rst nonroyal female to rise to the rank of empress (729–760) and mother of Kōken, was thus the Fujiwara clan’s only trump card left, but a strong one. In 738, the Fujiwara/Kōmyō succeeded in appointing a princess (Abe, unmarried, the future Kōken) as crown princess, an extraordinary event that was opposed by the Tachibana clan, which had grown stronger because of infighting among Fujiwara lineages that led to Hirotsugu’s rebellion in Kyushu two years later.


 * epidemic
 * small pox epid. broke out in 735 killing as many as 40 percent of popul.
 * epid. coincided with period of bad harvest and affected peasants and nobles alike


 * Origins of the rebellion can be traced back to the smallpox epidemic of 735-7, which had resulted in the death of four high-ranking Fujiwara officials.
 * in 735 Japan had begun to suffer from a smallpox epidemic that had apparently broken out first in Kyushu and then spread north and east, finally reaching the capital in 737 and causing death and terror among aristocrats at the court. Four top figures of the powerful Fujiwara clan, popularly referred to as the Fujiwara Four, all succumbed to the disease in 737, forcing a sharp decline in Fujiwara influence and the sudden rise of a regime headed by an imperial prince
 * Then in 735 Japan was hit by a smallpox epidemic that was rumored to have been introduced by a ship from Silla. By the eighth month of 737, ten officials of fourth rank or higher were dead, including all four of the Fujiwara brothers (Muchimaro, Fusasaki, Umakai, and Maro) who had dominated the council for the past eight years. Some scholars have estimated that approximately one-third of the entire population perished during those two years.
 * epidemic in 730s on unprecedented scale that slashed the producer populace especially in western and central japan; also decimated aristocracy, sparing the tenno but not his key princely and fujiwara supporters
 * plague from kyushu spread to nara and killed all four sons of fujiwara fuhito-> weakened power of fujiwara clan
 * emperor did not fall ill during plague which was attributed to care by Genbō who had succeeded to obtain the first permanent buddhist office at the imperial court (which had been made possible by simultaneous weakening of fujiwara family)
 * devastating smallpox epidemic of 737 killed several court officials including leaders of all four branches of the fujiwara clan;


 * 47 Hirotsugu had been the governor of Yamato, but two years before had been demoted to the post of Dazai ShAni48 (vice-Governor of Kyushu) as a result of factional struggles at court.


 * "Gembō, having made improper overtures to the beautiful wife of Fujiwara no Hirotsugu ... [Hirotsugu] petitioned for the removal of the priest ...."
 * according to this book page 124, the story is featured in Shoku Nihongi, but ... some historians mistakenly believed that Gembo had seduced Empress Komy5, the wife of Shomu, while others thought that this was the wife of Fujiwara Hirotsugu, Gembo's later enemy.62 In this particular situation Gembo appears to ...

Rebellion
In a memorial sent to the Emperor in September 740, Hirotsugu, holds Kibi no Makibi and the priest Genbō responsible for corruption and general discontent at the capital. He points out "failures of recent policy, described catastrophes of heaven and earth" and demands their dismissal. Four days after the court had received his message, he declared himself in rebellion not unlike Iwai had done some 200 years before. At the time the people on Kyushu were experiencing hard times after the smallpox epidemics, years of drought and bad harvest. The government had responded to this situation with a large scale temple building project aimed at appeasing the gods. However farmer families could not spend workforce on temple construction. Hirotsugu's cause was supported by discontented farmers, local district chiefs and members of the Hayato minority of southern Kyushu; he also tried to secure support from the Korean kingdom of Silla. Making use of his official position at Dazaifu, Hirotsugu soon had an army of about 10,000 to 15,000 men assembled.

With the force concentrated in vital Dazaifu and Hirotsugu's connections in the capital, this situation posed a serious thread to the central government. Shōmu, who also might have been worried about a possible involvement of Silla, responds by assigning Ono no Azumabito as general over a suppression army of 17,000 men taken from eastern and western Japan except for Kyushu — the largest royal army of the 8th century. As draftees had been released a year before due to the epidemics, it took another month before they could get into action. . On 29 September the government sends a reconnaissence team of 24 native Hayato. Forces on either side consisted of both, foot and mounted soldiers and were under local command of district magistrates. According to William Wayne Farris, in 8th century Japan, the horsemen played a decisive role for the strength of an army. Before any battle, in this conflict, a large part of the government troops would be recruited from western Honshu where many good mounted archers were located, giving them a decisive advantage over Hirotsugu who was limited to Kyushu. Later in the conflict, some of Hirotsugu's mounted soldiers would defect, augmenting this advantage.

To secure spiritual support for the mission, Azumabito is ordered to pray to Hachiman, the god of war. This was one of the first crisis in which people resorted to Hachiman as kami of power. A messenger is send to make offerings at Ise Grand Shrine and Shōmu orders that seven foot statues of Kannon bosatsu be cast and sutras copied and read in all provinces.

In order to surround the government forces, Hirotsugu splits his army in three units, one under his command and the others under command of his subordinates, Tsunade and Komaro respectively. Together they advance along different routes to northern Kyushu where the Kanmon Straits separate Kyushu from Japan's main island, Honshu. Along the way, on 19 October, Hirotsugu stops at the headquarters of Oka district to "make camp, set up his crossbows, raise beacon signals, and conscript soldiers from the province [of Chikuzen]". Eventually he arrives at fortifications (chinsho) in Miyako district, Buzen Province near the expected invasion route. But Hirotsugu's plans for an organized attack get foiled as one army of several thousand men does not appear and the other unit is late. The government army successfully lands on Kyushu, captures men and weapons from three camps at Tomi, Itabitsu and Miyako in Buzen Province. Earlier the court's army had been reinforced on 16/17 October with more than 4,000 men including 40 fine soldiers (jōhei) under the magistrate of Toyoura District, Nagato Province. On 20 October, several of Hirotsugu's allies surrender and change sides: four district officials defect together with 500 mounted warriors and a citizen from Buzen Province killed one of the rebels. Later, a magistrate from a Buzen district returns with several rebels' heads from battle. On 24 October, an imperial decree is distributed among the population and officials of Kyushu, trying to discredit Hirotsugu, and promising rewards to anybody who kills Hirotsugu.

On November 2, the remaining army of Hirotsugu, said to consist of 10,000 horsemen, meets the government forces at Itabitsu river. As they fail to cross, Hirotsugu's army is defeated and breaks up. Trying to reach Silla by boat, Hirotsugu is forced back by storms, captured by government forces under Abe no Kuromaro (安倍黒麻呂) on November 16 on Chikanoshima in the Gotō Islands, Hizen Province. A week later, on November 24, a general beheads him without the court's permission.


 * Defeat
 * h. tried to flee in vain from usa hachiman shrine to silla when defeat loomed for his rebellion
 * imperial army defeated H. near itabitsu river, captured and beheaded him
 * hirotsugu was decapitated without imperial permission by the general who had defeated the rebelling forces
 * within two months, the royal army had scattered the rebel army and executed h.
 * hayato had to submit
 * On 740/11/5, Fujiwara Hirotsugu wondered during his failed rebellion in Kyushu: “Will the shinrei abandon me? I fear that relying on shinryoku (kami power) . . .”


