The famous onmyoji of Japan's Heiankyo period

Abe Seimei's appearance in the movie "Onmyoji" Abe Seimei is a famous onmyoji in ancient Japan. He is mentioned in many legends and book records , as long as the term "Onmyodo" is mentioned, the first thing that comes to mind is the figure who shines like the morning star - Abe Seimei. Abe Seimei (pseudonym: あべのせいめい, Romaji: a be no se i me i) is a real and active person in history. It is not an exaggeration to describe the history and legends related to him as overwhelming.

Introduction

Era and life story

Life experience

Family genealogy

Documentary version One

Version Two

Sacrifice

Tombment

Relatives and Friends Kuzu Ye

Yuan Boya

Hosunori Kamo

Kei Kamo

Yoshihira Abe

Yoshima Abe

Yasuchika Abe

Yusu Abe

Yasufuku Abe

Master Chitoku

Michimitsu Ashiya

Skill Shikigami

Platycodon Seal

Destroying Demons

"Onmyoji" Whirlwind

Documentary Novel

Movies

Comics

Songs

Appendix Warring States Onmyoji

The Current Situation of Onmyodo

Other Famous Onmyoji< /p>

Marriage legends

Introduction to Tieba photo album

Era and life story

Life experience

Family genealogy

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Document Version 1

Version 2

Sacrifice

Tombs

Relatives and Friends Kuzu Ye

Source Boya

Kamo Tadayuki

Kamo Yasunori

Kamo Koei

Abe Yoshihei

Abe Yoshihei Chang

Abe Yasuchika

Abe Yushu

Abe Yasifuku

Master Chitoku

Ashiya Michi Full

Skills

Shikigami Platycodon Seal to Remove Demons "Onmyoji" Whirlwind Documents

Appendix of Novels, Movies, Comics and Songs

Warring States Onmyoji Current status of Onmyodo Other famous onmyoji marriage legends post bar photo album Expand edit this paragraph Introduction

Abe Seimei (921 AD - September 26, 1005 AD), Abe Seimei was an onmyoji active in the middle of the Heian period . Also one of the most legendary people in Japan. During his lifetime, he was highly regarded by the emperor and powerful ministers, and at the age of 79, he was awarded the title of "Hoseiin". After his death, through the efforts of several generations of descendants, he was promoted from a doctor of astronomy, a junior doctor in the fourth rank, to a highly respected official. So much so that there was a famous saying in the Edo period: "I don't know Minamoto Yoshitsune, but I know Seimei Kō". Since then, Abe Seimei has been known as "Seimei Koshi" and has become a household name in Japan.

Edit the era and life story of this paragraph

The Heian era in which Seimei lived was an era where the top officials were civilized and peaceful on the outside, but internally it was full of dirty aristocratic power struggles. . Due to the incompetence of public governance at that time, the lives of the people at the bottom were miserable. In this harsh situation, the people at the bottom have questions about "why am I alive?" The capable people at the top and the losers in power also have questions about "How can we save the political situation?" Therefore, in this situation, all kinds of negative emotions filled an era, and with it came the emergence of resentful spirits, and it was the job of the Onmyoji to fight against these resentful spirits that harmed mankind. In addition, Kyoto, Japan, suffered unprecedented natural and man-made disasters at that time: major earthquakes, fires, floods and other situations continued to occur, so people were panicked, and chaos between ghosts and gods was rampant. Not only did the superiors speak with certainty, but it also became popular among the common people. The nobles believed strongly in the good and bad fortunes of directions and dates. Whenever they went out, they would choose a day and a direction. Whenever there was a disease or disaster, they would use the excuse that ghosts were causing trouble or they encountered unclean things such as hundreds of ghosts walking at night. Therefore, the nobles at that time were familiar with the various taboos of Onmyodo and strictly abided by its etiquette and laws. Even trivial matters such as getting up, washing, and eating had corresponding taboos. (This custom continued until the Meiji Restoration) The good and bad fortunes of the court's actions must also be based on this principle. Therefore, the Yin and Yang Dao at that time not only had its own department in the country - Yin Yang Liao (Yin Yang Liao was one of the six liaos under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Central Affairs, responsible for observing astronomy, meteorology, divination, formulating calendars, etc., in addition to officials, there were Onmyoji, Onmyoji, Onmyoji, Lisheng, Lisheng, Astronomy, Astronomy, Dr. Lu Ke, Shouchen Ding and other staff), also affected the implementation of national policies. During this period, Onmyodo was no longer a unified This is a simple belief based on taboos and spells, but it has a certain political significance. Therefore, Onmyoji became active on the political stage as a "national civil servant" during the Heian period. What’s even more interesting is that because Onmyodo was monopolized by the Imperial family, “folk Onmyodo” also developed among the public. Of course, these are all off-topic and will not be mentioned for the time being.

