Lord Minamoto no Nobusada, Junior Fifth Rank Lower Grade, Senior sōjō Jien

従五位下源朝臣信定　大僧正慈円 (1155-1225)

Jien was linked to the very highest ranks of the nobility, being the sixth son of Chancellor and Grand Minister Fujiwara no Tadamichi 藤原忠通 (1097-1164), while his mother was the daughter of Senior Secretary of the Grand Empress Dowager’s Household Office, Fujiwara no Nakamitsu 藤原仲光. Not surprisingly, therefore, he achieved the rank of sōjō (the highest rank granted by the court to members of the clergy) and also served as Chief Abbot (zasu 座主) of Tendai Buddhism. He is known to have been particularly close to his nephew, Fujiwara no Yoshitsune (see below) and freqently exchanged poetry with him. Retired Emperor Gotoba rated him as one of the best poets of his day, writing that, Jien’s poetry ‘is like Saigyō’s. Extraordinary, without a single fault.’ This judgement would probably not be supported today, but some of his poems are still remembered, in particular:

おほけなく うき世の民におほふかなわがたつそまに墨染の袖

ōkenaku uki yo no tami ni ōu kana wa ga tatsu soma ni kurosome no sode

Unfit, yet The common folk of this cruel world Would I cover, Standing in this timber-grove With sleeves stained black.

which was chosen by Teika for inclusion in his Ogura Hyakunin Isshu 小倉百人一首 poetry collection.

Jien has the following poems in the Roppyaku-ban Uta Awase:

2 22 36 42 58 70 74 94 102 118

122 140 156 164 180 204 208 222 240 242

254 268 288 290 312 322 330 344 356 364

382 394 400 416 424 436 456 458 480 482

504 516 520 532 546 564 574 582 600 602

622 632 642 658 668 682 686 706 712 726

734 754 768 780 790 802 812 828 840 850

860 876 882 900 910 918 934 948 956 968

982 986 1008 1014 1032 1038 1052 1068 1076 1084

1104 1116 1120 1134 1148 1156 1174 1182 1192