 * general
 * Fujiwara no Hirotsugu was killed for his alleged involvement in a treasonous plot
 * There [in Dazaifu/Chikuzen] he raised the standard of revolt and was with some difficulty captured and executed.
 * At the same time [as he complained about makibi and genbo) he used his official position at Dazai-fu to mobilize troops for a rebellion. But the government dispatched an expeditionary force of seventeen thousand that soon defeated the rebels and executed Hirotsugu.
 * Azumabito was ordered by the court to pray to hachiman and to lead an army against h. which captured him after he tried to flee to silla
 * rebellion was one of the first crises in which people resorted to hachiman as a kami of great power


 * Shomu responds
 * military
 * shomu called up 17,000 men but it took a month before they could move, since draftees had been released the year before because of epidemic; when they did move west, they could not immediately subdue the rebels
 * court responds to rebellion by assigning Ono no Azumabito as great general in a unified command structure over 17,000 soldiers drawn from eastern and western japan with exception of kyushu
 * on 4/9/740 government dispatches 24 natives (hayato) as reconnaissence team
 * In 740 he raised a revolt and in response the court issued an edict to the general Azumabito49 ordering him to pray to Hachiman.50 Azumabito then led about 15,000 troops against Hirotsugu, who tried to flee to Silla, but was forced back by storms, captured, and execute
 * according to nihon shoki, shomu dispatched an army of 17,000 (=largest royal army raised in 8th c.)
 * Shomu took steps to forestall continental (=Silla) involvement and dispatched an army of suppression which after some confusion and considerable dismay crushed hirotsugu and resecured the region


 * 740
 * 12/8/29: h. vented his frustration in remonstrance to court: pointed out the "failures of recent policy, described catastrophes of heaven and earth," and demanded the ousting of his enemies
 * h. was disgruntled after demotion to minor post in kyushu after serving as governor of important central province Yamato; and being the son of the head of one of the branches of the powerful fujiwara clan
 * in september 740, h. petitioned the throne to remove genbo and makibi from power on the grounds that the land was full of evil omens; at the end of the month, when there was no reaction from the court h. declared himself in rebellion
 * some credit h. with championing the cause of the people (who were facing hard times after smallpox epidemics, years of drought and bad harvest); government embarked on large scale temple building program to appease the gods, but farmers especially in kyushu (where epidemics had been worst) could not spare field labor to work on constructing temples
 * discontented farmers and local families of influence supported h.'s cause and soon he had an army of some 15,000 men


 * Hirotsugu starts
 * four days after court received h.'s views, on 3/9/740 started rebellion
 * hirotsugu rose in rebellion when the court refused to remove Genbō from his religious office
 * H. raised army of 10,000 men and led a rebellion in 740
 * An uprising headed by Fujiwara no Hirotsugu (d. 740) broke out in the seventh month of 740
 * in an action reminiscent of that of tsukushi no iwai some two centuries earlier, the resentful h. renounced shomu and mobilized armed forces in kyushu; reviving yet again the specter of a secessionist Wa supported by a truculent Silla
 * in 740 the exiled h. raised an army of 10,000 conscript troops against the throne; gained support from some district chiefs and members of the hayato minority (who resisted the civilization offered by yamato rulers) of southern kyushu; h. even made overtures to sill in search of allies


 * spiritually
 * messenger was sent to make offerings for victory at ise grand shrine and provinces were ordered to make 7 foot statues of kannon bodhisattva and to make copies of kannon sutra
 * Shomu reinforced his armies of suppression by ordering seven-foot statues of the bodhisattva kannon cast and suitable scriptures read in all provinces; his commanding general went to the hachiman shrine in usa presumably to neutralize any resentment the kyushu god might feel towards the invading army


 * central government was alarmed since force was sizeable and centered in vital dazaifu; also h. had powerful connections in capital
 * emperor sent warnings to officials and people of kyushu: The traitor Hirotsugu was a wicked youth and came to do more and more evil as he grew up. His late father, the minister of ceremonial, wanted to disinherit him, but we intervened. However, when he slandered his family, we sent him away and were awaiting his reform. Now it comes to our ears that he has begun a ridiculous rebellion, causing suffering among the people. Because of his extreme disloyalty and lack of filial piety, the gods of heaven and earth will surely bring his destruction in a matter of days.
 * Although we sent the above message to the provinces of Kyushu several days ago, it has come to our ears that the traitor captured the man assigned to distribute it and prevented him from informing the people. This time we have made several hundred copies of the message and have distributed them everywhere, so such interference will be impossible.
 * Let all who see this rescript immediately return allegiance to the crown. Whoever slays Hirotsugu will be promoted to fifth rank and given other rewards, even if he is one of the rebels, and even if he is not currently a member of the official class. If by any chance the man who does the deed is himself killed, we promise the reward to his descendants. Come forth now, loyal subjects and faithful retainers. Our imperial army is advancing on Kyushu. [Shoku Nihongi 12/9/29]


 * Inbetween
 * h. divided his army of 12,000 - 15,000 men into three units: one under his command and two under command of Tsunade and Komaro (his subordinates); h. orders them to advance along separate routes to northeastern kyushu (12/10/9)
 * h. stops along the way at Oka district HQ "to make camp, set up crossbows, raise beacon signals and to conscript soldiers from chikuzen province (12/9/24)
 * eventually h. arrives at fortifications (chinsho) in miyako district, buzen province; just across a small channel from the likely invasion route
 * h's. plan for coordinated attach unravels: one army of several thousand men failed to appear and the other was late; leader of government army reported successful landing
 * Tomi (Shin'yoshitomi, Fukuoka), Itabitsu (Kitakyūshū), Miyako (?) camps; We took alive 1767 men from 3 camps located at Tomi, I'ta- bitsu, and Miyako and captured 17 weapons.
 * Hayato were used as reconnaissance team

Emperor Shōmu's tour to the eastern provinces
While the fightings were still underway, in the 10th month, Emperor Shōmu left the capital at Heijō-kyō (Nara) and traveled eastward via Horikoshi (堀越頓宮; today Tsuge; 10th month, 29th day: November 22), Nabari (10th month, 30th day: November 23), Ao (安保頓宮; today Aoyama ; 11th month 1st day: November 24) to Kawaguchi in Ichishi District, Ise Province (today part of Tsu, formerly part of Hakusan) where he retreated together with his court to a temporary palace. One of his generals was left in command of the capital. Presumably Shōmu feared Fujiwara supporters in Nara and was hoping to quell potential uprisings in other parts of the country with his presence. After four days travelling through heavy rain and thick mud, the party reached Kawaguchi on November 25. A couple of days later, they learn of Hirotsugu's execution and that the rebellion had been quelled.

