Talk:Fujiwara clan

Thanks for your excellent work on this much-needed article. I am curious about a few minor points, though.

• Why is no one listed with the "no" that is generally seen as standard in names of this period? e.g. Minamoto no Tokiwa, Fujiwara no Kamatari, Sugawara no Michizane. -LordAmeth 18:09, 26 November 2007 (PST)
  • Frankly, I didn't use "no" because the primary source that I'm currently referencing isn't using it. We should clarify whether it should be used or not. Of course, my primary source(s) contains 'interpretations' of Japanese scholarly essays, so how the interpreter chose to translate (e.g. I sometimes see 'Nobuko' and sometimes see 'Junshi' depending on where it is) has a lot to do with it. Also, I'm fuzzy on when to and not to use 'no'. We could use it for everyone pre-Kamakura, but since it is usually added in as an afterthought anyways, I don't know where we'd stop. Most Japanese texts I've seen have 'Sugawara Michizane' in kanji and gloss it with furigana as 'Sugawara no Michizane'. -JLBadgley 04:58, 27 November 2007 (PST)

• You mention the Ako Affair, which I have always seen as referring to the Chushingura (the 47 Ronin story) - Google "Ako Affair" and you'll see. Was this Fujiwara-related event also called the Ako affair, or is there a mixup somewhere? -LordAmeth 18:09, 26 November 2007 (PST)
  • The Ako affair is a separate one. In this case 'Ako' means 'Superior Counselor' or something similar (I need to look it up to see exactly what). It is the title that was suggested for Mototsune by another official to answer his complaint, but Mototsune really wanted the 'Kanpaku' (And should that be 'Kampaku'?) -JLBadgley 04:58, 27 November 2007 (PST)

• Should we stick to using terms such as "Prime Minister" which are only rough translations, or should we call the offices by their actual names? -LordAmeth 18:09, 26 November 2007 (PST)
  • I would also like clarification on using terms such as 'Prime Minister' vice 'Dajodaijin'. In this case, I think it is apt--Dajodaijin is the prime minister, in that he is the first of the ministers of state. The next three are the Sadaijin, Udaijin, and the rarely seen Chudaijin (I think that is it... I don't have all my books with me to look it up). I've been using the articles I have as a guide (though I've been foregoing their tendency to use 'Great King' instead of 'Emperor' (or they will use 'Tenno' by itself). Also, they occassionally use titles for a person who has the de facto powers but isn't actually in that postion. -JLBadgley 04:58, 27 November 2007 (PST)

Thanks much. LordAmeth 18:09, 26 November 2007 (PST)

I appreciate it. I should note that this was mostly born of two hours of boredom due to my being jet lagged and unable to sleep at 4am (Actually, it started around 3am, but at 4am I finally gave up trying). I figured that this was a good place to start--I really just want to get more of the Fujiwara and Heian figures in the Biography section, but figured the Fujiwara family was something that needed definition. I hope others can add to it. -JLBadgley 04:58, 27 November 2007 (PST)