Izumi Province

Izumi Province (和泉国) was one of the many provinces in Japan. It is now included in Osaka.

The Engi Shiki list shrines to the kami Ameno Futodama here¹ with the Shinsen Shōjiroku stating the Haji Clan dwelt in this province amongst others.²

Reign of Emperor Sujin

During his reign there was a plague which ravaged the country. To aleviate it he was instructed to find Ohotataneko and make him the head of the shrine of Ōkuninushi He was eventually found in the village of Siyu in this province.³

This is related in the nihongi and not the kojiki which states he found in the province of Kawachi Province.

Footnotes

1. Yasumaro. O, translated by Gustav Heldt. (2014) “Kojiki. An Account of Ancient Matters”. New York: Columbia University Press.
2. Borgen, R. (1975) “The Origins of the Sugawara. A History of the Haji Family”. Monumenta Nipponica. Vol.30 No.4 pp.405-422
3. Aston. W.G. (1896) “Nihongi Volume 1: Chronicles of Japan from the Earliest Times to AD697”. Tuttle Publishing.

Former Provinces of Japan
Kinai	Izumi * Kawachi * Settsu * Yamashiro * Yamato
Tōsandō	Dewa * Hida * Kōzuke * Mino * Mutsu * Omi * Shimotsuke * Shinano
Hokurikudō	Echigo * Echizen * Etchū * Kaga * Koshi * Wakasa
San’indō	Hōki * Inaba * Izumo * Tajima * Tamba * Tango
Tōkaidō	Ise * Kai * Kazusa * Mikawa * Owari * Sagami * Shimōsa * Suruga * Tōtōmi
Nankaidō	Awa * Iyo * Kii * Sanuki * Tosa
San’yōdō	Aki * Harima * Mimasaka
Saikaidaō	Bungo * Chikuzen * Hizen * Hyūga * Iki * Tsushima
Pre-Taihō Code	Kibi

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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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Kanke Godenki

The Kanke Godenki (菅家御伝記) is a piece of Japanese literature written by Sugawara no Tsuratsune in 1106.

Inside he tried to rectify the ancestry of the Haji Clan by placing certain members such as Umashikaraine and Iirine as ancestor of Nomi no Sukune. Previously other records, such as the Shinsen Shōjiroku had not had them connected in the same line.

The text also states that Haji no Mino was granted the title of muraji during the reign of Emperor Nintoku. We know from the Nihongi that there was a ‘Haji no Muraji’ and Tsuratsune may have taken this and applied it to Haji no Mino to rationalize the Haji Clans family history.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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• Reign: 781-806AD
• Period: Nara Period / Heian Period
• Family:
• Burial Place:
• Order of Succession: Predecessor Emperor Kōnin * Successor Emperor Heizei

Emperor Kanmu

Emperor Kanmu (桓武天皇) was the 50th Emperor of Japan enthroned in the 4th month of 781AD.

Prior to his reign it is said that Haji no Sukune Furuhito acted as his teacher which may explain why Furuhito’s later petition (see below) when Kanmu became Emperor was granted. It is also said his grandmother was from the Haji family.

Records from his reign state that in 781AD of his reign, on the 25th day of the 6th month, Haji no Sukune Furuhito came to court with 15 members of the Haji family.

He brought a petition which stated their ancestor, Nomi no Sukune, had been the creator of the haniwa and they had overseen their creation to be used in funerals. However, now their clan only took charge of funerals and so their job had changed. As this was not what their ancestor had wanted he requested the Emperor to change their family name to Sugawara where they now dwelt. The Emperor granted this request and the Sugawara house came into being.¹

In 799AD he ordered to be compiled the Shinsen Shōjiroku by a group of people led by the Emperors son Manda.²

Fujiwara no Tanetsugu was a favourite of Emperor Kanmu.²

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
2. Louis Frederic, translated by Kathe Roth (2002) “Japan Encyclopedia”. London: Harvard University Press.

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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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Iirine

Iirine (飯入根) is an ancient ancestor to the Haji Clan, some branches of the family claiming descent from him instead of others such as Umashikaraine and Nomi no Sukune (who in the Nihongi is said to have founded the Haji Clan).

The Shinsen Shōjiroku, written in 815, states three branches of the Haji claimed Iirine and Umashikaraine as their ancestor, with three others claiming Nomi no Sukune, all of these men 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 Iirine and Umashikaraine as ancestors of Nomi no Sukune.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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Umashikaraine

Umashikaraine (可美乾飯根) is an ancient ancestor to the Haji Clan, some branches of the family claiming descent from him instead of others such as Iirine and Nomi no Sukune (who in the Nihongi is said to have founded the Haji Clan).

The Shinsen Shōjiroku, written in 815, states three branches of the Haji claimed him and Iirine as their ancestor, with three others claiming Nomi no Sukune, all of these men 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.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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• See also: List of Provinces

Yamashiro Province

Yamashiro Province (山城国) was an old Province of Japan, located in what is now Kyoto Prefecture.¹ The Shinsen Shōjiroku shows the Haji Clan dwelt in this province amongst others.³

Inception

One of the 5 central (kinai) provinces, established under the Kokugun System in 646AD, this area was already settled in the 5th Century by the Hata Family and other naturalised Korean families (Kikajin).²

Legendary Period

During the reign of Emperor Sujin it is said that Ohobiko battles against Takehaniyasuhiko here.⁴⁵⁶

