The Kabane System was a system of division between different clans (uji). It was also known as the Shisei system and developed from the interchange of ideas from Paekche.

This system saw to it that the uji would give the imperial monarch needed services as well as acting to reinforce imperial authority outside of Yamato through the use of regional members given kabane titles. This allowed provincial leaders to be incorporated into the kabane system even if they had no direct relation to an uji family.

The uji created more types of Be professions allowing uji groups to grow and spread into new branch families. Marriage alliances would link high and low ranking members of the uji at court together.

During the 6th century the four major level of kabane were Omi (臣), Muraji (連), Tomo no miyatsuko and Kuni no miyatsuko (国造). But by the 7th century this system came to be dismantled into a system of a corps of officials charge with leading a place for a specific time.

The Taika Reforms would emphasise the need for this change so that the Emperor could consolidate power. A few consessions were made and in 664 the uji were divided into ‘Great uji‘, ‘Small uji‘ and ‘tomo no miyatsuko.’

By 670 the titles had become hereditary to male descendants and in 684 the Yakusa no Kabane system was created.¹

Yakusa no Kabane

The Yakusa no Kabane (八色の姓) was a system established in 684 by Emperor Tenmu to strengthen imperial authority. This system involved bestowing eight honorary titles (kabane) to certain families after the events of the Jinshin no Ran.¹

These titles were Mahito, Ason (Asomi) (朝臣), Sukune, Imiki, Michinochi, Omi (臣), Muraji (連) and Inagi (Inaki).¹²

The titles of Mahito and Ason were given to close Imperial relatives. Sukune and Imiki to members with illustrious lineage. With the other titles bestowed to lesser officials. The titles were appended to family names.

The highest four titles were used to reconcile the kabane status of families with a heirarchy based on rank and office and a legal ruling made it that an uji’s prestige was a criteria for promotion. The Taihō Code however, in 702, did away with this provision.¹

Kabane Titles

The Kabane (姓) were hereditary titles indicative of the social rank and duty of the uji no kami. The kabane were also held by the uji no kami’s close kin and originally may have been to show deference from the uji no bito to the uji no kami.¹

The titles of Omi (臣), Muraji (連) and Miyatsuko (国造) were traditionally given to those who were in service at court. Kimi (君/公), Atae ,(直) and Obito were given to regional lords with Imiki and Fuhito given to families of continental origin (Kikajin).¹

This system was reorganised in 684 into the Yakusa no Kabane, but did not fully die out until the 10th century.¹²

Individuals/Clans who held these titles:

Ason:

• • Kasa
    • Kasa Kanamura
    • Kasa Maro
  • Ō no Yasumaro
  • Yamabe no Akahito

Atahe:

• • Chikatsu Afumi no Yasu no atahe
  • Ki no Atahe
  • Ohoshikafuchi no Atahe
  • Yamashiro no Atahe

Omi:

• • Abe no Omi
  • Ahata no Omi
  • Ahe no Omi
  • Ana no Omi
  • Chita no Omi
  • Haguri no Omi
  • Hozumi no Omi
  • Ichihiwi no Omi
  • Iga no Omi
  • Izumo no Omi.
    • Izumo no Omi Hiroshima
  • Kakinomoto no Omi
  • Kashihade no Omi
  • Kasuga no Omi
  • Kibi no Omi
  • Kusaki no Omi
  • Miyake no Omi
    • Miyake no Omi Kanatari
  • Muza no Omi
  • Noto no Omi
  • Oho no Omi
  • Ohoyake no Omi
  • Taki no Omi
  • Tsunuyama no Omi
  • Wani no Omi
  • Wonu no Omi
  • Yamashiro no Uchi no Omi

Kimi

• • Amu no Nagato no Kimi
  • Harima no Aso no kimi
  • Himeda no kimi
  • Homujibe no kimi
  • Ichishi no kimi
  • Inugami no kimi
  • Ise no Ihitaka no kimi
  • Iyo no Wake no kimi
  • Kamitsuke no kimi
  • Kamo no kimi
  • Kibi no homuji no kimi
  • Miwa no kimi
  • Mononobe no kimi
  • Mori no kimi
  • Muketsu no kimi
  • Murokata no kimi
    • Idzuhime
  • Ōmiwa no kimi
  • Sanuki no Aya no kimi
  • Sasa no kimi
  • Sasakiyama no kimi
  • Shimotsuke no kimi
  • Tagima no Magari no kimi
  • Takebe no kimi

