Minamoto no Masakane (源雅兼)
MINAMOTO no Masakane (1079-December 22, 1143) was a court noble during the late Heian Period. He was from the Murakami-Genji (Minamoto clan) and was the eighth son of Udaijin (Minister of the Right), MINAMOTO no Akifusa. He was ranked Jusanmi (Junior Third Rank) and was Gon Chunagon (a provisional vice-councilor of state).
He was called 'Usugumo (faint cloud) Chunagon.'
He gained the confidence of Shirakawa-in (Retired Emperor Shirakawa) as a close retainer, and was appointed to Kurodo (Chamberlain) in 1104. In 1117, he resigned from the post of Kurodo, but in 1122 he was appointed to Kurodo no to (head of Kurodo) with Shoshii (Senior Fourth Rank). In 1131, he was ranked Jusanmi (Junior Third Rank) and was appointed to Gon Chunagon. He was also appointed to Jibukyo (minister of the Ministry of Civil Administration) in 1134, however due to illness, he resigned from the post in 1135 and entered into the priesthood. He was called Reibu Zenmon.
As he was studious and was well informed about political affairs in the Imperial court, he was highly trusted by the retired Emperors Shirakawa-in and Gotoba-in.
He was good at poetry, and was the author of the poetry collection; "Chunagon Masakane-kyo shu" (Collection of Chunagon Masakane) (83 poems). His nine poems are included in the anthologies of Japanese poetry compiled by the Imperial command, such as "Kinyo Wakashu" (Kinyo collection of Japanese poems).