Sōma clan

Sōma clan
相馬氏
Home province Mutsu
Founder Sōma Morotsune
Current head Sōma Kazutane
Founding year 12th century
Dissolution still extant
Cadet branches Shimōsa Sōma

The Sōma clan (相馬氏) was a Japanese clan of Mutsu Province which was famous for its actions during the 16th century Sengoku Period.

Claiming descent from Taira Masakado, the family was politically important from the early Nanbokucho Period on, especially as supporters of Ashikaga Takauji.[1]:278 Due to this connection to the man who became the first Ashikaga shogun, they became powerful fairly quickly, and by the Sengoku Period were a focal point of regional authority in southern Mutsu, northern Hamadōri of present day.

The first daimyō of Nakamura castle, Sōma was Yoshitane's son, Sōma Toshitane.[1]:278

In the Boshin War, during the reign of the daimyō Tomotane, the Sōma clan were signatories to the pact that formed the Ōuetsu Reppan Domei.[1]:271

As the blood of the clan is still very strong in the population of its ancient domain, further strengthened by the Sōma Nomaoi festival, they continue to exist informally, as many other Japanese clans. It is the inheritor of their Overlords, Sōma Kazutane, 33rd head of Sōma clan, who still presides over the festival, although his eldest son, Sōma Michitane, acted as Samurai Sōtaishō (commander in chief) in 2011. In this both religious festival and military training, hundreds of descendants of Sōma hanshi (warriors of Sōma feudal domain), wearing armor and riding horses, show their skills. The Sōma Nomaoi has its roots around 937 AD. It also seems to be linked to Myōken (Bosatsu ?) as the Ujigami of the Sōma clan, and thus with Amenominakanushi no kami.

Genealogy of the Sōma Lords

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 Monogatari: Hanshi Volume 1, Kodama Kōta, ed. Tokyo: Shin Jinbutsu Ōraisha, 1966, p. 278
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