Fujiwara no Sukemasa or Sari (藤原 佐理; Japanese pronunciation: [ɸɯ̈̀.(ɟ͡)ʑí.β̞ä́.ɾä́ nó̞ (|) sɯ̥̈.ké̞.mä̀.sä̀, -sä́.ɾʲì], 944 – August 19, 998) was a Japanese noble, statesman, and renowned calligrapher of the middle Heian period. Grandson and adopted son of the daijō-daijin Fujiwara no Saneyori and son of major general of the imperial guard Fujiwara no Atsutoshi (藤原敦敏), he is honored as one of the Sanseki, a group of outstanding calligraphers.
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Life
In 961, Sukemasa was conferred the lower junior fifth rank (従五位下) and appointed as a chamberlain. He passed through two minor military positions until, in 967, his adoptive father Fujiwara no Saneyori was appointed as regent to the newly ascended Emperor Reizei. Sukemasa was promoted that year to upper junior fifth rank (従五位上), and again in 968 to lower senior fifth rank (正五位下).
In 969, Emperor En'yū ascended to the throne, and Sukemasa rose gradually as a benkan (弁官) in the Daijō-kan. In 978 he was promoted to sangi, joining the ranks of the kugyō, and in 984 gained the junior third rank (従三位).
In the following courts of Emperor Kazan and Emperor Ichijō, Sukemasa was repeatedly passed over for promotion in favor of Kazan's relative Fujiwara no Yoshichika and then Ichijō's relatives Fujiwara no Michitaka, Fujiwara no Michikane, and Fujiwara no Michinaga. In 991, he resigned his post as sangi and moved to Kyushu as vice-minister of the Dazaifu. In 992, he was promoted to the senior third rank (正三位).