Kuni no miyatsuko

• • Chikatsu Atsufumi kuni no miyatsuko
  • Himuka no kuni no Miyatsuko
  • Ise no Sana no miyatsuko
  • Izumo no miyatsuko
    • Izumo no Omi Hiroshima
  • Ki no kuni no miyatsuko
    • Ki no kuni no miyatsuko no aya
    • Arakahatobe
  • Minu no kuni no miyatsuko
  • Mototsu no kuni no miyatsuko
  • Tajima no kuni no miyatsuko

Muraji

• • Haji Clan
    • Haji no Mino
  • Kagamidzukuri no muraji – The Mirror Makers, descendants of Ishikoridome.³
  • Kusakabe no muraji
  • Nagahatabe no muraji
  • Nukada Be no muraji
  • Takehi
    • Takehi no muraji
  • Witsukahi no muraji
  • Wohari no muraji

Sukune

• • Haji Clan
    • Haji no Umate

Footnotes

1. Kodansha. (1993) ”Japan: An Illustrated Encyclopedia”. Tokyo: Kodansha Ltd.
2. Louis Frederic, translated by Kathe Roth (2002) “Japan Encyclopedia”. London: Harvard University Press.
3. Yasumaro. O, translated by Gustav Heldt. (2014) “Kojiki. An Account of Ancient Matters”. New York: Columbia University Press.

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Haji no Umate

Haji no Umate (馬手) was a member of the Haji Clan known to have fought in the Jinshin War during his lifetime.

When the future Emperor Tenmu left to become a monk Umate was his retainer at the time. Tenmu asked his men if they had political ambitions then they should leave his retinue, but Umate stayed. During the later Jinshin War he was a retainer in the Office of Crown Lands (mita no tsukasa no toneri) and was ordred to give out food to fifty or so men. Merely two days later he was told to go to the Tōsandō Region and mobilise troops.

After the war ended he was promoted to junior fourth rank, lower grade, the highest position ever of a Haji. When the kabane system was reoganised by Tenmu in 684 he was given the title of sukune. 

The remainder of his career sees Umate burying emperors and maintaining Imperial tombs. In 698 we know he made offerings from Silla at the tomb of the now deceased Tenmu.

He died in 711AD.¹

Footnotes

1. 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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Haji Clan

The Haji Clan (土師氏) was a Japanese clan which claimed descent from the Shinto kami Amenohohi in the 12 generation. From the 5th to 7th centuries they were part of the uji class. Their private familiy records would have been useful in the compiliation of the Nihongi, the stories of the haniwa and Haji Be (mentioned below) likely drawn from these records.

This clan held many connections with people from Silla who lived in Japan, perhaps even marrying them. This led to them introducing Taoist and Buddhist beliefs into funerary practises. Their introduction of Buddhism is mentioned in the Sairinji Engi.

Ancestry

The clan is said to have been founded by Nomi no Sukune, though this can be a dubious claim. This claim is seen during the reign of Emperor Suinin when he bestowed the name of Haji on Nomi no Sukune after he took 300 potters and made the first haniwa to replace the practise of human sacrifice that was in use before this when high officials and imperial familiy members died.

However, not all branches of the clan claim descent from Nomi no Sukune. The Shinsen Shōjiroku, written in 815 states three branches of the Haji claimed him as an ancestor, with three others claiming Umashikaraine or Iirine as their ancestors, both of these men also being 12th generational descendants of Amenohohi. Later in 1106 Sugawara no Tsuratsune wrote the Kanke Godenki, inside he tried to rectify the family tree, placing Umashikaraine and Iirine as ancestors of Nomi no Sukune.

One of their legendary ancestors is said to have defeated a kami in a singing contest.

One branch of the Haji lived near the site apparently that of Emperor Suinins tomb, which may have helped in joining the Haji Clan with the story of the haniwa.

Associations with Haji Be and Asobibe

Nomi no Sukune’s name change also put him in charge of a group called the Haji Be. It was this group of people who made the pottery, with the Haji Clan overseeing the process.

It is thought they lived close by to the Haji Be with the Shinsen Shōjiroku saying they lived in Yamashiro, Yamato, Izumi and Settsu Province. The Nihongi additionally mentions Haji living in Kawachi. Aside from Yamato province, the Nihongi and Wamyō Ruijishō mention Haji communities or villages in these places called ‘Haji no Sato.’ Some instances see Haji no Sato and Haji members mentions together suggesting they lived together.

Branches of the family started to develop their own productions. Not only making the haniwa, they also worked on vessels for Imperial use. One branch with their Haji Be came to specialise in pottery for court use, taking the name of Niehaji (贄土師). Other branches developed to take charge of funerary rite (over taking the role of the Asobibe), making objects for funerary usage as well as funerary rites for high court nobility and the Imperial Family.

