The was one of the most powerful aristocratic kin groups
(''uji'') of the
Asuka period
The was a period in the history of Japan lasting from 538 to 710 (or 592 to 645), although its beginning could be said to overlap with the preceding Kofun period. The Yamato polity evolved greatly during the Asuka period, which is named after t ...
of the early Japanese state—the
Yamato polity—and played a major role in the spread of
Buddhism
Buddhism ( , ), also known as Buddha Dharma and Dharmavinaya (), is an Indian religion or philosophical tradition based on teachings attributed to the Buddha. It originated in northern India as a -movement in the 5th century BCE, and gra ...
. Through the 5th and 7th centuries, the Soga monopolized the
kabane
were Japanese hereditary noble titles. Their use traces back to ancient times when they began to be used as titles signifying a family's political and social status.
History
As the national unification by the Yamato imperial court progressed ...
or hereditary rank of Great
Omi and was the first of many families to dominate the
Imperial House of Japan
The , also referred to as the Imperial Family or the House of Yamato, comprises those members of the extended family of the reigning Emperor of Japan who undertake official and public duties. Under the present Constitution of Japan, the Emperor i ...
by influencing the order of succession and government policy.
The last Soga predates any historical work in Japan, and very little is known about its earliest members.
Origins
The Soga clan is believed to have been founded by
Soga no Ishikawa Soga may refer to:
People
* Soga clan, a Japanese clan of the Yamato period
* Soga clan (Sagami Province), a Japanese clan
* Soga people, of the Busoga kingdom in present-day Uganda
* Machiko Soga, Japanese voice actress
* Soga Tokimune, Japa ...
, a great-grandson of
Emperor Kōgen
, also known as was the eighth legendary emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. Very little is known about this Emperor due to a lack of material available for further verification and study. Kōgen is known as a "l ...
.
Notation
Today, the name ''Soga'', when referring to the Soga clan, is written in
kanji
are the logographic Chinese characters taken from the Chinese family of scripts, Chinese script and used in the writing of Japanese language, Japanese. They were made a major part of the Japanese writing system during the time of Old Japanese ...
as 蘇我. This notation derives from the ''
Nihon Shoki'', where 蘇我 is the principal way in which this name is written.
Other ways of writing the clan name appeared in other historical documents.
Soga clan
The was one of the most powerful aristocratic kin groups Uji (clan), (''uji'') of the Asuka period of the early Japanese state—the Yamato period, Yamato polity—and played a major role in the spread of Buddhism. Through the 5th and 7th centur ...
, Japanese Wikipedia. The two characters used in this name are
ateji
In modern Japanese, principally refers to kanji used to phonetically represent native or borrowed words with less regard to the underlying meaning of the characters. This is similar to in Old Japanese. Conversely, also refers to kanji used s ...
; the meanings of the characters (蘇: "resuscitation"; 我: "self") are unrelated to the name meaning.
Soga no Iname
Soga no Iname
was a leader of the Soga clan and a statesman during the reign of Emperor Kinmei in the Asuka period. He was the first person to hold the position of ''Ōomi'' that can be verified with reasonable accuracy, in 536 A.D. Essentially what this me ...
served as Great Minister from 536 until his death in 570, and was the first of the Soga clan to carry to extreme lengths the domination of the Throne by the nobility. One of the chief ways he exerted influence was through marital connections with the imperial family; Iname married two of his daughters to
Emperor Kinmei
was the 29th Emperor of Japan, Imperial Household Agency (''Kunaichō'') 欽明天皇 (29) retrieved 2013-8-22. according to the traditional order of succession. Titsingh, Isaac. (1834)pp. 34–36 Brown, Delmer. (1979) ''Gukanshō,'' pp. 261– ...
, one giving offspring to an Emperor,
Emperor Yōmei
was the 31st Emperor of Japan,Imperial Household Agency (''Kunaichō'') 用明天皇 (31)/ref> according to the traditional order of succession.
Yōmei's reign spanned the years from 585 until his death in 587.
Traditional narrative
He was cal ...