Despite of these good news, Shōmu did not return to Heijō-kyō immediately, but stayed in Kawaguchi until December 4. He continued his journey east, then north via Mino Province and back west along the shores of Lake Biwa to Kuni in Yamashiro Province (today in Kizugawa) which he reaches on January 6, 741. Places passed along the way include Akasaka (赤坂頓宮; today Suzuka; 11th m. 14th d.: Dec 7）, Asake district (朝明郡; today Yokkaichi; 11th m. 20th d.: Dec 13）, Ishiura (石占頓宮; today Tado; 11th m. 25th d.: Dec 18）, Tagi district (当伎郡; today Yōrō; 11th m. 26th d.: Dec 19）, Fuwa (不破頓宮; today Tarui; 12th m. 1st d.: Dec 23）, Yokokawa (横川頓宮; today Santō or Maihara; 12th m. 6th d.: Dec 28), Inukami (犬上頓宮; today Hikone; 12th m. 7th d.: Dec 29）, Gamō district (蒲生郡; today near Yōkaichi; 12th m. 9th d.: Dec 31）, Yasu (野洲頓宮; today Yasu or Moriyama; 12th m. 10th d.: Jan 1）, Awazu (禾津頓宮; today Ōtsu; 12th m. 11th d.： Jan 2）, Tamanoi (玉井頓宮; today Yamashina-ku, Kyoto; 12th m. 14th d.）. Situated among the hills and near a river north of Nara, Kuni was easily defensible. In addition the area was linked with Minister of the Right, Tachibana no Moroe, while Nara was a center of the Fujiwara clan. On January 6, 741, Shōmu proclaims a new capital at Kuni-kyō.


 * when fighting dragged on week after week, emperor ordered a temporary palace readied in kawaguchi (ise prov.) and retreated with his court eastward leaving one of his generals in command of the capital; presumably shomu feared h. sympathizers in nara
 * it took emperor & co four days to reach kawaguchi in heavy rain and through thick mud; within a few days after their arrival in kawaguchi, news reached them that h. had been killed and the rebellion crushed
 * emperor shomu went to ise and stayed at temporary palace of kawaguchi in ichishi district
 * emperor shomu and his court had to flee from capital in nara due to revolt
 * shomu left nara in 10th month; great circle eastward through iga and ise provinces, north to mino and back west along shores of lake biwa settling at last at kuni (in hills north of nara); in kawaguchi, ise province court stayed from 2nd to 11th of 11th month
 * As soon as Emperor Shomu received word of the military victory, he made a tour of the eastern provinces, apparently realizing that the execution of Hirotsugu would not end the old conflict between the imperial princes and Fujiwara clansmen and hoping that his royal presence might prevent the outbreak of rebellion in other parts of the country.


 * shomu moved further east, then north until nearly two months after leaving nara, shomu and court reached kuni (near nara) where shomu declared a new capital; kuni was surrounded by mountains and rivers (->easily defensible), also moroe had ties in the area whereas nara was a center of fujiwara power
 * althouth the revolt was eventually subdued emperor shomu decided to move the capital to kuni-kyou
 * Instead of returning directly to Nara from Ise, Shomu proceeded to Kuni in the province of Yamashiro and, early in the following year, reported to Ise that the capital had been moved to Kuni.
 * and in the twelfth month of 740 the capital was moved to Kuni.

Aftermath
In an entry for April 14, 741, the Shoku Nihongi notes, gifts of land, servants, horses and Buddhist sutras made to the Hachiman shrine and the construction of a pagoda. Bender considers these offerings to be in thanks for the suppression of Hirotsugu's rebellion. While not directly related to the rebellion, Shōmu's edict of 741 in which he decrees that provincial temples be established, is another indication for the desolate state of the country following a number of calamities.

The death of Fujiwara no Hirotsugu marked the end of the Shikike branch and the start of the rise of the Nanke, "southern", Fujiwara. Having suppressed the rebellion, Moroe's influence at court grew further. However, through the influence of the Fujiwara, Makibi and Genbō were removed from court and exiled to Kyushu, the place from where Hirotsugu had demanded the removal of Genbō and shortly thereafter started his rebellion. Makibi became governor and Genbō was to build the temple Kwannon-ji. Genbō died a year later in 746 and popular belief held Hirotsugu's ghost — acting in rancor — responsible for the death of the monk. This story, noted in the Shoku Nihongi as: "Word spread that the spiritual effect of Fujiwara no Hirotsugu had caused him harm" is the first mention of a vengeful spirit (goryō). Herman Ooms sees in this rumor a "widespread support (probably limited to Nara and environs) for someone who critiqued the government (Hirotsugu) and suffered the consequences".

In the second half of the 8th century Hirotsugu's spirit was, together with that of Prince Nagaya, considered particularly disruptive. At a time of a countrywide tuberculosis epidemics, thought to be caused by goryō, Fujiwara no Mototsune, from the "northern" (hokke) Fujiwara branch, held a goryō'e (departed spirits ritual) on June 10, 863 at the Imperial Palace Gardens in Heian-kyō (Kyoto). This ritual was aimed at six spirits including Fujiwara no Hirotsugu,s and each of them had become a departed spirit because of Fujiwara actions. McMullin therefore assumes that the event was held in order to direct the fear in the population to these six deceased people who had been enemies of the hokke branch of the Fujiwara family, sending the message that enemies of the hokke Fujiwara were enemies of the people.


 * in latter part of 8th century, Hirotsugu's departed spirit was (together with that of Prince Nagaya) singled out as being especially troublesome
 * in 863 on occasion of a tuberculosis epidemy the fujiwara held a goryō'e ("departed spirit ritual" to ward off diseases and other disasters inflicted by departed spirits and to exorcize those spirits from the community) aimed at the Goryō of six historical figures (among them hirotsugu); these six figures were enemies of the (nothern) fujiwara and the goryō'e aimed at theses people is considered by mcmullin to have served the fujiwara as a message to the populace by connecting these figures to the epidemic (message: "enemies of the northern Fujiwara, both living and deceased, were enemies of the people.")


 * In the following year [741], Shoku Nihongi records, gifts of land, servants, horses, and Buddhist sutras were made to the shrine and a pagoda was built,51 presumably in thanksgiving for the subjugation of Hirotsugu.
 * in spring after h. had been seized and executed, the court conveyed thanks and gifts to hachiman including sutras and new shrine buildings
 * Four days after Hirotsugu's defeat and capture, Shomu made an imperial visit to Ise Shrine, where the Sun Goddess (the ancestral kami of the imperial clan) is still worshiped. We do not know precisely why he went to this rather distant shrine at that particular time, but current circumstances suggest that he wished to ask the Sun Goddess for protection and assistance.