Some of the Haji did live in the same area of the Asobibe, meaning they would have been familiar with their functions allowing them to easily take over from them.

Kofu Period 300-538AD

The family would emphasise ties to Izumo, their ancestral home, likely due to the importance it had gained in the Kojiki and so they consilidated their geneology with the Izumo Magistrates.

They claimed to originally have held the title of Omi, but this was usually left for Izumo Magistrate family. It is perhaps their ties to this family which made them state this claim. Reliable sources show us they held title muraji which was appropriate to their status.

The Kanke Godenki says the great-grandson of Nomi no Sukune, Haji no Mino was granted the title of muraji during the reign of Nintoku. We also see the earliest mention of ‘Haji no Muraji’ in the Nihongi during Nintoku’s reign, however, no name is given to which Haji. Perhaps here the Kanke Gogenki was trying to rationalise the family history.

It is likely they came from Izumo to Yamato during the 5th century as the Yamato Court arose here. Legends say they came directly, but archaeological evidence shows they slowly emmigrated leaving settlements in Mimasaka and Harima Province. The story of Nomi no Sukune is therefore likely a fabrication to explain the Haji taking over Yamato land from older less influential familes.

Asuka Period 538-710AD

In 641 we known the Haji supervised their first imperial funeral.

In 645 the Taika Reforms reorganised the court, and so the power of the Haji changed. The Taiho Code created an ‘Office of Mausolea’ calling for ten Hajibe to serve under it and senior Haji Clan members to take charge of funerals for princes or nobles of the third rank or above. As they oversaw funerary rites for high officials and princes, their role became more bureaucratic with a semblence to their former selves.

During the conflict between the Soga and Mononobe Clans we know of two Haji members who undertook important duties for Soga leader, however, in 645 when the Soga were destroyed the Haji had shifted their alliances.

During the Jinshin War in 672 members of the Haji supported Emperor Tenmu, though one Haji was caught by the future Emperors forces. Haji no Umate fought during the Jinshin War seeing a long career afterwards before his death in 711AD. His later acts of placing offering on the tomb of Tenmu from Silla shows the Haji branching out into foreign diplomacy, including greeting envoys, undertaking diplomatic missions and also going to China as students.

Umate life saw him gratned the title of sukune, this during the time when Haji no Oi was head of the clan.

The eventual adoption of buddhism when Emperess Jito died in 703AD and was cremated changed the Haji status when it came to haniwa production and as funerary supervisors.

Nara Period  710-794AD

In 728AD a new outer fifth rank was created at court, and it seems the Haji family were to be appointed to this rank and only ever promoted under exceptional circumstance. It was impossible for them to achieve the higher ranks now.

By 729 a new edict saw the ‘Office of Mausolea’ remade into a bureau with many Haji appointed as directors here until 768. This allowed them to achieve the junior fifth rank. After 768 it was given to princes and those of imperial descent.

Haji no Ushikatsu was the last Haji to be director of the Bureau of Mausolea. In 751 it appears he was rather fortunate, his rank going from outer to inner, and in 755 he was promoted to junior fifth rank upper grade. He was the first Haji to acheive this since 728 and it is likely this was due to the fact he helped in the establishment of Todaiji.

Many other Haji held connections to Todaiji, helping in its construction, but also later in the Sutra Copying Office (Shakyōjo). In fact, Haji is the second most common name in this office. The Kodai Jimmei lists 5 proof readers, 14 sutra copyists and 11 Haji involved in the construction of Todaiji.

Heian Period

An edict in 797AD finally ended their connections to funerals.

Becoming the Sugawara Clan

The clan eventually wished to change their name from Haji. On the 25th day, 6th month of 781, 15 members of the Haji Family, headed by Haji no Sukune Furuhito took a petition before the Kanmu..

The petition stated their ancestor was the creator of the haniwa and they oversaw their creation to be used in funerals. However now their clan only takes charge of funerals, their job had changed. As this was not what their ancestor had wanted they asked for their name to be changed to Sugawara where they now dwelt. This was granted by the Emperor.

Furuhito managing to change the families name encured they could once again rise above the outer fifth rank which has been imposed on them in 728AD.

After this name change two other branches of the Haji followed suit, changing their names to Akishino and Ōe. As late as 867AD Haji still came to the capital to request their name be changed to Sugawara.

