Wake clan

One of the clans of ancient powerful families. There are several branches, but the one in Bizen (Okayama Prefecture) is the most famous.

(1) The Wake clan of Bizen The Wake clan is said to be the descendants of Emperor Suinin's son, Nudeshiwake no Mikoto. During the reign of Empress Jingu, Prince Otohiko was given a fief in Kibi as a reward for his achievements and was called Kibi no Iwanashiwake no Kimi. At the end of the Nara period, Kiyomaro was given the titles Fujino no Wake no Mahito and then Wake no Ason. He served under the reigns of Emperors Shotoku, Konin, and Kanmu, thwarted the ambitions of Dokyo, and was promoted to the rank of Junior Third Rank Minister of Civil Affairs. His son Hiroyo built Kobun-in for his children. Although successive generations of the family were appointed Usashi, they never attained the official rank of their ancestors, and their descendants eventually took up the medical profession alongside the Tamba clan, and in early modern times they were known as the Nakarai clan.

(2) The Wake clan of Sanuki (Kagawa Prefecture) The Kobe clan, surnamed Kimi, said to be descendants of Emperor Keikō's son Takekunikoriwake no Mikoto. Enchin, nephew of Kukai, was from this clan, and founded Mii-dera Temple and became the founder of the Jimon school. They are also known for the Wake clan (Enchin) genealogy and the Sanuki no Kokushi no Ge, which provides supporting evidence. In addition to the above, (3) the Wake clan of Izumi (Osaka Prefecture) The Kobe clan, surnamed Kimi, said to be descendants of Yamato Takeru no Mikoto. Wake no Kimi is also of the same lineage.

(4) Yamashiro (Kyoto Prefecture) clans: Imperial clans and noble clans said to be descendants of Emperor Kaika’s son, Prince Hikoimasu.

[Hiromichi Mayuzumi]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

古代豪族の氏の一つ。数流あるが備前(びぜん)（岡山県）のそれが著名。

（1）備前の和気氏　垂仁(すいにん)天皇皇子鐸石別命(ぬでしわけのみこと)の子孫と伝える皇別氏。神功(じんぐう)皇后のとき、弟彦(おとひこ)王が功により吉備(きび)に封地を賜い吉備磐梨別公(きびのいわなしわけのきみ)といったが、奈良朝末期に至り、清麻呂に藤野和気真人(ふじののわけのまひと)、ついで和気朝臣(あそん)を賜った。彼は称徳(しょうとく)・光仁(こうにん)・桓武(かんむ)朝に仕え、道鏡(どうきょう)の野望を挫(くじ)き、累進して従三位民部卿(じゅさんみみんぶきょう)となり、その子広世(ひろよ)は子弟のために弘文院(こうぶんいん)を建てた。代々宇佐使(うさし)を拝命したが、官位は父祖に及ばず、子孫はついに丹波(たんば)氏と並んで医を業とするに至り、近世には半井(なからい)氏を称した。

（2）讃岐(さぬき)（香川県）の和気氏　景行(けいこう)天皇皇子武国凝別(たけくにこりわけ)命の後裔(こうえい)と伝える皇別氏、公(きみ)姓。空海(くうかい)の甥(おい)円珍(えんちん)はこの氏の出身で、三井(みい)寺を開き寺門(じもん)派の祖となった。和気氏（円珍）系図とそれを傍証する讃岐国司解(さぬきのこくしのげ)でも知られる。以上のほかに
（3）和泉(いずみ)（大阪府）の和気氏　倭建(やまとたける)命の後と称する皇別氏、公姓。別公(わけのきみ)も同系。

（4）山城(やましろ)（京都府）の別氏　開化(かいか)天皇皇子彦坐(ひこいます)命の裔と伝える皇別氏、公姓。などがあった。

［黛　弘道］

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