Amabe clan

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

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.

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]