Amabe clan Is a Japanese clan associated with Kono Shrine, which they have run since the Kofun period.[1]

Amabe clan genealogy (海部氏系図, Amabe-shi Keizu) a national treasure

The clan was originally the Kuni no miyatsuko or provincial governors of Tanba Province but after the abolition of the role they took on a priestly role at Kono Shrine,[1] they share this history with the Izumo clan of Izumo-taisha, the Aso clan of Aso Shrine, the Owari clan of Atsuta Shrine, the Munakata clan [ja] of Munakata Taisha,[2] and the Yamato clan of Ōyamato Shrine.

Genealogy

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The Amabe clan genealogy (海部氏系図, Amabe-shi Keizu) is a famous document housed at Kono Shrine. It is from early Heian period, it is considered the oldest family tree in Japan. The clan claims descent from Amenohoakari, and served as at the kuni no miyatsuko of Tanba Province before it was divided into Tamba and Tango. The document records 82 generations of descent from Amenohoakari. It was designated a National Treasure in 1972.[1]

In Shinsen Shōjiroku, the descendants of Amatsuhikone, Ame-no-hohi, and Amanomichine [ja], together with the descendants of Amenohoakari are referred to as Tenson-zoku. The Tenson-zoku descended from Takamagahara (Plain of High Heaven) to Owari and Tanba provinces, and are considered to be the ancestors of Owari clan, Tsumori [ja], Amabe clan, and Tanba [ja] clans.[3]

However, Toshio Hoga argues that Amabe clan genealogy, which records these four clans as descendants of Amenohoakari, is a forged document,[4] and that these clans actually descended from the sea deity Watatsumi. In addition, Owari clan's genealogy includes the great-grandson of Watatsumi, Takakuraji, as their ancestor, and he argues this is the original genealogy.[5]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "海部氏系図" [Amebe shikeizu] (in Japanese). Agency for Cultural Affairs. Retrieved August 20, 2020.
  2. ^ "Kuni no miyatsuko | 國學院大學デジタルミュージアム". 2023-11-01. Archived from the original on 2023-11-01. Retrieved 2023-11-17.
  3. ^ Hanawa, Hokiichi (1983). Shinsen Shōjiroku (新撰姓氏錄). Japan: Onkogakkai. OCLC 959773242.
  4. ^ Hoga, Toshio (2006). Kokuho「Amabe-shi Keizu」he no gimon, Kokigi no Heya (国宝「海部氏系図」への疑問 古樹紀之房間). Japan.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  5. ^ Hoga, Toshio (2006). Tango no Amabe-shi no Shutsuji to sono ichizoku, Kokigi no Heya (丹後の海部氏の出自とその一族). Japan.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)