Yoshishi

One of the ancient clan names and family names. It is also written as Yoshishi, Yoshiji, or Kiji. In ancient Korean, it means "king" (Book of Zhou, Baekje section), and it also appears in Korean titles such as the 14th of the 17th official ranks in Silla. A clan of immigrants, the Yoshishi group with the surnames Naniwa, Kusakabe, and Hitaka were based around Naniwa in the 6th and 7th centuries and were mainly active in diplomacy with Korean countries. In the latter half of the 7th century, members of other clans were appointed and the role of the Yoshishi in this respect came to an end, but they continued to exist as the clan of the district governors of Higashinari and Nishinari counties in Settsu Province from the 8th century onwards, and were in charge of diplomatic ceremonies at Naniwa no Murotsumi. Also, under the leadership of Mr. Abe, they performed the Yoshimi dance at the Daijosai festival.

[Kimio Mori]

"About Yoshishi" by Keiichi Miura (included in "Research on the Life History of the Common People in the Middle Ages", 1981, Shibunkaku Publishing) ""Diplomatic Etiquette in Ancient Naniwa and Its Changes" by Kimiaki Mori (included in "Ancient Japan's Recognition of Foreign Relations and Exchanges", 1998, Yoshikawa Kobunkan)

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

古代の氏(うじ)名、姓(かばね)の一つ。吉師、吉志、企師とも書く。古代朝鮮語では「王」の意で（『周書(しゅうじょ)』百済伝）、新羅の官位17等の第14位など朝鮮諸国の称号にも見える。渡来系氏族で、6世紀から7世紀には難波(なにわ)、草壁(くさかべ)、日鷹(ひたか)などを冠する吉士集団が難波周辺を本拠とし、主に対朝鮮諸国外交に活躍した。7世紀後半には他の氏の者も登用され、この面での吉士の役割は終わったが、8世紀以降も摂津国東生(ひがしなり)・西成(にしなり)両郡の郡領氏族として存続し、難波館(なにわのむろつみ)での外交儀礼を掌った。また阿倍氏に引率され、大嘗祭(だいじょうさい)には吉志舞を奏上した。

［森　公章］

『三浦圭一著「吉士について」（『中世民衆生活史の研究』所収・1981・思文閣出版）』▽『森公章著「古代難波における外交儀礼とその変遷」（『古代日本の対外認識と通交』所収・1998・吉川弘文館）』

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