Inbe clan

One of the powerful clans of ancient times. In the past, they were written as Ibe, but from the Enryaku era (782-806), they were allowed to write it as Saibe, but both "Ibe" and "Sai" mean the fast to worship the gods. In Japanese mythology, they are said to be descendants of Ame-no-futodama-no-mikoto, who accompanied Ame-no-koyane-no-mikoto, ancestor of the Nakatomi clan, on the descent of the heavenly grandson. They were in charge of rituals together with the Nakatomi clan, and later the clan developed into Ise, Awa, Izumo, Kii, Awa, Sanuki, Tsukushi, and other places, and prepared offerings to the gods. However, after the Taika Reforms (645), the Nakatomi clan gained political power and also showed superiority in the status of Shinto worship and rituals, and the Ibe clan gradually declined. As a result, in 807 (Daido 2), Ibe Hironari wrote "Kogoshuui" to protest the injustice, but the clan further declined. Ibe Shrine in Tokushima City and Awa Shrine in Tateyama City, Chiba Prefecture both worship the ancestral deity.

[Junichi Kamata]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

古代の有力氏族の一つ。古くは忌部と記し、延暦(えんりゃく)年間（782～806）より許されて斎部と記すようになったが、「忌」「斎」はともに神を祀(まつ)るための斎戒(さいかい)の意。日本神話で、天孫降臨に中臣(なかとみ)氏の祖天児屋命(あめのこやねのみこと)とともに随従した天太玉命(あめのふとだまのみこと)の子孫といい、中臣氏とともに祭祀(さいし)のことをつかさどり、のち一族が、伊勢(いせ)、安房(あわ)、出雲(いずも)、紀伊(きい)、阿波(あわ)、讃岐(さぬき)、筑紫(つくし)などに発展、神に奉る供物を調えた。しかし、大化改新（645）以降、中臣一族が政治上の力をもつとともに、神祀(じんぎ)祭祀上の地位でも優位を示し、斎部氏はしだいに後退した。ために、807年（大同2）斎部広成(ひろなり)は『古語拾遺(こごしゅうい)』を撰(せん)し、その不当を訴えたが、さらに衰えていった。徳島市の忌部神社、千葉県館山(たてやま)市の安房神社はともにその祖神を祀る。

［鎌田純一］

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