Mononobe clan

A powerful clan from ancient times. Their surname was Muraji, but in 684 (the 13th year of Emperor Tenmu's reign), they were given the surname Asomi. During the era of clan and surname system, mainly in the 6th century, they led many related clans, including the Mononobe clan and the Mononobe no Obito and Mononobe no Miyatsuko clans that were in charge of military and police affairs at the Yamato Imperial Court, and were known as the "Yaso clan of Mononobe." On the other hand, there is a legend that their ancestor, Ikagashikoo, distributed offerings to the gods, and they were also a clan involved in rituals. Their ancestor was Nigihayahi no Mikoto, who is said to have descended to Kawachi (Osaka Prefecture). Their clan deity is Isonokami Jingu in Yamato (Tenri City, Nara Prefecture), but they were originally based in the area around Shibukawa County in Kawachi Province, downstream of the Yamato River, and later expanded into Yamato. Their activities become historically confirmed around the time of Mononobe Me during the reign of Emperor Yuryaku, and it is believed to be true that Arakabi became a daimyo during the reign of Emperor Keitai. Arakabi was instrumental in destroying Iwai, the Tsukushi no Kuni no Miyatsuko, and during the reign of Emperor Kinmei, Okoshi, and during the reign of Emperor Bidatsu and Emperor Yomei, Moriya, became daimyo, and they had influence in the 6th century imperial court alongside the ministerial Soga clan. At the end of the 6th century, conflict with the Soga clan intensified over the issue of the acceptance of Buddhism, and in 587 (the second year of Emperor Yomei's reign), Moriya was defeated in a battle with Soga no Umako. Their power declined after that, but in the Omi court, Mononobe Maro served as a close aide to Emperor Kobun, and after being bestowed the title of Ason during the reign of Emperor Tenmu, he changed his surname to Isonokami and became the Left Minister during the reign of Emperor Genmei. In the late Nara period, Isonokami Yakutsugu is known.

[Naoki Kojiro]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

古代の有力氏族。連(むらじ)を姓(かばね)とするが、684年（天武天皇13）朝臣(あそみ)の姓を賜った。6世紀を中心とする氏姓制の時代には、物部および物部を管掌する物部首(おびと)、物部造(みやつこ)など多数の同族関係の氏族を率いて、「物部の八十(やそ)氏」と称され、大和朝廷(やまとちょうてい)の軍事・警察のことをつかさどる強大な伴造(とものみやつこ)氏族であった。一方、祖の伊香色雄(いかがしこお)が神への捧(ささ)げ物を分配するなどの伝承もあり、祭祀(さいし)にもかかわる氏族であった。河内(かわち)（大阪府）へ天下ったという饒速日命(にぎはやひのみこと)を始祖とする。大和の石上神宮(いそのかみじんぐう)（奈良県天理市）を氏神とするが、もと大和川下流の河内国渋川郡付近の地を本拠とし、のち大和へ進出したのであろう。その活動が史実としてほぼ確かになるのは、雄略(ゆうりゃく)朝の物部目(め)あたりからで、継体(けいたい)朝の麁鹿火(あらかび)が大連となったのは事実と思われる。麁鹿火は筑紫国造(つくしくにのみやつこ)磐井(いわい)を滅ぼすのに功があり、欽明(きんめい)朝に尾輿(おこし)、敏達(びだつ)・用明(ようめい)朝に守屋(もりや)が大連となり、大臣の蘇我(そが)氏と並び、6世紀の朝廷に勢力があった。6世紀末、仏教受容の問題から蘇我氏との対立が激しくなり、587年（用明天皇2）に守屋は蘇我馬子(うまこ)と戦って滅びた。以後勢力が衰えるが、近江(おうみ)朝廷では物部麻呂(まろ)が弘文天皇(こうぶんてんのう)の側近に侍し、天武(てんむ)朝の朝臣賜姓ののち氏を石上(いそのかみ)に改めて元明(げんめい)朝には左大臣となり、奈良時代後期には石上宅嗣(やかつぐ)が知られる。

［直木孝次郎］

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