Statue of Wake no Kiyomaro at Goô Shrine in Kyoto.
Originally from Bizen province, Wake no Kiyomaro lived from 733-799, and was a trusted advisor to Emperor Kammu. He is most famous for his involvement in the Dôkyô Incident, in which he acted to preserve the imperial lineage by declaring false the claims of the monk Dôkyô that he, Dôkyô, had been selected as the next emperor by the gods, as according to the oracles of Usa Hachiman.
Kiyomaro was exiled for a time due to Dôkyô's influence at court, but was brought back eventually and given numerous court titles. In the last years of his life, he aided Emperor Kammu in establishing the new capital at Heian-kyô.
References
- Plaques on-site at Goô Shrine in Kyoto.