Legacy

The 14th century document known as the Sompi Bummyaku compiled geneologies of only six families, one of which being the Haji Clan, showing that they were considered impotant to the past of Japan.

Poets and Scholars

Poetry by Haji members can be seen in the Man’yōshū. poems by Haji members in this text are numbers 557-8, 825, 843, 3660, 3844-5, 3955, 4047 and 4067.

One of the most prolific poets was Haji no Mimichi who has 5 that survive.

One of his poems goes as follows:

They had many notable scholars during their time, one being Haji no Oi who helped compile the Taiho Codes. During the Nara Period there were many unnamed Haji known for their learning.¹

Members

• • Haji no Mimichi
  • Haji no Mino
  • Haji no Oi
  • Haji no Sukune Furuhito
  • Haji no Umate – d.711
  • Haji no Ushikatsu
  • Nomi no Sukune

Footnotes

1. 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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• First Ruler: –
• Final Ruler: Takeda Katusyori
• Dissolution: Suicide of Katsuyori in 1582.
• Cadet Branches: Aki, Kai, Wakasa
• For a full list of Japanese Clans see: Clans.

Takeda Clan

The Takeda Clan (武田氏) was a prominent clan and military house during the Kamakura, Muromachi and Azuchi-Momoyama Periods, taking their name from Takeda in Kai Province.¹

Kamakura Period

The Clan fought during the Taira-Minamoto war (1180) for Minamoto no Yorimoto, as well as taking part in the Jōkyū Disturbance of 1221. Takeda Nobumitsu became shugo of Aki Province for his involvement in the 1221 disturbance, establishing the Aki Branch of the family.¹

Muromachi Period

During the Eikyō Disturbance in 1438 they helped the shogunate in destroying Ashikaga Mochiuji.¹

Takeda Shingen, after displacing his father Nobutora in 1541 aimed to conquer much territory, attacking the provinces of Shinano and Echigo Province. A series of later attempts at failed alliences led to the Battle of Mitakagahara in 1573 against Oda Nobunaga, of which the Takeda were victorious.²

During the Sengoku Period, to help fuel their battles and other exploits, the Takeda gained much of their money from a secret mine located in the Kurokawa Kinzan Mountain (see Oiran Buchi). The gold mining peaked during Takeda Shingen, who used the gold to build a large spy network, adept at using female ninja ‘ku-no-ichi‘. These women posed as anything from, holy women, to servants, to prostitutes who gained intel from his rivals.³

Azuchi-Momoyama Period

After Shingen’s death, his work was left to his son Katsuyori. Katsuyori would eventually fail as his allies left to side with Nobunaga, causing him to eventually flee and commit suicide in 1582.¹

Both main branches of the Takeda (the Kai and Wakasa branches) were destroyed within four months and one week of one another^,1 with the death of Takeda Katusyori marking the end of the family.²

Branch Families

Aki

There were at least 10 Takeda shugo during the Muromachi Shogunate from Aki Province, this lineage started by Takeda Nobumitsu after his involvement in the Jōkyū Disturbance.¹

Kai

This branch fell to Oda Nobunaga in 1582 folowing the exploits of Shingen and his son Katsuyori.¹

Wakasa

An offshoot of the Aki Branch, this lineage of military governors dwelled in Wakasa Province from 1440. These Takeda were known for cultural pursuits, including a compiled set of rules of chivalrous bearing, especially of mounted archery (yabusame). This branch developed a Takeda school of military ettiquette (kyūba kojitsu).

By the late 16th century they fall under the sway of Oda Nobunaga, with the exploits of Takeda Motoaki leading to the destruction of the Wakasa branch.¹

Members of the House

Aki Branch

• Takeda Nobumitsu – d.1248

Kai Branch

• Takeda Katusyori – 1546-82
• Takeda Nobutora – 1498-1574
• Takeda Nobuyoshi – d.1186
• Takeda Shingen – 1521-73

Wakasa Branch

• Takeda Motoaki – 1552-1582

Footnotes

1. Kodansha. (1993) ”Japan: An Illustrated Encyclopedia”. Tokyo: Kodansha Ltd.
2. Louis Frederic, translated by Kathe Roth (2002) “Japan Encyclopedia”. London: Harvard University Press.
3. Yoda, H & Alt, M. (2012) “Yurei Attack: The Japanese Ghost Survival Guide” Tokyo: Tuttle Publishing.

