Tachibana clan

One of the four major surnames collectively known as Genpei-Tachibana. In 708 (Wado 1), on the occasion of the Daijo-e ceremony for the enthronement of Empress Genmei, Agatainukai no Tachibana no Michiyo (wife of Fujiwara no Fuhito) was given the surname in honor of her service to the Imperial Court since the reign of Emperor Tenmu, and was given the surname in honor of the Tachibana tree floating on a sake cup. Michiyo died in 733 (Tenpyo 5), but in 736, her surviving children (sons of her former husband Prince Minu), Prince Katsuragi and Prince Sai, petitioned to take their mother's surname and were granted the name, taking the names Tachibana Moroe and Tachibana Sai. Sai died soon after, but his brothers were promoted to Dainagon, Minister of the Right and Minister of the Left, eventually reaching the rank of Shoichii, and held real political power for over a dozen years, ascending from the surname Sukune to Ason in 750 (Tenpyo Shoho 2). In 757, his son Naramaro failed in a coup d'état to overthrow Fujiwara no Nakamaro and was overthrown, causing a period of decline, but in the early Heian period, when Emperor Saga became empress Tachibana Kachiko (Empress Danrin), his elder brother Ujikimi (783-848; according to his death record, his younger brother) became Minister of the Right and the family regained prosperity. However, after that, the Tachibana clan was pushed back by the Fujiwara clan, and in the Jowa Incident (842) Hayanari was exiled, and in the Ako Incident (887) Hiromi found himself in a difficult position, leading to a decline in the clan, and the management of the Gakkan-in Academy of the University of Tokyo and the administration of the clan's affairs were left to the Fujiwara clan. There are many people in various provinces who claim to be descendants of the Tachibana clan, but the Kusunoki clan of Kawachi is particularly famous.

[Hiromichi Mayuzumi September 19, 2017]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

源平藤橘(げんぺいとうきつ)と総称される四大姓の一つ。708年（和銅1）元明(げんめい)女帝即位の大嘗会(だいじょうえ)に際し、県犬養橘三千代(あがたいぬかいのたちばなのみちよ)（藤原不比等(ふじわらのふひと)の妻）が天武朝(てんむちょう)以来後宮に仕えた功労を賞せられ、坏(さかずき)に浮かぶ橘にちなんでこの氏を賜ったのに始まる。733年（天平5）三千代は没したが、736年三千代の遺児（前夫美努(みぬ)王の子）葛城王、佐為(さい)王は母姓を継がんと奏請して許され、橘諸兄(もろえ)、同佐為と名のった。佐為は直後に没したが、諸兄は以後大納言(だいなごん)、右大臣、左大臣と昇進し、正一位に至り、十数年にわたり政治の実権を握り、750年（天平勝宝2）には宿禰(すくね)姓から朝臣(あそん)姓に昇った。757年、子の奈良麻呂(ならまろ)が藤原仲麻呂打倒のクーデターに失敗して倒れ、一時衰えたが、平安初期、嵯峨天皇(さがてんのう)の皇后橘嘉智子(かちこ)（檀林皇后(だんりんこうごう)）が出ると、兄氏公(うじきみ)（783―848。薨伝(こうでん)では弟）は右大臣となりふたたび繁栄を取り戻した。しかし、その後は藤原氏に押されて、承和(じょうわ)の変（842）で逸勢(はやなり)は流罪となり、阿衡事件(あこうじけん)（887）では広相(ひろみ)が苦境にたつなど、衰退の途(みち)をたどり、大学別曹(べっそう)の学館院(がっかんいん)の管理、氏挙(うじのきょ)なども藤原氏にゆだねることとなった。橘氏の後裔(こうえい)を称する者は諸国に多いが、なかでも河内(かわち)の楠木(くすのき)氏は有名である。

［黛　弘道　2017年9月19日］

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