Asukai family


The Asukai family was a Japanese noble family.
The family began in the early Kamakura period as a cadet branch of the Fujiwara clan, being founded by Fujiwara no Masatsune. The family excelled at waka poetry and playing kemari, as well as calligraphy.
They had a hand in several of the imperial anthologies of waka, and had close ties to the Kamakura and Muromachi shogunates.

History

The Asukai family were a branch of the Fujiwara clan, and were known especially for their skill at composing waka poetry and playing kemari. Their founder was Fujiwara no Masatsune, a grandson of the great poet and kemari player. The family's name was derived from a well, the Asuka Well located near Masatsune's residence.
Masatsune was an early ally of the Kamakura shogunate, but also earned the favour of Emperor Go-Toba. He was selected as one of the compilers of the Shin-Kokin Wakashū, and also had a distinguished political career, thus laying the foundations for the future prosperity of his house.
Masatsune, his son Norisada, grandson Masaari, great-grandson Masaaki, great-great-grandson Masataka continued to maintain a close relationship with the shogunate, and Masataka's descendants Masaie and Masayori assisted the Ashikaga shōguns. With the downfall of the Nijō family, the Asukai and Reizei families became the two great houses of waka poetry.
Masayori's son Masayo was entrusted by the shōgun Ashikaga Yoshinori to compile the Shinshoku Kokin Wakashū, an imperial anthology. Masayo's sons Masachika and Masayasu both became the confidants of Ashikaga Yoshimasa and Yoshihisa, and were influential figures in the court-samurai poetic world that developed at that time. The prominence they achieved continued until well into the Edo period.

Family Tree

Poetry

Their poetic tastes and style was similar to that of the Nijō poetic school, and their numerous poems and writings on poetic theory had a strong influence on the poets of later generations.

Calligraphy

Masachika founded the so-called Asukai School or Eiga School of Japanese calligraphy.

Works cited