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• Reign: 673-686AD
• Period: Asuka Period
• Family: Empress Kōgyoku (mother) Empress Jitō (wife) Emperor Tenji (brother) Prince Kusakabe (son) Emperor Kōbun (nephew) Prince Ōtsu (son)
• Burial Place: –
• Order of Succession: Predecessor Emperor Kōbun * Successor Empress Jitō

Emperor Tenmu

Emperor Tenmu (天武天皇) (Prince Oama⁷) was the 40th Emperor of Japan reigning from 673-86AD. He was the brother of Emperor Tenji and uncle to Emperor Kōbun¹, his mother was the Empress Kōgyoku and his son was Prince Kusakabe. His wife would become the later Empress Jitō.²

Jinshin no Ran

The Jinshin no Ran (壬申の乱) was a battle involving the forces of Temmu and Kōbun who at the time was on the throne. Temmu was growing impatient for the throne and so raised an army against his nephew. Though Kōbun fought alongside his troops he was bested in battle and committed suicide, thus allowing Temmu could cease the throne.¹

During the war in 672 members of the Haji supported Emperor Tenmu, though one Haji was caught by the future Emperors forces. Haji no Umate fought during the Jinshin War seeing a long career afterwards before his death in 711AD.⁵

Reign

During his reign, he strengthened his position by taking nine wives. Four were his nieces, two were daughters of Fujiwara no Kamatari and the another was of the Soga Clan.

He was not a fan of Buddhism and it was this Emperor who instated the tradition of rebuilding the Ise Grand Shrine every twenty years as a symbol of rebirth.¹

During the first year of Tenmu’s reign Jitō

followed the Emperor when he took refuge in the Eastern provinces. She addressed the troops and mingled in the throng, until at length they together formed a plan by which several tens of thousands of fearless men were separately ordered to take up their posts in all the most defensible positions.

For 14 years Tenmu left the position of Great Minister vacant as he and Jitō governed jointly with a team of Imperial Princes, making decisions with them and without consulting the Council of Nobles.

In 681 he decrees an edict for the creation of law-codes known as the Asuka no Kyomihara Ritsuryō. During this decree he and his wife sat in the same seats befitting those of equal status.²

In AD682 Tenmu commissioned his Princes and High Officials to prepare:

a history of the Emperor’s and of matters of high antiquity

which would eventually lead to the creation of the Kojiki.³⁴

In 684 we see the Emperor establish the Yakusa no Kabane to strengthen imperial authority. This system involved bestowing eight honorary titles (kabane) to certain families after the events of the Jinshin no Ran.⁶

In 687 he decrees:

all matters of the Empire, without distinction of great and small, should be referred to the Empress-Consort (Jitō) and the Prince Imperial (Prince Kusakabe).²

Footnotes

1. Martin, P. (1997) ”The Chrysanthemum Throne”. Gloucestershire: Sutton Publishing Limited.
2. Tsurumi, P. (1981) “Early Female Emperors” Historical Reflections Vol.8 No.1 pp.41-49.
3. Yasumaro. O, translated by Gustav Heldt. (2014) “Kojiki. An Account of Ancient Matters”. New York: Columbia University Press.
4. Aston. W.G. (1896) “Nihongi Volume 1: Chronicles of Japan from the Earliest Times to AD697″. Tuttle Publishing.
5. Borgen, R. (1975) “The Origins of the Sugawara. A History of the Haji Family”. Monumenta Nipponica. Vol.30 No.4 pp.405-422.
6. Kodansha. (1993) ”Japan: An Illustrated Encyclopedia”. Tokyo: Kodansha Ltd.
7. MacMillan, P. (2018) ”One Hundred Poets, One Poem Each: A Treasury of Classical Japanese Verse”. St. Ives: Penguin Classics.

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• Reign: 672AD
• Period: Asuka Period
• Family: Emperor Tenji (father) Emperor Tenmu (uncle)
• Burial Place: –
• Order of Succession: Predecessor Emperor Tenji * Successor Emperor Tenmu

Emperor Kōbun

Emperor Kōbun (弘文天皇) (Prince Otomo²) was the 39th Emperor of Japan who ruled in 672AD. His father was the Emperor Tenji and was the nephew of Emperor Tenmu.¹

Reign

His reign sadly only last a few months, his Uncle Temmu impatient for the throne instigated an armed uprising which became known as the Jinshin no Ran (壬申の乱). Kōbun rose to meet the attack in person but was sadly defeated and so committed suicide.¹

Footnotes

1. Martin, P. (1997) ”The Chrysanthemum Throne”. Gloucestershire: Sutton Publishing Limited.
2. MacMillan, P. (2018) ”One Hundred Poets, One Poem Each: A Treasury of Classical Japanese Verse”. St. Ives: Penguin Classics.

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