 * political
 * death of H. marked end of shikike branch of fujiwara and rise in influence of nanke (southern) branch
 * tachibana moroe benefited greatly from crushing h. rebellion
 * Although the temple-building edict of shomu from 741 issued three months after move of capital to kuni does not refer directly to the danger of uprisings, it does indicate that conditions were bad enough to warrant special measures for obtaining divine intervention:


 * ghost and hachiman


 * The Fujiwara did not tamely endure this check. They exerted their influence to procure the removal of Makibi and Gembo from the capital, both being sent to Tsukushi (Kyushu), Makibi in the capacity of governor, and Gembo to build the temple Kwannon-ji. Gembo died a year later, and it was commonly reported that the spirit of Hirotsugu had compassed his destruction,
 * the first mention of evil spirits of revenge (Goryō) is in the Nihongi (SHoku Nihongi?) upon the death of Genbō (746): "Word spread that the spiritual effect of Fujiwara no Hirotsugu had caused him harm"
 * in 746 popular belief ascribed the death of the monk Genbō to the h.'s ghost
 * Demoted, Genbō had been sent away to a temple in Dazaifu — ironically, the center of Hirotsugu’s rebellion whence Hirotsugu issued his demand for Genbō’s removal from Nara. Aft er Genbō’s death, the rumor circulated (yo ni aitsutaete iwaku) that he had received his just deserts: that he “had been harmed by Hirotsugu’s ryō.” This is the fi rst mention of a postmortem targeted revenge by a dead spirit. Implicit in this rumor is widespread support (probably limited to Nara and environs) for someone who critiqued the government (Hirotsugu) and suff ered the consequences. Although the term urami (deep-rooted rancor), the on of onryō, is not used in this passage of the Shoku Nihongi, it is obvious that rancor, resentment, is what allegedly motivated Hirotsugu’s ghost.

Timeline

 * 740 (Tenpyō 12, 8th month): In the Imperial court in Nara, Kibi no Makibi and Genbō conspire to discredit Fujiwara no Hirotsugu, who is Dazai shoni in Kyushu.
 * 740 (Tenpyō 12, 9th month): Hirotsugu creates an army in reaction to the perceived malevolence of Genbō and others.
 * 740 (Tenpyō 12, 9th month): Under the command of Ōno no Azumabito, an Imperial army of 17,000 is sent to Kyushu to stop the potential disturbance.
 * 740 (Tenpyō 12, 10th month): Hirotsugu is decisively beaten in battle.

737

 * Le Sanghi Fousiwara-no Fousa saki mourut le 4* mois de la 9* année (737), à l'âge de 57 ans.
 * Sangi Fujiwara no Fusasaki dies on the 4th month of the 9th year (737) aged 57
 * Le 7* mois, arriva le décès du Sanghi Fousiwara-no maro , âgé de 45 ans.
 * In the 7th month, Sangi Fujiwara no Maro deceased, aged 45.
 * Le même mois, succomba également l'Oudaïsin Fousiwara-no Mousi maro, âgé de 58 ans. Quand il était à l'article de la mort , le Daïri l'éleva au premier rang de la première classe , lequel égale celui de Sadaïsin.
 * In the same [7th] month, also the Udaijin Fujiwara no Muchimaro yields [dies], aged 58. When he is near death, the Emperor elevates him to first rank first class equal to that of the Sadaijin.
 * Le 8* mois, le Sanghi Fousiwara-no Nokiafi , fils de Fou/ira et oncle du Daïri , mourut à l'âge de 44 ans. Ainsi les quatre frères furent, dans la même année, enlevés par la petite vérole.
 * In the 8th month, Sangi Fujiwara no Umakai son of Fujiwara no Fuhito and uncle of Daïri [member of imperial family/emperor/empress???] died aged 44. So the four brothers were taken away by smallpox in the same year.
 * La maison de l'Oudaïsin Mousi maro étant au sud, elle fut nommée Mmami kou (Nan kia), la maison méridionale; celle de Fousa saki étant au nord, elle fut désignée par le nom de Kita-kou (Pë kia) , la maison septentrionale. Fousa saki était le second fils de Foufira ; ses descendans obtinrent des emplois distingués, et ils ont toujours été jusqu'à présent les premiers serviteurs du Daïri. Fousiwara-no Nokiafi était Siki hou kio (Khy pou taï fou) , et par cette raison on l'appelait aussi Siki kou (Chy kia); c'était un homme très- instruit et reconnu pour tel chez l'étranger. Fousiwara-no maro était 5a kio- no daîyou, (Tso king ta fou), et on le nommait ordinairement Kio kio (King kia). Les descendans de la famille de Foufira furent, dans les temps postérieurs , très-nombreux ; tous dérivent de ces quatre souches.
 * Muchimaro's mansion was located south, it was named Nanke [南家]; the southern house; that of Fusasaki was located north and was called Hokke [北家], the northern house. Fusasaki was the second son of Fuhito; his descendents acquired distinguished positions and they are until now [1834] the first attendants of the Daïri [Emperor???]. Fujiwara no Umakai had the title Chief administrator of the ministry of civil services or Chief of Protocol (式部卿) and for that reason was also called Shiki-ke; he was a very educated man and known for being strange. Fujiwara no Maro was "Sa kio no daîyou" (???), ordinarily called Kyōke. The descendants of the Fujiwara clan were in later times very numerous all deriving from these four branches.


 * La mère du Daïri était malade depuis long-temps, et ne voulait voir personne. Dans l'hiver de cette année , le prêtre Ghen bô (Hiuan fang) alla chez elle, ce qui lui causa beaucoup de joie. Le Daïri y vint aussi et passa plusieurs heures chez elle, ce qui la contenta; le prêtre reçut un présent de pièces d'étoffes de coton.
 * The mother of Daïri [emperor???] had been sick for a long time and didn't want to see anybody. In the winter of this year the priest Genbō went to her what caused her great joy. The Daïri [emperor???] also came and spent several hours with her which satisfied her; the priest received a present of cotton fabrics.

738

 * Le 1*' mois de la 10* année (738), le Daïri nomma Taîsi ou princesse héréditaire , sa fille Abé-no naî sin o ( pou nei thsin wang) ; car son fils était mort en bas âge. Tatsibana-no Moroyé ( Kiû tchu hioung) fut créé Oudaïsin.
 * In the 1st month of the 10th year (738), the Daïri named his daughter (Princess) Abe (later Empress Kōken) as "taishi" or crown princess; because his son had died as infant. Tachibana no Moroe became udaijin.

740

 * Le 8* mois de la 12* année (7iiO), le Dasaï-no sio ni Foasiwara-no Firo tsouki ( Ta hing chao eul Theng yuan Kouang szu ) ayant fait de faux rapports sur plusieurs affaires importantes, Simo mitsi-no Mabi (Hia tchao Tchin pi) et le grand-prêtre Ghen bô (Hiuan fang) représentèrent au Daïri qu'il devait s'attendre à une révolte, s'il ne renvoyait pas Firo tsouki. Elle éclata en effet au 9* mois dans le Tsoukouzi. Le Daïri y fit marcher aussitôt , sous le commandement d'Ono-no Atsouma (Ta ye Toung jin ) et de Ki-no Iro maro (Ki Fan ma liu) , une armée de 17,000 hommes assemblés de dififérens endroits. 4,000 hommes sous les ordres de Saïki-no tsouné bito (Thso pë tchhang jin) et d'Abé-no Momi maro (A pou Tchoung ma liu) y furent ajoutés. Toutes ces troupes étaient destinées à punir Firo tsouki. Le Daïri chargea aussi un grand de sa cour d'aller dans l'Izé pour y faire des offrandes et implorer la protection des divinités tutélaires du temple Daî sin gou (Taï chin koung). Il fit occuper par ses troupes plusieurs passages fortifiés.
 * In the 8th month of the 12th year (740), after the Vice-governor of Dazaifu, Fujiwara no Hirotsugu had made false reports on several important matters, Makibi and Genbō warned Daïri that he should expect a rebellion if he did not send Hirotsugu back [from exile to the capital]. The rebellion broke out in the 9th month on Kyushu. The Emperor at once assembled an army of 17,000 men at different places under command of Ōno no Azumabito and "Ki-no Iro maro (Ki Fan ma liu)". 4,000 men under the command of "Saïki-no tsouné bito (Thso pë tchhang jin)" and "Abé-no Momi maro (A pou Tchoung ma liu)" were added. All these troops were intended to punish Hirotsugu. The emperor commisioned a large part of his court to go to Ise in order to make offerings and to ask for protection of tutelary deities of the temple/shrine? "Daî sin gou (Taï chin koung)". With his troops he took possession of several fortified places.


