天(tian)(tian)智(zhi)朝(chao)八年(nian)(669年(nian)),中(zhong)臣(chen)鐮足死,天(tian)(tian)智(zhi)天(tian)(tian)皇(huang)以其(qi)參與大(da)化改革(ge)之(zhi)(zhi)功(gong),賜姓(xing)(xing)藤(teng)原(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)朝(chao)臣(chen),是(shi)(shi)本姓(xing)(xing)之(zhi)(zhi)始(shi)。其(qi)后(hou)(hou)文(wen)武天(tian)(tian)皇(huang)詔,只準其(qi)子不比(bi)等姓(xing)(xing)藤(teng)原(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)。壬(ren)申之(zhi)(zhi)亂(luan)后(hou)(hou),不比(bi)等參加撰修律令(ling),營造平城京,創下政(zheng)治(zhi)(zhi)基(ji)礎。其(qi)女光明子立為(wei)(wei)(wei)皇(huang)后(hou)(hou),開藤(teng)原(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)氏一族立后(hou)(hou)之(zhi)(zhi)端。不比(bi)等有四子:武智(zhi)麻呂(lv)(南家(jia)(jia))、房前(北(bei)(bei)家(jia)(jia))、宇(yu)合(式家(jia)(jia))、麻呂(lv)(京家(jia)(jia)),是(shi)(shi)律令(ling)制下政(zheng)治(zhi)(zhi)勢(shi)(shi)力強大(da)的四家(jia)(jia)。其(qi)后(hou)(hou)三家(jia)(jia)在爭權(quan)中(zhong)失勢(shi)(shi),只北(bei)(bei)家(jia)(jia)獨(du)榮不衰。到藤(teng)原(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)良房時,以外(wai)戚出(chu)任攝(she)(she)(she)關職(zhi),以攝(she)(she)(she)政(zheng)或(huo)關白(bai)之(zhi)(zhi)名(ming)義長期(qi)左(zuo)右(you)朝(chao)政(zheng),稱為(wei)(wei)(wei)攝(she)(she)(she)關政(zheng)治(zhi)(zhi),是(shi)(shi)北(bei)(bei)家(jia)(jia)的全盛(sheng)時期(qi),并(bing)確立攝(she)(she)(she)政(zheng)關白(bai)由北(bei)(bei)家(jia)(jia)嫡流(liu)出(chu)任的傳(chuan)統。及至道長當政(zheng)以后(hou)(hou),藤(teng)原(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)氏專權(quan)達于極盛(sheng)期(qi)。此期(qi)間(jian)藤(teng)原(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)氏以外(wai)戚干政(zheng),為(wei)(wei)(wei)所欲為(wei)(wei)(wei),二后(hou)(hou)并(bing)立,四女三妃(fei)。東宮立妃(fei),幼小天(tian)(tian)皇(huang)常住其(qi)家(jia)(jia)。攝(she)(she)(she)政(zheng)、關白(bai)、太政(zheng)大(da)臣(chen)、左(zuo)右(you)大(da)臣(chen)之(zhi)(zhi)職(zhi)為(wei)(wei)(wei)藤(teng)原(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)氏一族獨(du)霸,形(xing)成攝(she)(she)(she)關政(zheng)治(zhi)(zhi)特殊體制。北(bei)(bei)家(jia)(jia)嫡流(liu)(被稱為(wei)(wei)(wei)攝(she)(she)(she)關家(jia)(jia))在平安時代末期(qi)分為(wei)(wei)(wei)近衛、松殿、九條三家(jia)(jia)。
寬(kuan)治元年(nian)(1087年(nian)),院政(zheng)開(kai)始(shi),實權(quan)轉入(ru)院政(zheng),藤原(yuan)氏勢力稍衰,形式上(shang)攝(she)關(guan)(guan)職(zhi)仍由(you)(you)藤原(yuan)氏一(yi)家出任(ren)。平氏興(xing)起(qi),武士開(kai)始(shi)執政(zheng),藤原(yuan)氏的攝(she)關(guan)(guan)政(zheng)治體制名存實亡。在鐮(lian)倉(cang)時代由(you)(you)近(jin)衛家分出鷹(ying)司(si)家,由(you)(you)九條(tiao)家分出二(er)(er)條(tiao)家和一(yi)條(tiao)家,近(jin)衛、鷹(ying)司(si)、九條(tiao)、二(er)(er)條(tiao)、一(yi)條(tiao)被稱為(wei)五攝(she)家,交替出任(ren)攝(she)關(guan)(guan)職(zhi),直至江戶末期,但攝(she)關(guan)(guan)職(zhi)已與(yu)政(zheng)權(quan)無關(guan)(guan)系。
明治維新(xin)后,五(wu)攝家(jia)列為(wei)華族(zu)(zu)之首(shou)獲公爵稱號。藤原(yuan)氏(shi)(shi)一族(zu)(zu)在政壇上(shang)活躍(yue)近(jin)一千年。不過在明治時(shi)代,因為(wei)天皇下令(ling)所有人(ren)民都要有一個(ge)姓氏(shi)(shi),有部份地(di)區人(ren)改姓藤原(yuan),但這些人(ren)物與歷史上(shang)真正(zheng)的(de)藤原(yuan)氏(shi)(shi)無(wu)關,在藤原(yuan)氏(shi)(shi)頗為(wei)普遍(bian)。