The Two Classes in Ancient Japanese Pirate Societies

Professor Miyoshi Kiyotsura (?-918.12.7) composed a critical biography on Fujiwara Yasunori (825-895.4.21). Yasunori governed his provinces wisely. First, in Bizen and Bicchu Provinces in succession, he suppressed pirates. Later, in Dewa Province, he managed to put down Emishi rebellions. Yasunori was reported by Kiyotsura to have categorized pirates into two classes. First, “Most leaders are not local registered people, but dropouts (from the hierarchic center, the Henan-Kyo Capital). Some are young members of good family who have pursued means of support. Some others are officers’ valets who have married local women. They have made the remote provinces their hometowns.” The other class was made up with “those who don’t have atrocious minds but have been goaded by hunger and frost.” Yasunori’s angle on the social polarization among pirates might have enabled his good governance and suppression over rebellions. Fujiwara Sumitomo, the first pirate king in Ancient Japan, obviously belonged to the first class.