 * Firo tsouki avait de fortes garnisons dans les châteaux du district d'Oga (Yuan o), de la province de Fizen, et à Itabiisoa (Fan kouei).
 * Hirotsugu had strong garrisons at the castles of the Oga district in Hizen province and at Itabitsu.


 * Le 10* mois, il y eut un engagement entre les troupes d'Ono-no Atsouma et celles de Firo tsouki, sur les bords de la rivière d'Itabitsou. Firo tsouki , au lieu de bateaux, y avait construit des radeaux; Tsounébito et Mousi maro les attaquèrent avec des arcs très-grands et forts, et mirent ainsi le désordre dans la ligne de l'ennemi , sur lequel ils tombèrent avec 6,000 hommes. Ils cherchaient de tout côté Firo tsouki , qu'ils rencontrèrent enfin à cheval. Il leur demanda à qui le Daïri avait confié le commandement; Tsounébito répliquant que c'était à lui , Firo tsouki mit alors pied à terre , et protesta qu'il n'avait nulle intention hostile contre le Daïri , et qu'il n'en voulait qu'à Mabi et à Ghen bô. Mais quand Tsounébito lui demanda pourquoi il s'était opposé avec ses troupes à l'armée du Daîri , il ne sut comment s'excuser. Il avait partagé ses soldats en trois corps, le premier , sous ses ordres, était de 5,000 hommes ; son frère cadet Tsouna té (Kang cheou) en avait autant; le troisième corps sous Tako-no Koroa maro (Ta hou Kou ma liu) était de 3,000 hommes. Ayant été attaqué avant que les autres divisions pussent venir à son secours , Firotsouki fut défait et tâcha de s'enfuir dans un bateau ; mais il fut fait prisonnier par Abé-no Kouro maro (NganpouHë ma liu), au village de Naga-no (Tchhang ye) , dans le district de Mats oura kori (Soung phou kiun), de la province de Fizen; et il eut la tête tranchée. Son frère Tsouna té subit le même sort. Quelques auteurs prétendent que Firo tsouki avait sauté dans la rivière à cheval, et que s'étant noyé, son ame courroucée avait causé beaucoup de malheurs dans le pays, et que, pour l'apaiser, on y avait construit un temple dans le district de Matsra , où il fut révéré comme un dieu. Il était fils de Nokiafi. Pendant cette guerre , le Daïri était allé faire des offrandes au temple Daï sin gou, dans l'Izé. Il revint par le Mino et l'Iga au district de Sagara- no kôri , du Yamasiro , où il établit sa cour , dans le palais de Koa nin kiô (Koung jin koung). Tous ceux qui avaient conspiré avec Firo tsouki furent punis : Atsouma, Iro maro, Tsounébito et Mousi maro furent avancés en grade.
 * In the 10th month there was an engagement between the troops of Ōno no Azumabito and those of Hirotsugu on the banks of the Itabitsu river. Hirotsugu had built rafts instead of boats; they are attacked by Tsunehito and Mushimaro with very large and strong bows and created disorder in the line of the enemy in which 6,000 men fell. Looking on all sides for Hirotsugu, they finally encountered him on horseback. He asked them to whom the Emperor had given command; Tsunehito replied that it was him; Hirotsugu then dismounted and protested that he had no hostile intent against the emperor and that he resented Makibi and Genbo. But when Tsunehito asked why his troops had opposed the Emperor's army he [H.] did not know how to apologize. He had divided his troops in three parts: the first under his command was 5,000 men, his younger brother Fujiwara no Tsunate had as much, and the third troop under Tago no Kamaro was 3,000 men. Having been attacked before the other divisions could come to his aid, Hirotsugu was defeated and tried to flee in a boat; but he was taken prisoner by "Abé-no Kouro maro (NganpouHë ma liu)" in the village "Naga-no (Tchhang ye)" in the district "Mats oura kori (Soung phou kiun)" of Hizen province and he was beheaded. His brother, Tsunate suffered the same fate. Some authors claim that Hirotsugu had jumped into the river on horseback and had drowned; his spirit was wrathful and caused much misery in the country; and in order to appease it, a temple was built in the district Matsra where he was revered as god. He was the son of Umakai. During the war, the emperor had made offerings to the "Daï sin gou" temple in Ise. He returned from Mino and Iga in "Sagara- no kôri" district to Yamashiro where he established his court at Kuni-kyō. All who had conspired with Hirotsugu were punished; "Atsouma", "Iro maro", "Tsunehito " and "Mushimaro" were advanced in rank.

737

 * [ja-wiki]: 朝廷の政治を担っていた藤原四兄弟が天然痘の流行によって相次いで死去した. 代って政治を担ったのが橘諸兄であり、また唐から帰国した吉備真備と玄昉が重用されるようになり、藤原氏の勢力は大きく後退した.
 * [ja-wiki transl]: The four Fujiwara brothers shouldering the politics die of a smallpox epidemics; subsequently the government is shouldered by Tachibana Moroe; Genbo and Kibi Makibi who had returned from Tang China are appointed to responsible posts; the influence of the fujiwara clan is largely reduced

738

 * [ja-wiki]: 藤原宇合の長男・広嗣（藤原式家）は大養徳（大和）守から大宰少弐に任じられ、大宰府に赴任した. 広嗣はこれを左遷と感じ、強い不満を抱いた.
 * [ja-wiki transl]: Fujiwara Umakai's eldest son H. from the Fujiwara Shiki branch is changed position from director (of provincial governors under the ritsuryo system) of Yamato Province to director of Dazaifu; he starts new appointment in Dazaifu. H. feels this as a degradation and he harbours strong discontent

8/29; 24.9.

 * [Shoku Nihongi]: 大宰少弐従五位下藤原朝臣広嗣上表. 指時政之得失. 陳天地之災異. 因以除僧正玄〓［日＋方］法師. 右衛士督従五位上下道朝臣真備為言.
 * [ja-wiki]: 広嗣は政治を批判し、吉備真備と玄昉の処分を求める上表を送った.
 * [ja-wiki transl]: Hirotsugu criticizes the government and demands the disposal of Genbō (玄昉) and Kibi Makibi (吉備 真備) in a memorial (上表) sent to the emperor

9/3; 28.9.

