Mononobe clan

The Mononobe clan (物部氏, Mononobe uji^?) was a Japanese clan of the Kofun period, known for its military opposition to the Soga clan. The Mononobe were opposed to the spread of Buddhism, not on religious grounds, but more so as the result of feelings of conservatism and a degree of xenophobia. The Nakatomi clan, ancestors of the Fujiwara, were allies with the Mononobe in this.

The Mononobe, like many other major families of the time, were something of a corporation or guild in addition to being a proper family by blood-relation. While the only members of the clan to appear in any significant way in the historical record were statesmen, the clan as a whole was known as the Corporation of Arms or Armorers.

History

The Mononobe were said to have been founded by Prince Inishiki, the eldest son of Emperor Suinin.

In the 6th century, a number of violent clashes erupted between the Mononobe and the Soga clan. According to the Nihon Shoki, one particularly important conflict occurred after the Emperor Yōmei died after a very short reign. Mononobe no Moriya, the head of the clan, supported one prince to succeed Yōmei, while Soga no Umako chose another. The conflict came to a head in a battle at Kisuri (present-day Osaka) in the year 587, where the Mononobe clan were defeated and crushed. Following Moriya's death, Buddhism has seen the further spread in Japan.^{[notes 1]}

In 686, the Mononobe reformed as the Isonokami clan, named thus due to their close ties with Isonokami Shrine, a Shinto shrine which doubled as an armory.

Notes

1. ^ Read more in the article on Mononobe no Moriya for recent findings on a possible sponsorship for Buddhism by the Mononobe.

References

• Sansom, George (1958). A History of Japan to 1334. Stanford, California: Stanford University Press.

See also

• Mononobe no Arakabi
• Mononobe no Moriya
• Mononobe no Okoshi