In Emperor Suinin’s reign it is said the Imperial Prince Hikoimasu married Yenahime in this province and that Matonuhime tried to kill herself by hanging from a tree. The area she did so becoming known as Sagariki (hanging tree).⁴⁵

Additionally Suinin heard of and married Kanibatatobe whilst visiting here. Vowing to make her his wife he sees an omen in the form of a large tortoise in a river. The Emperor throwing his spear at the tortoise sees it turn into a white stone and following this he sends for Kanibatatobe and they are wed.⁶

Nara Period

Between 741-44AD this Province held the offical residence of Emperor Shōmu at Kuni no Miya in the southern part of Province. Yamashiro became the site of the capital when Nagaokakyō was made in 784. Ten years later the capital moved to again Heiankyo (Kyoto), still in this Province. The province remained the govermental seat until the 1868 Meiji Restoration.²

Dissolution

After the Meiji Reformation this province became Kyoto and Yodo Prefectures, however thry were consolidated in Kyoto Prefecture on November 22 1871.²

Footnotes

1. Louis Frederic, translated by Kathe Roth (2002) “Japan Encyclopedia”. London: Harvard University Press.
2. Kodansha. (1993) ”Japan: An Illustrated Encyclopedia”. Tokyo: Kodansha Ltd.
3. Borgen, R. (1975) “The Origins of the Sugawara. A History of the Haji Family”. Monumenta Nipponica. Vol.30 No.4 pp.405-422
4. Yasumaro. O, translated by Gustav Heldt. (2014) “Kojiki. An Account of Ancient Matters”. New York: Columbia University Press.
5. Chamberlain, B. H. (1932) “Translation of the Kojiki.” Kobe: J.L. Thompson & Co.
6. Aston. W.G. (1896) “Nihongi Volume 1: Chronicles of Japan from the Earliest Times to AD697”. Tuttle Publishing.

Former Provinces of Japan
Kinai	Izumi * Kawachi * Settsu * Yamashiro * Yamato
Tōsandō	Dewa * Hida * Kōzuke * Mino * Mutsu * Omi * Shimotsuke * Shinano
Hokurikudō	Echigo * Echizen * Etchū * Kaga * Koshi * Wakasa
San’indō	Hōki * Inaba * Izumo * Tajima * Tamba * Tango
Tōkaidō	Ise * Kai * Kazusa * Mikawa * Owari * Sagami * Shimōsa * Suruga * Tōtōmi
Nankaidō	Awa * Iyo * Kii * Sanuki * Tosa
San’yōdō	Aki * Harima * Mimasaka
Saikaidaō	Bungo * Chikuzen * Hizen * Hyūga * Iki * Tsushima
Pre-Taihō Code	Kibi

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Ishikoridome

Ishikoridome (Stone Mold Crone¹) (石凝姥命 or 伊斯許理度売命) is a Shinto kami who is mentioned during the time when Amaterasu hides herself in the Sacred Rock Cave.²

Family

This kami is claimed as the ancestor of the Mirror Makers in the kojiki,¹ in the nihongi she is said to be the daughter of Amenonukado, their ancestor.²

The Sacred Mirror

She is tasked with making a mirror to help in coaxing her out of the cave to bring sunlight back to the world. An alternative version of the nihongi, in which she is called Ono-kori-dome, states she formed a Sun Spear made out of copper form Mount Kagu to help get Amaterasu out of the cave as well as Heavenly Bellows out of Stag Hide. Additionally it goes on to say that the kami which she fashioned by this means was called Hinomahe and lives in Kii Province.

Another version has her father making the mirror and not her.²

In the Gleaning of Ancient Words, it is said the first mirror she made was defective and so became the kami called Hinokuma.¹ The Engi Shiki lists 3 shrines to her in Yamato.¹

Reign of Emperor Sujin

The Jinnō Shōtōki relates that during the reign of Emperor Sujin she was summoned to fashion a new sacred mirror and that is was made in Uda, Yamato Province.¹

Footnotes

1. Yasumaro. O, translated by Gustav Heldt. (2014) “Kojiki. An Account of Ancient Matters”. New York: Columbia University Press.
2. Aston. W.G. (1896) “Nihongi Volume 1: Chronicles of Japan from the Earliest Times to AD697”. Tuttle Publishing.
3. Varley, H.P (1980) “A Chronicle of Gods and Sovereigns: Jinnō Shōtōki of Kitabatake Chikafusa.” New York: Columbia University Press.

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Kamimusuhi

Kamimusuhi (神産巣日神) aka Kamumusubimioya was the third of the first three beings to come into existence when heaven and earth formed. He along with the other two kami (Amenominakanushi and Takamimusuhi), remained apart and concealed themselves from everything. She is the kami of fertility, motherhood and healing, as well as being one of the eight tutelary kami of the Royal Clan. This is all related in the Kojiki. Fudoki list several shrines to him in Izumo Province, with the Kogo Shūi and Shinsen shōjiroku listing many clans decended from this kami.¹

One version of the Nihongi states the kami came into existence after Kuninosatsuchi and Kunitokotachi appeared together, and after Amenominakanushi and Takamimusuhi.²

After the death of Ōgetsuhime in the Kojiki, this kami gathers up the food which springs from her corpse so that he may plant it and it may flourish.¹

Footnotes

1. Yasumaro. O, translated by Gustav Heldt. (2014) “Kojiki. An Account of Ancient Matters”. New York: Columbia University Press.
2. Aston. W.G. (1896) “Nihongi Volume 1: Chronicles of Japan from the Earliest Times to AD697”. Tuttle Publishing.

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