 * [Shoku Nihongi]: 広嗣遂起兵反. 勅、以従四位上大野朝臣東人為大将軍. 従五位上紀朝臣飯麻呂為副将軍. 軍監・軍曹各四人. 徴発東海. 東山. 山陰. 山陽. 南海五道軍一万七千人. 委東人等、持節討之.
 * [ja-wiki]: 広嗣が挙兵したとの飛駅が都にもたらされる. 聖武天皇は大野東人を大将軍に任じて節刀を授け、副将軍には紀飯麻呂が任じられた. 東海道、東山道、山陰道、山陽道、南海道の五道の軍1万7,000人を動員するよう命じた. 4日、朝廷に出仕していた隼人24人に従軍が命じられる. 5日、佐伯常人、阿倍虫麻呂が勅使に任じられた. 朝廷からは伊勢神宮へ幣帛が奉納され、また、諸国に観世音菩薩像をつくり、観世音経10巻を写経して戦勝を祈願するよう命じられた.
 * [ja-wiki transl]: The news of Hirotsugu raising an army reaches the capital via rapid messengers (飛駅, hieki). Emperor Shōmu appoints Ōno no Azumabito as commander in chief and awards him a settō (節刀). As second in command, Ki no Iimaro (紀飯麻呂) is appointed. An order is issue to mobilize 17,000 men from all over the country (from San'indō, San'yōdō, Nankaidō, Tōkaidō (region) and Tōsandō). On the 4th day (29.9.) 24 Hayato attending the imperial court are commanded to the campaign. On the 5th day (30.9.) Saeki no Tsunehito and Abe no Mushimaro are appointed to imperial messengers. Further commands include the offering of cloth (heihaku) at Ise Grand Shrine, the making of Kannon statues in the various provinces, the handcopying of 10 scrolls of the Kanzeon Sutra and the praying for victory.

9/21; 16.10.

 * [Shoku Nihongi]: 勅大将軍大野朝臣東人等曰. 得奏状、知遣新羅使船来泊長門国. 其船上物者、便蔵当国. 使中有人、可採用者. 将軍、宜任用之.
 * [ja-wiki]: 長門国へ到着した大野東人は、同地に停泊している新羅船の人員と機器の採用の許可を求めた.
 * [ja-wiki transl]: Ōno no Azumabito (大野 東人) arrives in Nagato Province (長門国) and demands/seeks permission to use machinery and tools of the personnal of a boat from Silla (新羅) anchoring at the same place
 * see also ja:大野東人

9/24; 19.10.

 * [Shoku Nihongi]: 大将軍東人等言. 殺獲賊徒豊前国京都郡鎮長大宰史生従八位上小長谷常人. 企救郡板櫃鎮小長凡河内田道. 但大長三田塩籠者. 着箭二隻、逃竄野裏. 生虜登美・板櫃. 京都三処営兵一千七百六十七人. 器仗十七事. 仍差長門国豊浦郡少領外正八位上額田部広麻呂. 将精兵〓人. 以今月廿一日発渡. 又差勅使従五位上佐伯宿禰常人. 従五位下安倍朝臣虫麻呂等. 将隼人廿四人并軍士四千人. 以今月廿二日発渡. 令鎮板櫃営. 東人等将後到兵. 尋応発渡. 又間諜申云. 広嗣、於遠珂郡家. 造軍営、儲兵弩. 而挙烽火、徴発. 国内兵矣.
 * [ja-wiki; "22nd day"]: 勅使佐伯常人、阿倍虫麻呂が隼人24人、兵4,000人を率いて渡海して、板櫃鎭（豊前国企救郡）を攻略. 登美、板櫃、京都三鎮の兵1767人と兵器多数を鹵獲した.
 * 広嗣は企救郡の隣の遠珂郡に到着して烽火を発して国内の兵を徴集. 広嗣が大隅国・薩摩国・筑前国・豊後国の兵5000人を率いて鞍手道を進軍、弟の綱手は筑後国・肥前国の兵5000人を率いて豊後国から進軍、多胡古麻呂が田河道を進軍して三方から官軍を包囲する作戦であった.


 * [ja-wiki transl]: The imperial messengers Saeki Tsunehito and Abe no Mushimaro command and army of 4000 men and 24 Hayato; they cross the sea and capture Itabitsu town (板櫃鎭) (in Buzen Province, Kiku district (企救郡)). Together with 1767 soldiers from Tomi, Itabitsu and Miyako town they capture a large number of arms and weapons.
 * Hirotsugu arrives to ... district (遠珂郡), a neighbour of Kiku district, he lights a signal fire [or fires a gun?] and recruits domestic soldiers. Hirotsugu leads 5000 men from Ōsumi, Satsuma, Chikuzen and Bungo provinces and advances on/from(?) (Kurate road, 鞍手道); his younger brother Tsunate leads an army of 5000 men from Chikugo and Hizen provinces and advances from Bungo Province; Tago no Kamaro advances on/from(?) (Tagawa road, 田河道); the plan is to encircle the government forces from three sides.

9/25; 20.10

 * [Shoku Nihongi]: 大将軍東人等言. 豊前国京都郡大領外従七位上〓［木＋若］田勢麻呂. 将兵五百騎. 仲津郡擬少領無位膳東人. 兵八十人. 下毛郡擬少領無位勇山伎美麻呂. 築城郡擬少領外大初位上佐伯豊石. 兵七十人. 来帰官軍. 又豊前国百姓豊国秋山等殺逆賊三田塩籠. 又上毛郡擬大領紀宇麻呂等三人. 共謀斬賊徒首四級.
 * [ja-wiki]: 豊前国の諸郡司が500騎、80人、70人と率いて官軍に投降してきた.
 * [ja-wiki transl]: chiefs of various districts of Buzen Province leading troops of 500 horsemen, 80 people, 70 people are forced to surrender to government troops

9/29; 24.10.

 * [Shoku Nihongi]: 勅筑紫府管内諸国官人百姓等曰. 逆人広嗣、小来凶悪. 長益詐姦. 其父故式部卿常欲除棄. 朕不能許. 掩蔵至今. 比在京中、讒乱親族. 故令遷遠. 冀其改心. 今聞. 擅為狂逆. 擾乱人民. 不孝不忠. 違天背地. 神明所棄. 滅在朝夕. 前已遣勅符. 報知彼国. 又聞. 或有逆人. 捉害送人. 不令遍見. 故更遣勅符数十条. 散擲諸国. 百姓見者. 早宜承知. 如有人、雖本与広嗣同心起謀. 今能改心悔過. 斬殺広嗣、而息百姓者. 白丁賜五位已上. 官人随等加給. 若身被殺者、賜其子孫. 忠臣義士. 宜速施行. 大軍続須発入. 宜知此状.
 * [ja-wiki]: 「広嗣は凶悪な逆賊である. 狂った反乱を起こして人民を苦しめている. 不孝不忠のきわみで神罰が下るであろう. これに従っている者は直ちに帰順せよ. 広嗣を殺せば5位以上を授ける」との勅が九州諸国の官人、百姓にあてて発せられた.
 * [ja-wiki transl]: An imperial decree sent to the government officials and farmers of various countries of Kyushu states: Hirotsugu is a brutal villainous rebel. The rebellion has gone out of order and because of it the people have suffered. Divine punishment will come because of the extreme lack of filial piety and disloyalty. The person responsible for this should at once return to allegiance. The one who kills Hirotsugu is awarded 5th rank or higher.