Abe Seimei is the best, most outstanding, and greatest of all the Onmyoji in the past. His ability far exceeds that of any Onmyoji of any generation. Judging from the records in the unofficial history (classical) "The Story of the Past", Seimei once saw a spirit body attached to his maid when he was born. According to the records in "The Tale of Uji's Lost Relics" and "Kojidan", Seimei's true body was the reincarnation of a highly accomplished monk, and he gained the ability to control ghosts, gods and spirits during his training. However, because the records of Onmyoji during the Heian period are limited, and many historical materials are simply contradictory and confusing. (Much like the historical data of the Ming Dynasty in China) Therefore, it is quite difficult to find the deeds of Abe Seimei from official history. It can be described as "mysterious". First of all, the exact time of his death cannot be determined. According to the "History of Onmyoji: The Honki of Abe Seimei" written by the later onmyoji (also a machine master) Sansui Kichiemon, Seimei was born in Osaka in the 21st year of Enki (921) and died in the 2nd year of Kanhiro (1005). ) in Kyoto at the age of 85. However, according to the "Tsuchimikado Family Records" written by his descendant Yasifuku Tsuchimikado, Abe Seimei was only 45 years old. Since both of them were born into the Abe family, which statement is correct can only be said: a mystery, a mystery, or a mystery. Then there is the issue of the exact place of birth. In history, his birthplace was stamped with such a bright red seal: "Unknown", and there are three main legends: 1) Osaka said: In Abenomoto Town, Osaka City, there are Abe Seimei Shrine and Qingming's resting place, and there are ritual activities for gods. There is a stone monument that reads "Abe Seimei's Birthplace and Heritage Site", and next to it are the remains of a well that was used to heat hot water for Seimei's production. In their respective works, Sansui and Taifuku also insisted that Osaka was the birthplace of their ancestor Abe Seimei. Tsuchimikado Yasifuku and Sansui Kichiemon even reported this situation to the then shogun Tokugawa Ietsugu and Emperor Gomizuo respectively. Ietsugu, who was interested in the study of Yin Yang and the Five Elements, and Emperor Gomizuo, who had a favorable impression of the Tsuchimikado family, united for the first time. The Emperor personally issued an edict to posthumously confer the title of Seimei to the most respected minister, and sent the Ichijo family, who had a close personal relationship with the Tsuchimikado family, to the Abe Seimei Shrine in Osaka to honor Seimei with the title. The shogunate organized large-scale memorial activities at its own expense and sent important officials of the shogunate to pay homage. Since then, Osaka has been proud of being the “birthplace of Abe Seimei”. 2) Ibaraki said: According to the "Origin" included in the oldest biography of Seimei "ほきSCO", Seimei's birthplace was Cat Island at the foot of Tsukuba Mountain in Hitachi Province, which is now Cat Island in Akeno Town, Makabe County, Ibaraki Prefecture. Cat Island is the old territory of the Takamatsu family. In addition, the Takamatsu family also collected "Seimei Biography" in the eighth year of Hoei's reign (1711). In the Kingdom of Hitachi, there is a record of the imperial court ordering onmyojis to be dispatched from Kyoto before Seimei was born. Although it is a research on Onmyoji, there is no conclusive evidence that Cat Island is the birthplace of Seimei. 3) Kagawa said: There is a record in "Diary of the University of Sanuki Province" that Seimei was born in Ihara-so, Kōtō County, Sanuki Province. Also, in the "Nishizanfu Chronicle" published by the Marugame Domain, there is a record of Seimei's birth as Yusa, Kagawa County, Sanuki Province. What’s interesting is that Yusa of Sanuki Province has a close relationship with Cat Island of Hitachi Province. The place name Yusa was named after the Yusa family who was born in Hitachi Province. Next is the question of origin. According to the existing data, the origin of his family name begins with Emperor Xiaoyuan's prince Ohiko no Ming. There is such a record in "Kojiki": "On the day of Owa Genzi, Kokuryu Ming (Emperor Xiaoyuan) was The original palace of Qingji governs the world... There are five sons of this emperor. In the days of Wogenzi, Dabibi was appointed to govern the world, and his brother Dabiko's son Kenumahe was named Abechen. Ancestors of others". The ancestor of the Abe family in Seimei's lineage is the 11th generation grandson of Ohiko Mikoto - Abe Kurahashi Maro, also known as Abe Uchimaro. Kurahashi Maro was the left minister during the Daika reform, and his son Abe, the right minister, was the right minister during the reign of Emperor Bunmu. It is recorded in "The Tale of Bamboo Cutter" that he obtained fire rat skin for Princess Kaguya. Koatsuhime, the daughter of Kurahashi Maro, was the concubine of Emperor Kotoku and gave birth to Prince Ma. She was a rival of Emperor Tenchi and was killed due to Soga Aka's brother's trick. From this, it seems that Abe Seimei was supposed to have a distinguished background and a noble birth. But why did the Abe family decline by the time it was passed down to his father in the Monogatari legend? This is indeed unknown. According to the Abe family tree, Seimei’s father is Daizen Daifu (responsible for the emperor’s meals, an official in the Imperial Household Ministry) Abe Masukai. The 8th generation of the Abe family since Master Abe. In the legends since Kamakura, it is called Abe Yasunai, and modern research proves that Seimei's father was Taira Shomon. There is an ancient legend that Abe Seimei’s mother was the incarnation of a white fox, and recent research shows that her mother was a mountain dweller. During the Heian period, there were very few people living outside cities. They were collectively called "mountain people" and their status was not high. Abe Seimei may have deliberately concealed the truth in order to cover up the fact that he came from a humble background. However, people living in remote areas, because they are always in close contact with nature and feel the aura between heaven and earth, naturally have abilities that people in the city cannot understand. Therefore, there is no doubt that Abe Seimei inherited part of his powerful psychic abilities from his mother. Of course, there are various legends. There is another theory that she is a wandering maiden (a shrine maiden who travels all over Japan, the most famous one is the "Akuni of Izumo" during the Azuchi-Momoyama period), and there is also a theory that Tachibana Fumiko was born. However, it is generally believed that the mother was a commoner so there is no record. Like his mother, Abe Seimei’s marriage problems are also full of mysteries. The legend is Abe Sara Abe Sara, the daughter of Tadayuki Kamo, who died in childbirth at the age of 14. Later, he married his biological daughter Saya Abe (unofficial history? Legend? More likely to be a spoof...).

