Munakata clan

Japanese: 宗像氏 - むなかたうじ

The family is the chief priest of Munakata Taisha Shrine in Munakata County, Chikuzen Province (present-day Genkai Town, Munakata County, Fukuoka Prefecture). They are said to be descendants of Munakata Kimi, a powerful clan in Tsukushi who had dealings with the Yamato Imperial Court. There are several theories about the origins of Munakata Kimi, including one in the Shinsen Shojiroku that states they are descendants of Agata Katasumi no Mikoto, the sixth generation grandson of Okuninushi no Mikoto, and one in the Saikaido Fudoki Itsubun that states they are descendants of Oumi no Mikoto, the son of Tenjin. Munakata Kimi was given the surname Ason in 684 (Tenmu 13). In 698 (Monmu 2), only Munakata County governors were allowed to hold the position of those who were third-degree relatives or higher, which suggests that the Munakata clan was steadily establishing its position within the county.

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

筑前国宗像郡の宗像大社(現，福岡県宗像郡玄海町)の大宮司家。筑紫の豪族で大和朝廷と交渉のあった宗像君の子孫とされる。宗像君の出自については，大国主命の6世の孫吾田片隅命の子孫とする《新撰姓氏録》の説，天神の御子大海命の子孫とする《西海道風土記逸文》の説などがある。宗像君は684年(天武13)に朝臣の姓を賜った。698年(文武2)には宗像郡司に限り3親等以上の者の連任が許されており，宗像氏が郡内において着々その地位を確立しつつあったことがうかがえる。

出典　株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典第２版について　情報

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