10/9; 2.11.

 * [Shoku Nihongi]: 詔大将軍東人、令祈請八幡神焉. 」大将軍東人等言. 逆賊藤原広嗣率衆一万許騎. 到板櫃河. 広嗣親自率隼人軍為前鋒. 即編木為船. 将渡河. 于時、佐伯宿禰常人. 安倍朝臣虫麻呂. 発弩射之. 広嗣衆却、到於河西. 常人等率軍士六千余人陳于河東. 即令隼人等呼云. 随逆人広嗣、拒捍官軍者. 非直滅其身. 罪及妻子親族者. 則広嗣所率隼人并兵等. 不敢発箭. 于時、常人等呼広嗣十度. 而猶不答. 良久、広嗣乗馬出来云. 承勅使到来. 其勅使者為誰. 常人等答云. 勅使、衛門督佐伯大夫. 式部少輔安倍大夫. 今在此間者. 広嗣云. 而今知勅使. 即下馬. 両段再拝、申云. 広嗣、不敢捍朝命. 但請朝廷乱人二人耳. 広嗣敢捍朝廷者. 天神地祇罰殺. 常人等云. 為賜勅符喚大宰典已上. 何故発兵押来. 広嗣不能弁答. 乗馬却還. 時、隼人三人、直従河中泳来降服. 則朝廷所遣隼人等. 扶救、遂得着岸. 仍降服隼人二十人. 広嗣之衆十許騎、来帰官軍. 獲虜器械如別. 又降服隼人贈唹君多理志佐申云. 逆賊広嗣謀云. 従三道往. 即広嗣自率大隅. 薩摩. 筑前. 豊後等国軍合五千人許. 従鞍手道往. 綱手率筑後. 肥前等国軍合五千人許人. 従豊後国往. 多胡古麻呂〈　不知所率軍数. 　〉従田河道往. 但広嗣之衆、到来鎮所. 綱手・多胡古麻呂未到.
 * [ja-wiki]: 広嗣軍1万騎が板櫃河（北九州市）に至り、河の西側に布陣. 勅使佐伯常人、阿倍虫麻呂の軍は6,000人余で河の東側に布陣した. 広嗣は隼人を先鋒に筏を組んで渡河しようとし、官軍は弩を撃ち防いだ. 常人らは部下の隼人に敵側の隼人に投降を呼びかけさせた. すると、広嗣軍の隼人は矢を射るのをやめた. 常人らは十度、広嗣を呼んだ. ようやく乗馬した広嗣が現れ「勅使が来たというが誰だ」と言った. 常人らは「勅使はわれわれ佐伯常人と阿倍虫麻呂だ」と応じた. すると、広嗣は下馬して拝礼し「わたしは朝命に反抗しているのではない. 朝廷を乱す二人（吉備真備と玄昉）を罰することを請うているだけだ. もし、わたしが朝命に反抗しているのなら天神地祇が罰するだろう」と言った. 常人らは「ならば、なぜ軍兵を率いて押し寄せて来たのか」と問うた. 広嗣はこれに答えることができず馬に乗って引き返した.  この問答を聞いていた広嗣軍の隼人3人が河に飛び込んで官軍側へ渡り、官軍の隼人が助け上げた. これを見て、広嗣軍の隼人20人、騎兵10余が官軍に降伏してきた. 投降者たちは3方面から官軍を包囲する広嗣の作戦を官軍に報告し、まだ綱手と多胡古麻呂の軍が到着していないことを知らせた.  その後、広嗣軍は板櫃河の会戦に敗れて敗走した. 広嗣は船に乗って肥前国松浦郡値嘉嶋（五島列島）に渡り、そこから新羅へ逃れようとした. ところが耽羅嶋（済州島）の近くまで来て船が進まなくなり、風が変わって吹き戻されそうになった. 広嗣は「わたしは大忠臣だ. 神霊が我を見捨てることはない. 神よ風波を静めたまえ」と祈って駅鈴を海に投じたが、風波は更に激しくなり、値嘉嶋に戻されてしまった.
 * [ja-wiki transl]: Hirotsugu's army of 10,000 horsemen arrives at Itabitsu river (Kitakyūshū) and lines up on the river's west bank. An army of more than 6,000 men led by the imperial messenger Saeki no Tsunehito (佐伯常人) and Abe no Mushimaro (阿倍虫麻呂) lines up on the river's east bank. Hirotsugu sends an advance guard of Hayato on a raft across the river; the government forces defend by shooting crossbows (? 弩). Tsunehito and followers made their subordinate Hayato to appeal to the enemy Hayato to surrender. Thereupon the Hayato of Hirotugu's army stop firing arrows.
 * Tsunehito and followers call out (invite) Hirotsugu ten times. Finally Hirotsugu appeard and said: Who is the imperial messenger that has come? Tsunehito and followers replied: The imperial messenger is us, Saeki no Tsunehito and Abe no Mushimaro. Thereupon Hirotsugu dismounted and in worship/prayer said: I do not oppose the spoken word of the emperor [or: the imperial decree or imperial command]. I only requested the punishment of two people (Genbo/Makibi) who have thrown the imperial court out of order. If I should have opposed the imperial command, the Gods of Heaven and Earth shall punish me. Tsunehito and followers asked: If it is true, how does it come that you are leading armed forces and advancing? As reply, Hirotsugu got on his horse and rode back to where he came from.
 * Three Hayato people from Hirotsugu's army had heard this dialogue, jumped into the river and crossed over to near the governmental troops where they were helped to land by Hayato of the government forces. Seeing this, 20 of Hirotsugu's Hayato and more than 10 members of the cavalry surrendered to the government forces. The surrenderes tell the government forces about Hirotsugu's tactics and inform them that neither Tsunate's army nor that led by Tago no Kamaro had arrived.
 * After that Hirotsugu's army is defeated in the battle of Itabitsu river (Kitakyūshū). Hirotsugu boards a ship and ferries to Hizen Province, ja:松浦郡, 値嘉嶋 (Gotō Islands) from where he is trying to escape to Silla. However as he nears 耽羅嶋 (ja:済州島) the boat does not go any further, the wind turns and blows him back. Hirotsugu does: "I am a great loyal retainer. Divine spirits never abandon me.", in order to appease the gods of wind and waves he throws station bell(s) (ja:駅鈴) into the sea, but the storm continues violently and throws him back to 値嘉嶋.


 * [fune]: 逆賊藤原広嗣は衆一万ばかりの騎馬を率いて板き河に到る. 広嗣は自ら隼人軍を率いて先鋒としたり. すなわち、木を編んで船を作り将に河をわたらんとす. ‥‥
 * [fune transl]: The rebel Fujiwara no Hirotsugu leading an army of approximately 10,000 horsemen, arrives at Ikabitsu river. The Hayato army lead by Hirotsugu is made into an advance guard. Its general crosses the river on wooden craft(s).

10/23; 16.11.

