The Ancient Japanese Good-Family Clans and Piracy (1-2) ——Otenmon Conspiracy (2)——

Riho Oki (Prince Shigeakira’s Diary) and Okagami Uragaki (The Collection of Notes on Okagami), however, tell us another story. It starts in this way: Fujiwara Yoshimi, the premier’s younger brother, consulted with Tomo Yoshio about throwing out Minamoto Makoto. They told Fujiwara Mototsune, Fujiwara Yoshifusa’s adopted son, to come, and instructed that it was Minamoto Makoto who set Oten-mon Gate on fire. Mototsune was surprised to hear that, and asked them if Yoshifusa knew the story. Yoshimi answered no. Mototsune reported the story to Yoshifusa in haste. Yoshifusa responded that Sa Daijin had rendered meritorious service to the Emperor, and that it was unreasonable to accuse of the crime when it was uncertain whether the story was true or false, and then reported to Emperor Seiwa, “It was I who should be punished first if Sa Daijin were to be punished.” As the Emperor did not know the story, he was greatly surprised. Eventually on August the 3rd, 866, Oyake Taketori notified that Tomo Yoshio and his son, Nakatsune, had set fire to the gate. And blah blah blah….. (to be continued)