Saionji family

Members of the Saionji family began to be appointed Kantō Mōshitsugi, acting alongside the Rokuhara Tandai to manage communications and relations between the shogunate and the Court.

This began the family's rise to important Court positions, including posts as high as dajō-daijin (Chancellor of the Realm).

During the Nanboku-chō period (1336–1392) which followed, in which the two Imperial lines jousted for power, Kinmune's son Saionji Sanetoshi served the Northern Court as Minister of the Right (Udaijin), restoring the prestige of the family's name.

Saionji Saneharu was made Minister of the Left (Sadaijin), and gained influence and some financial support through connections to the Hosokawa and Nagaoka clans.

Towards the end of the Edo period, Saionji Kinmochi was adopted into the family from the closely related Tokudaiji branch of the Fujiwara clan.

Heart Sutra of the Divine Incantation of Amoghapasa by Saionji Kinhira
Empress Kishi and Emperor Go-Daigo . From Taiheiki Emaki (c. 17th century), vol. 2, On the Lamentation of the Empress. Owned by Saitama Prefectural Museum of History and Folklore .