FUJIWARA TADAHIRA

born 880, Kyoto died Sept. 9, 949, Kyoto Japanese statesman who assumed the leadership of the Fujiwara family in 909 upon the death of his brother Tokihira. Although in his later years Tokihira had begun to dominate the government, he had never assumed the title of kampaku (chancellor). The post had been created and first assumed by their father, Fujiwara Mototsune, and allowed to lapse by the emperor Uda (reigned 887897), the first Japanese sovereign in several generations whose mother was not a Fujiwara. Under Tadahira's dictatorship rebellions broke out in the provinces, and banditry was so common that not even the Imperial Palace was secure. After Tadahira died, the Fujiwaras continued to hold the regency, except for one three-year period, until 1180.