There is also the questionable sister Enhime of Tsuchimikadoden. According to historical records, during the Muromachi period Abe Yushu (one of the three famous onmyojis of the Abe family in history) changed the name of the Abe family to the Tsuchimikado family, so it is really difficult to understand who this Tsuchimikado family is. Compared with his complicated life experience, what is more clear to people is Seimei's descendants. According to the records of "Ancient and Modern Writings", "Ronghua Monogatari" and "Xiaoyou", his eldest son Abe Yoshihei is a doctor of Onmyoji. The second son, Abe Yoshimasa, is the head of Yin Yang. However, it is inevitable that there are still legends here. Another theory is that Abe Tokuyu, the son of his biological daughter Saya, was killed by Ashiya Michitoshi. Finally, let’s take a look at the life of this enigmatic figure. Abe Seimei was born in 921 (the heyday of Fujiwara's regency politics). He has loved astronomy and astrology since he was a child. Perhaps it was indeed a kind of fate. In 960, when he was 40 years old, he became an astronomy student in the "Yin Yang Liao" and later became a doctor of astronomy. He has successively served as high-ranking officials such as Daiken Doctor, Doctor of Astronomy, Chief Accountant Quansu, Hubokurain Beitang, Harima Mamoru, and Sakyo Quan Dafu. Historical records record that Seimei was a very capable official and was often praised by the emperor. Once, the emperor wanted to promote Seimei to Zuodainagon (a senior official from the third rank), but Seimei declined. The emperor did not give up and gave Qingming a house instead. Qingming couldn't refuse, so she had to accept. In the second year of Changbao (1000), Seimei was awarded the title of "Faqingyuan" and became a noble. In the third year of Changbao (1001), he appointed Quan Da Na Yan and Doctor of Astronomy from the Fourth Rank. This was beyond the rank of Yin-Yang Head from the Fifth Rank. Later generations also determined that the highest rank of the Yin-Yang Master was from the Fourth Rank. . Unfortunately, there are no records of Seimei from childhood to middle age. Even the surviving portraits only show her appearance after middle age. This is probably one of the reasons why it is full of mystery. Therefore, there are countless novels and biographies about his youth throughout the ages. In Chapter 16 of Volume 24 of "The Story of the Past", it is recorded that when Seimei was practicing Onmyodo at Kamo Tadayuki's place, the ox cart accompanying Tadayuki saw the appearance of a ghost. Tadayuki discovered Seimei's super power and turned his magic like "an inverted bottle" "Zhongshui" will all be taught to Qingming. However, it is also said that Seimei's master was Tadayuki's son Yasunori. He is the founder of Tsuchimikado Shinto. Although astrology and predictions are not believed, it at least shows that Abe Seimei has a keen sense of insight into people's hearts and analysis of political situations. And he formulated a perfect astronomical calendar, which fully demonstrated his extraordinary talents in mathematics and astronomy. Although Abe Seimei wrote numerous books throughout his life, only one of his works, "Divination", has survived. However, it is an important document on Onmyoji divination. This may be another mystery left to future generations by this charming and enigmatic figure.