 * [Shoku Nihongi]: 任次第司. 以従四位上塩焼王為御前長官. 従四位下石川王為御後長官. 正五位下藤原朝臣仲麻呂為前騎兵大将軍. 正五位下紀朝臣麻路為後騎兵大将軍. 徴発騎兵. 東西史部. 秦忌寸等惣四百人.
 * [Shoku Nihongi 10/23 also mentioned in entry of 11/3]: 《天平十二年（七四〇）十一月丙戌【三】》○丙戌. 遣少納言従五位下大井王. 并中臣・忌部等. 奉幣帛於大神宮. 車駕停御関宮十箇日. 是日. 大将軍東人等言. 進士無位安倍朝臣黒麻呂、以今月廿三日丙子、捕獲逆賊広嗣於肥前国松浦郡値嘉嶋長野村. 詔報曰. 今覧十月廿九日奏. 知捕得逆賊広嗣. 其罪顕露、不在可疑. 宜依法処決. 然後奏聞.
 * [ja-wiki]: 値嘉嶋に潜伏していた広嗣は安倍黒麻呂によって捕らえられた.
 * [ja-wiki transl]: Hirotsugu hiding on Chika-no-shima (値嘉嶋) is captured by Abe no Kuromaro (ja:安倍黒麻呂)
 * [fune 10/23 mentioned in entry of 11/3]: 同年１１月３日　大将軍東人等が申す. 「進士無位の安倍朝臣黒麻が今月（１０月）２３日逆賊の広嗣を肥前の国松浦郡値嘉の嶋長野村で捕らえた」と. 詔して曰く. 「１０月２９日の奏上を見て逆賊広嗣を捕らえ得たことを知った. その罪は明らかにして疑うべきに在らず. よろしく法によって処決し、然る後に報告せよ」と.
 * [fune transl]: 11th month, 3rd day: Commander in chief Azumabito says/reports: Abe no Kuromaro (ordinary citizen without rank who has passed the examination for promotion in the ministery of ceremonies (進士) captured the rebel/traitor Hirotsugu on the 23rd day of the 10th month in Hizen Province, Matsura district, Chika-no-shima (値嘉の嶋), Nagano village (長野村). According to an imperial decree: Seeing the report to the emperor from the 29th day, 10th month, it is known that the rebel Hirotsugu had been captured. There is no doubt about this obvious crime. Please settle the issue according to law and produce a report afterwards.

11/1; 24.11.

 * [Shoku Nihongi mentioned on 11/5]: 《天平十二年（七四〇）十一月戊子【五】》○戊子 大将軍東人等言. 以今月一日. 於肥前国松浦郡. 斬広嗣・綱手已訖. 菅成以下従人已上. 及僧二人者. 禁正身、置大宰府. 其歴名如別. 又以今月三日. 差軍曹海犬養五百依. 発遣. 令迎逆人. 広嗣之従三田兄人等廿余人. 申云. 広嗣之船、従知駕嶋発. 得東風往四ケ日. 行見嶋. 船上人云. 是耽羅嶋也. 于時東風猶扇. 船留海中. 不肯進行. 漂蕩已経一日一夜. 而西風卒起. 更吹還船. 於是. 広嗣自捧駅鈴一口云. 我是大忠臣也. 神霊棄我哉. 乞頼神力. 風波暫静. 以鈴投海. 然猶風波弥甚. 遂着等保知駕嶋色都嶋矣. 広嗣、式部卿馬養之第一子也.
 * [ja-wiki]: 大野東人は広嗣と綱手の兄弟を、肥前国唐津（現・佐賀県唐津市）で斬った. 乱の鎮圧の報告がまだ平城京に届かないうちに、聖武天皇は突如関東に下ると言い出し都を出てしまった. 聖武天皇は伊賀国、伊勢国、美濃国、近江国を巡り恭仁京（山城国）に移った. その後も難波京へ移り、また平城京へ還って、と遷都を繰り返すようになる. 遠い九州で起きた広嗣の乱を聖武天皇が極度に恐れたためであったとされる.
 * [ja-wiki transl]: Ōno no Azumabito kills with a sword/beheads? the brothers Fujiwara no Hirotsugu (広嗣) and Fujiwara no Tsunate (綱手) in Hizen Province, Karatsu (today: Karatsu, Saga). While the information about the suppression of the rebellion had not reached Heijō-kyō yet, Emperor Shōmu proposes to move the capital from Kanto. Emperor Shōmu tours Iga Province, Ise Province, Mino Province and Ōmi Province; moves capital to Kuni-kyō (Yamashiro Province). After that Naniwa-kyō becomes capital and then the capital returns to Heijō-kyō. It is considered that Emperor Shōmu extremely feared the rebellion by Hirotsugu in distant Kyushu.
 * [fune mentioned on 11/5]: 大将軍の東人が申す. 「今月１日をもって、肥前の国松浦郡において、広嗣と綱手を斬り終わった. 」と. ‥‥更に申して曰く. 「広嗣の船は知駕島から出発し、東風を得て四日にして嶋を見る. 船上の人の言う. 「これは耽羅嶋なり」と. この時に東風がなお吹きつけて船は海中に留まり進み行かず. 漂蕩すること一日一夜を経て西風がにわかに起こりて更に船を押し返した. ここにおいて、広嗣は駅鈴一口を自ら捧げていう. 「我は之れ大忠臣なり. 神霊は我を捨てたまうや. 神力に頼りて風波しばらく静かならんことを乞う」と. 鈴を海に投げいれどもなお、風波はいよいよ激しく、遂に、等保知駕嶋の色都嶋に着いた. 」と.
 * [fune transl]: Commander in chief Azumabito says/reports: "With the 1st day of this month, Hirotsugu and Tsunate have been killed [with a blade/beheaded] in Hizen Province, Matsura district." .... "Hirotsugu's boat departs from 知駕島, acquieres east wind and after four days an island comes in sight. The people on board said: This must be 耽羅嶋 (ja:済州島 At this time, the east wind loses strength and the boat is brought to a halt in the sea. After drifting for one day and one night, the west wind suddenly starts forcing the boat further back. For this reason, Hirotsugu sacrifices/offers a station bell (ja:駅鈴): I am a great loyal retainer. The divine spirit(s) has cast me aside. I beg the winds and waves relying on divine power to be quiet for a while As he casts the bell into the sea, the storm becomes more and more violent and at last brings them back to 等保知駕嶋の色都嶋."

1/22: 12.2.

 * [Shoku Nihongi]: 《天平十三年（七四一）正月甲辰【廿二】》○甲辰. 逆人広嗣与党、且所捉獲、死罪廿六人. 没官五人. 流罪〓七人. 徒罪卅二人. 杖罪一百七十七人. 下之所司. 拠法処焉. 徴従四位下中臣朝臣名代. 外従五位下塩屋連古麻呂. 大養徳宿禰小東人等卅四人於配処.
 * [ja-wiki]: 乱の処分が決定し、死罪16人、没官5人、流罪47人、徒罪32人、杖罪177人であった. 藤原式家の広嗣の弟たちも多くが縁坐して流罪に処された.
 * [ja-wiki transl]: As punishments had been determined: 16 death penalties due to capital crime, seizure of properties of 5 people, exile: 47 people, penal servitude (zuzai) 32 people, severe caning 177 people. Many of Fujiwara's younger brothers from the Shikike branch were exiled.