Azumi clan

A clan of gods who claim to be descendants of the sea god Watatsumi-no-Mikoto. Also written as the Azumi clan. Their original surname was Muraji, and in 684 (the 13th year of Emperor Tenmu's reign) they were given the surname Sukune. Azumi means sea god Amatsumi, and means the chief of the fishermen. They led fishermen and Azumibe people from all over the country to provide seafood to the Yamato Imperial Court, and also served the Emperor's meals alongside the Kashiwade (Takahashi) clan. During the Ritsuryo period, they inherited the position of Chief of the Naizenji (Inner Palace) together with the Takahashi clan, but in 792 (the 11th year of Enryaku), they were punished by Emperor Kanmu for fighting over who would be the first to serve as attendants, and they gradually declined thereafter.

[Hiromichi Mayuzumi]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

海神綿津見命(わたつみのみこと)の後裔(こうえい)と称する神別氏族。安曇氏とも記す。本姓は連(むらじ)、684年（天武天皇13）宿禰(すくね)姓を賜う。阿曇は海神（アマツミ）のことで、海人(あま)の首長の意。各地の海人や阿曇部(べ)の民を率いて大和(やまと)朝廷に海産物を貢納し、また膳(かしわで)（高橋）氏と並んで天皇の御膳に奉仕した。律令(りつりょう)時代には高橋氏とともに内膳司の長官（奉膳(ぶぜん)）を世襲したが、792年（延暦11）供奉(ぐぶ)の先後を争って桓武(かんむ)天皇の勅勘を被り、以後しだいに衰退した。

［黛　弘道］

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