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Abe Seimei, according to the genealogy passed down by the Abe family, is the son of Abe Masacai (あべのますき), a junior nobleman under the Daisan Daifu official, and was born in Settsu Abeno Country (now Abeno Ward, Osaka City). It is said that he is a descendant of Abe Nakamaro. The year of his birth is unknown, but based on the record that he died in September of the second year of Kuanhong (1005) at the age of 85, it is inferred that he may have been born in the 20th year of Yanxi (920). It is also said that he died at the age of 45. (The age of the Tsuchimikado family is different.) There is no detailed record of his childhood. He studied Onmyodo under the onmyoji Kamo Tadayuki and Hoken and his son. He was appreciated by Hoken and was taught the astronomical way. The conclusive record of Abe Seimei appeared in 960 AD, when Emperor Murakami appointed Seimei, who was a student of astronomy at the time (a professional title for a student who belongs to Onnyōryō and studies astronomy with a doctor of astronomy) to perform divination. Although Seimei became famous late, his divination talents have been recognized by the aristocratic society. After that, he was appointed Doctor of Astronomy. In 979 AD, the 59-year-old Seimei was ordered by the Crown Prince (later Emperor Hanayama) to go to Mount Nachi to hold a ceremony to seal the Tengu. From then on, Seimei seemed to have gained the trust of Emperor Hanayama, and the records detail Seimei's performance of Onmyodo rituals. After Emperor Hanayama abdicated, Seimei also gained a high degree of trust from Emperor Ichijo and Noboshi Fujiwara. This can be seen from the nobility's diary "Mido Seki Hakuki" and the diaries of other nobles. Seimei, who is extremely famous as an onmyoji, served as the doctor of Sakyo Gon, and painted Seimei's Ukiyo-e in the Edo period

Important positions such as granary in charge, Harima warden, etc., and his status is also due to Fujiwara Michinaga. His trust and strong ability to do things rose all the way from the fourth rank to being awarded the "Hoseiin", which became an insurmountable peak for Onmyoji in the Heian era. In addition, Seimei's two sons, Yoshichō and Yoshihira, were also appointed as doctors of astronomy and onmyōsuke (secondary ministers of the onnyōryō). The Abe family also became an onmyodo family in Seimei's generation that can be compared with the Kamo clan of master Tadayuki. Because he is the son of a white fox, the world calls him "Son of the White Fox". Another: As for Seimei’s wife, the one well-known in China should be Abe Sarao. But what is widely circulated in Japan is about Abe Seimei’s wife. Another said, pear blossom. It is said that her beauty was even matched by Qingming’s master in Tang Dynasty, Master Bodao. He also said: "Your wife is too beautiful!" However, neither Sharo nor Lihua seemed to be the names of women of that era.