A Portrait of Abe no Seimei

Abe no Seimei is one of the most famous figures in the history of Onmyödö, with many tales attached to his name that attribute to him special powers and accomplishments. This article looks at the historical records concerning Abe no Seimei and tries to reconstruct what can be known historically of his life and actions. The records show that Abe no Seimei did not reach prominence and a high rank until late in his life, well over sixty years of age. The article concludes that if the onmyōji Abe no Seimei had not lived a long life, he probably would not have achieved the unusual fame that developed in later periods.