Abe clan

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The Abe clan (安倍氏 Abe-shi?) was one of the oldest of the major Japanese clans (uji). The clan's origin is said to be one of the original clans of the Yamato people; they truly gained prominence during the Heian period (794-1185), and experienced a resurgence in the 18th century. Abe is also a very common Japanese surname in modern times, though not everyone with this name necessarily is descended from this clan.

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[edit] Origins & History

According to the Nihon Shoki, the Abe were descended from a son of Emperor Kōgen. They originated in Iga province (today Mie prefecture); a number of families originally from this region, and bearing the Abe name, also claim descendance from a legendary figure named Abi. Abi is said to have opposed Emperor Jimmu, the first legendary emperor of Japan, in his plans to conquer the Yamato plain. The various Abe families thus settled in the far north of Honshū, where they would become quite influential many centuries later in the Heian period.　Though the clan name was originally written as 阿倍, it changed to 安倍 around the eighth century.

This northern region, which would come to be known as the provinces of Mutsu and Dewa, was conquered by the Japanese sometime in the ninth century, and the native Ainu people there subjugated or displaced. While many provinces at this time were overseen primarily by a governor, Mutsu also had a military general in charge of controlling these natives. The position was called Chinjufu-shogun, or "Commander-in-chief of the Defense of the North", and came to be dominated by the Abe clan, and passed down within the clan. Over time, conflicts arose between the Abe Chinjufu shogun and the proper Governor of the province over administration and control. These conflicts would erupt into violence in 1051.

Abe no Yoritoki was the chinjufu shogun at this time, and his disputes with the Governor of the province became outright war when Minamoto no Yoriyoshi was sent from Kyoto to put an end to the conflict. In what has come to be termed the "Early Nine Years' War" (前九年合戦, Zenkunen kassen), Yoritoki was killed, and his son Abe no Sadato defeated, by Minamoto no Yoriyoshi and his son, Minamoto no Yoshiie. The Kiyohara family of nearby Dewa province, who aided the Minamoto in defeating the Abe, then took over the role of Chinjufu shogun.

[edit] Other Abe families

Though many other major figures throughout history have been called Abe, it is difficult to know which were related to the Abe clan of Iga and Mutsu. Abe no Nakamaro, a major court noble of the eighth century, for example, was from the town of Abe, near Nara, and derived his family name thus.

A family by the name of Abe also proved significant during the Edo period, serving successively in the post of Rōjū, or Elders, who advised the Tokugawa shogun. Again, it is difficult to determine whether or not this line was directly related to the much earlier Abe clan, but it is of an importance itself nevertheless. Abe Tadaaki was the first to serve as Rōjū, holding the post from 1633-71. He was very likely a son or other direct relation to Abe Masatsugu (1569-1647) who served Tokugawa Ieyasu and fought under him at the decisive battle of Sekigahara. Other members of the Abe family would succeed Tadaaki to the post for much of the Edo period (1603-1867), ending with Abe Masahiro, who was chief of the Council of Rōjū at the time of the arrival of Commodore Perry.

[edit] Clan members of note

[edit] References

  • Frederic, Louis (2002). "Japan Encyclopedia." Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press.
  • Sansom, George (1958). 'A History of Japan to 1334'. Stanford, California: Stanford University Press.
  • Sansom, George (1963). "A History of Japan: 1615-1867." Stanford, California: Stanford University Press.
  • Turnbull, Stephen (1998). 'The Samurai Sourcebook'. London: Cassell & Co.
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