It was founded by
Fujiwara no Umakai, i.e., one of the four great houses of the Fujiwara, founded by the so-called , who were sons of
Fujiwara no Fuhito. The
epithet derives from the fact that the founder Umakai held the office of , or the head of the . Thus,
Shiki-ke may be translated the "Ceremonials House." The other branches were the
Fujiwara Nan-ke (the eldest brother
Muchimaro's line),
Fujiwara Hok-ke (
Fusasaki's line), and the
Fujiwara Kyō-ke (
Fujiwara no Maro's line). The Nanke then gained hegemony again (back from the non-Fujiwara
Tachibana no Moroe) until
Nakamaro mounted his own uprising. Shikike came into ascendancy with
Fujiwara no Momokawa. ==See also==