Fujiwara no Kiyokawa

Fujiwara no Kiyokawa 藤原清河
Illustration by Kikuchi Yōsai, from Zenken Kojitsu
Died	778
Family	Fujiwara Hokke
Father	Fujiwara no Fusasaki

Fujiwara no Kiyokawa (藤原 清河, ?–778), also known by the Chinese-style name Heqing (河清), was a Japanese noble of the Nara period. He was the fourth son of the sangi Fujiwara no Fusasaki, the founder of the Fujiwara Hokke. He reached the court rank of ju san-mi (従三位) and the position of sangi, and was posthumously awarded the rank of ju ichi-i (従一位).

As an envoy to Tang China, he served the Tang court along with Abe no Nakamaro, but due to storms and the An Lushan Rebellion he was unable to return to his home, and died in China.

In 740, Kiyokawa was promoted from shō roku-i no jō (正六位上) to ju go-i no ge (従五位下). He rose steadily in the court of Emperor Shōmu and was promoted to ju shi-i no ge (従四位下) in 746. With the ascension of Empress Kōken in 749, he was appointed as sangi, beating his older brother Fujiwara no Nagate to the ranks of the kugyō.

In 750, Kiyokawa was appointed envoy to Tang China, with Ōtomo no Komaro and Kibi no Makibi as vice-envoys. Before his departure, the Emperor gave him a symbolic sword (節刀, settō) as a sign of his command, and he was granted the rank of shō shi-i no ge (正四位下). Upon arriving in Tang China, the envoy entered Chang'an and had an audience with Emperor Xuanzong, who praised them as proper gentlemen.