Muraji
Encyclopedia
Muraji. Muraji was an ancient Japan
ese hereditary title denoting rank and political standing (a kabane
) that was reserved for the most powerful among the Tomo no Miyatsuko
clans, which were clans associated with particular occupations. The muraji rivaled the rank of omi
in political power and standing during much of the Kofun period
and were frequently in conflict with them over political issues such as whether Buddhism
should be accepted and issues of emperor succession. By tradition the muraji clans claimed descent from mythological gods (神別氏族, shinbetsu shizoku) and included such clans as the Ōtomo (大伴), the Nakatomi (中臣), the Mononobe (物部) and the Inbe (忌部).
Like the omi, the most powerful muraji added the prefix Ō (大) to muraji and was referred to as Ōmuraji (大連). Examples of Ōmuraji mentioned in the Nihon Shoki
included Mononobe no Ikofutsu (物部伊莒弗) during the reign of Emperor Richū
, Ōtomo no Muroya (大伴室屋), Ōtomo no Kanamura (大伴金村), Mononobe no Me (物部目), Mononobe no Arakabi
(物部麁鹿火), Mononobe no Okoshi (物部尾輿) and Mononobe no Moriya
(物部守屋).
When the kabane system was reformed into the eight kabane
system in 684
, a few of the powerful muraji of the time were given the kabane of ason
, which ranked second under the new system, but most were given the kabane of sukune, which ranked third. Muraji itself was dropped to seventh in rank.
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese hereditary title denoting rank and political standing (a kabane
Kabane
were hereditary titles used in ancient Japan to denote rank and political standing. There were more than thirty. Some of the more common kabane were omi, muraji, , , , , , and ....
) that was reserved for the most powerful among the Tomo no Miyatsuko
Kuni no miyatsuko
Kuni no miyatsuko were officials in ancient Japan at the time of the Yamato court.They were in charge of provinces , although it is not always very clear what those provinces were...
clans, which were clans associated with particular occupations. The muraji rivaled the rank of omi
Omi
was an ancient Japanese hereditary title denoting rank and political standing that, along with muraji, was reserved for the most powerful clans during the Kofun period...
in political power and standing during much of the Kofun period
Kofun period
The is an era in the history of Japan from around 250 to 538. It follows the Yayoi period. The word kofun is Japanese for the type of burial mounds dating from this era. The Kofun and the subsequent Asuka periods are sometimes referred to collectively as the Yamato period...
and were frequently in conflict with them over political issues such as whether Buddhism
Buddhism
Buddhism is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha . The Buddha lived and taught in the northeastern Indian subcontinent some time between the 6th and 4th...
should be accepted and issues of emperor succession. By tradition the muraji clans claimed descent from mythological gods (神別氏族, shinbetsu shizoku) and included such clans as the Ōtomo (大伴), the Nakatomi (中臣), the Mononobe (物部) and the Inbe (忌部).
Like the omi, the most powerful muraji added the prefix Ō (大) to muraji and was referred to as Ōmuraji (大連). Examples of Ōmuraji mentioned in the Nihon Shoki
Nihon Shoki
The , sometimes translated as The Chronicles of Japan, is the second oldest book of classical Japanese history. It is more elaborate and detailed than the Kojiki, the oldest, and has proven to be an important tool for historians and archaeologists as it includes the most complete extant historical...
included Mononobe no Ikofutsu (物部伊莒弗) during the reign of Emperor Richū
Emperor Richu
was the 17th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.No firm dates can be assigned to this emperor's life or reign, but he is conventionally considered to have reigned from 400–405.-Legendary narrative :...
, Ōtomo no Muroya (大伴室屋), Ōtomo no Kanamura (大伴金村), Mononobe no Me (物部目), Mononobe no Arakabi
Mononobe no Arakabi
was a government minister during the Kofun period of ancient Japanese history.In 512, the king of the Korean kingdom of Baekje requested to take control of four districts of the land of the Gaya confederacy...
(物部麁鹿火), Mononobe no Okoshi (物部尾輿) and Mononobe no Moriya
Mononobe no Moriya
was an Ō-muraji, a high-ranking clan head position of the ancient Japanese Yamato state, having inherited the position from his father Mononobe no Okoshi...
(物部守屋).
When the kabane system was reformed into the eight kabane
Kabane
were hereditary titles used in ancient Japan to denote rank and political standing. There were more than thirty. Some of the more common kabane were omi, muraji, , , , , , and ....
system in 684
684
Year 684 was a leap year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar. The denomination 684 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.- Asia :* Wu Ze Tian takes power in China.* The Ummayad...
, a few of the powerful muraji of the time were given the kabane of ason
Ason
is a prestigious title , initially conferred in the Nara period of the history of Japan, on princes who had been reduced to the commonalty.Notable ason were:...
, which ranked second under the new system, but most were given the kabane of sukune, which ranked third. Muraji itself was dropped to seventh in rank.