• • See also: Court Titles, Imperial Titles, Provincial Titles, Uji, Sesshō and Kampaku
    

Be (部) was the term used for groupings of people prior to the 7th Century who has associations to the Yamato Court or lineage groups (uji).

The individual people in a ‘Be’ were known as ‘bumin.’ All of these groups had to give a part of their production or supply to those there were subjects of. Generally the ‘be‘ was added as a suffix to their craft. Also at times they were known as tomo (companion).¹

The term itself appears to be of Korean origin with Be being created by the courts to make items specifically for court usage. The exact relationship between Be and the Uji they served is not quite clear. During the reign of Emperor Yūryaku, a man known as Ake is said to have presented ‘private Be members,’ to the court. Some have taken this to mean they were actually slaves, with others feeling it signified they were subordinates.⁴

Known examples

• • Imube – Shinto Ritualists.¹
  • Kinunuibe – Tailors.¹
  • Kuratsukuribe – Saddle Makers.¹
  • Nishigoribe – Silk Weavers.¹
  • Tabe – Labourers, established by Emperor Keikō.³
  • Tomobe – General Workers.¹
  • Umakaibe – Horse and Cattle Breeders.¹
  • Yamabe – Forestry Workers.¹

Asobibe – Funerary Rites

The Asobibe (遊部) were those originally charged with funerary rites in Japan. These consisted of songs, dances and food offerings which were designed to placate the ghosts of departed or even bring the dead back to life. As time passed continental beliefs from Korea made the former obsolete, though the practises were maintained to some extent; their original purpose was forgotten. Eventually they lost their position and the Haji Clan seem to have taken over with this occupation.⁴

Haji Be – Pottery/Funerary Rites

The Haji/Hanishi Be (土師部) were a group incharge of pottery and funerary rites, according to the kojiki founded in the reign of Emperor Suinin (following the death of Hibasuhime³). They were overseen by the Haji Clan which had been founded by Nomi no Sukune after he created the first haniwa (though this claim may be dubious). Though they were specialised craftsmen, they likely still performed farming to support themselves.

As potters they made pottery specifically for court usage and so would not have held a monopoly on ceramic production. It is though a pottery type known as haji ware was presumably made by the Haji Be; this pottery growing out from older Yayoi traditions. The haniwa are also a outgrowth of it.

When the Taiho Code was enacted an ‘Office of Mausolea’ was created and ten Haji Be members served there with senior members of the Haji Clan taking charge of prince and noble funerals of the third rank or above.

After the dissolution of the Haji Clan and their connections to funerary rites, it is not sure what became of the Haji Be. In the Edo Period a village in Kawachi was said to have been headed by the Haji family who made pottery part time, claiming descent from the Haji Be. Some scholars believe they became outcasts living in shuku villages as these villages made pottery and maintained shrines to Nomi no Sukune.⁴

Homujibe

The Homujibe was a name given to those prince Homutsuwake passed by while on his way to pay respects to Ōkuninushi.³

Homutsube

The Homotsube is stated in the nihongi to have been founded by Emperor Suinin after his son Homutsuwake learnt to speak.²

Kahakamibe

The Kahakamibe was established by Prince Inishikinoiribiko.³

Kambe – Shinto Shrines

The Kambe/Kami Be were those charged with the caring of Shinto Shrines. One version of the nihongi states this group was given the sword Orochi no Karasabi into its care when the kami Susano-o was finished with it.²

Kashikade no Ohotomo Be

Establsihed by Emperor Keikō they were said to be Butlers, Stewards or Cooks of the Imperial Household.³

Katari Be – Recitiation

The Katari Be were the hereditary corporation of reciters.

Parts of the nhongi are likely from the Katari Be as their source. The Koshi-cho says these people rectified ‘ancient words’ during the Ohonihe Festival.

When the nihongi was completed, recitations from the kojiki were superseded by the nihongi.²

There are some who believe that Hiyeda no Are was a male bard affiliated with these storytellers.³

Kanuchi Be – Smiths

The nihongi states that Yamato no Kanuchi Amatsumara made a true-deer arrow-point for Emperor Suizei so he may kill his brother Tagishimimi.²

Ōtomo Be

This group is said to have been gifted to Ihaka Mutsukari in thanks for him making a shoulder strap for Emperor Keikō to carry clams in.²

Takeru Be – Brave

This particular group was set up by Emperor Keikō in honour of Yamato Takeru.²

Tamatsukuribe – Magatama Makers

The descendants of Tamanooya mentioned in the kojiki.³⁵

Torikahibe

The Torikahibe is stated in the nihongi to have been founded by Emperor Suinin after his son Homutsuwake learnt to speak.²

Ya Be – Arrows

The nihongi states they were tasked to make arrows for Emperor Suizei so he may kill his brother.²

Yuki Be – Quivers

Otomo no Takehi is given control of this group by Yamato Takeru.²

Yumi Be – Bows

The nihongi states that Yumi Be no Wakahiko made a bow for Emperor Suizei so he could kill his brother.²

Footnotes

1. Kodansha. (1993) ”Japan: An Illustrated Encyclopedia”. Tokyo: Kodansha Ltd.
2. Aston. W.G. (1896) “Nihongi Volume 1: Chronicles of Japan from the Earliest Times to AD697”. Tuttle Publishing.
3. Yasumaro. O, translated by Gustav Heldt. (2014) “Kojiki. An Account of Ancient Matters”. New York: Columbia 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
5. Tamanooya – Japanese Wikipedia.

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