Shinsen Shōjiroku

Shinsen Shōjiroku

The Shinsen Shōjiroku (新撰姓氏録 – Revised Geneologies) is a piece of Japanese literature listing the geneologies of many noble families from the Heian Period. Originally created as a collection in 30 chapters¹ now only fragments of the original 30 survive.²

Begun in 799AD at the order of Emperor Kammu and compiled by a group of people led by the Emperors son Manda,³ it was finally completed in 815 and then presented to the court during the reign of Emperor Saga.¹

Contents

1177 families are listed in the book (originally 1182) showing them to have lived in the capital and the surrounding provinces. In the text they are grouped into 3 categories. Kōbetsu (offshoots of the Imperial line descended from Amaterasu), shimbetsu (those claiming descent from other spirits) and shiban (those of foreign origin.)¹

Kōbetsu category inclusions:

• • Abe Clan – Claiming descent from Emperor Kōgen.¹

Shimbetsu category inclusions:

• • Amatsuhikone – Clans descended from them included the Royal Representatives from Kawachi and Ubaraki; the Village Elders of the Wetnurses from Nukata; the Chieftains from Tanaka in Yamato; the District Masters from Takechi and the District Heads from Kamō.²
  • Amenohohi – Many Clans in Izumo claim descent from them.² This includes the Haji Clan through Nomi no Sukune with the Shinsen Shōjiroku also showing the Haji Clan dwelt in Yamashiro Province amongst others.⁴
  • Kamimusuhi – Many clans claimed decent from this kami.²
  • Takiribime – Many clans claimed decent from this kami.²

External Link

• • Shinsen Shōjiroku, an online edition

Footnotes

1. Kodansha. (1993) ”Japan: An Illustrated Encyclopedia”. Tokyo: Kodansha Ltd.
2. Yasumaro. O, translated by Gustav Heldt. (2014) “Kojiki. An Account of Ancient Matters”. New York: Columbia University Press.
3. Louis Frederic, translated by Kathe Roth (2002) “Japan Encyclopedia”. London: Harvard University Press.
4. Borgen, R. (1975) “The Origins of the Sugawara. A History of the Haji Family”. Monumenta Nipponica. Vol.30 No.4 pp.405-422

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