. The next five emperors all had a wife or mother who was a descendant of Iname. In this way the Soga unified and strengthened the country by expanding the power of the
Emperor
An emperor (from la, imperator, via fro, empereor) is a monarch, and usually the sovereignty, sovereign ruler of an empire or another type of imperial realm. Empress, the female equivalent, may indicate an emperor's wife (empress consort), ...
as a symbol and spiritual leader as they took control of secular matters.
Connection to Buddhism from Korea and China
The Soga clan had much contact with foreigners, including the Koreans and the Chinese. They favored the adoption of Buddhism and of governmental and cultural models based on Chinese
Confucianism
Confucianism, also known as Ruism or Ru classicism, is a system of thought and behavior originating in ancient China. Variously described as tradition, a philosophy, a religion, a humanistic or rationalistic religion, a way of governing, or ...
.
The Soga clan supported the spread of
Buddhism
Buddhism ( , ), also known as Buddha Dharma and Dharmavinaya (), is an Indian religion or philosophical tradition based on teachings attributed to the Buddha. It originated in northern India as a -movement in the 5th century BCE, and gra ...
when it was first introduced in Japan during the 6th century by monks from
Baekje
Baekje or Paekche (, ) was a Korean kingdom located in southwestern Korea from 18 BC to 660 AD. It was one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, together with Goguryeo and Silla.
Baekje was founded by Onjo, the third son of Goguryeo's founder Jum ...
(Japanese ''Kudara''). Many Japanese at the time, disliking foreign ideas and believing that this new religion might be an affront to the traditional "
kami
are the deities, divinities, spirits, phenomena or "holy powers", that are venerated in the Shinto religion. They can be elements of the landscape, forces of nature, or beings and the qualities that these beings express; they can also be the sp ...
" or spirits and gods, opposed Buddhism. The rival
Mononobe
The was a Japanese aristocratic kin group (''uji'') of the Kofun period, known for its military opposition to the Soga clan. The Mononobe were opposed to the spread of Buddhism, partly on religious grounds, claiming that the local deities wo ...
and
Nakatomi clans succeeded in gathering hostility against this new religion when a disease spread, following the arrival of a Buddhist statue. It was claimed the epidemic was a sign of anger by the local spirits and the Soga temple at the palace was burned down.
The Soga family, however, firmly believed that the most civilized people believed in Buddhism and continued to actively promote it, placing a holy image of the
Buddha
Siddhartha Gautama, most commonly referred to as the Buddha, was a śramaṇa, wandering ascetic and religious teacher who lived in South Asia during the 6th or 5th century BCE and founded Buddhism.
According to Buddhist tradition, he was ...
in a major
Shinto shrine
A is a structure whose main purpose is to house ("enshrine") one or more ''kami'', the deities of the Shinto religion.
Overview
Structurally, a Shinto shrine typically comprises several buildings.
The '' honden''Also called (本殿, meani ...
.
Soga no Iname
was a leader of the Soga clan and a statesman during the reign of Emperor Kinmei in the Asuka period. He was the first person to hold the position of ''Ōomi'' that can be verified with reasonable accuracy, in 536 A.D. Essentially what this me ...
claimed that
Buddhism
Buddhism ( , ), also known as Buddha Dharma and Dharmavinaya (), is an Indian religion or philosophical tradition based on teachings attributed to the Buddha. It originated in northern India as a -movement in the 5th century BCE, and gra ...
brought with it a new form of government that would subvert the independence of the clans, unifying the people under the
Emperor
An emperor (from la, imperator, via fro, empereor) is a monarch, and usually the sovereignty, sovereign ruler of an empire or another type of imperial realm. Empress, the female equivalent, may indicate an emperor's wife (empress consort), ...
. After fifty years of ideological war, Buddhism, defended and protected by the Soga, began to take hold in Japan.
Political assertiveness and reactions
By 644, the heads of the Soga were no longer satisfied to act behind the scenes.
Soga no Emishi
was a statesman of the Yamato Imperial Court. His alternative names include Emishi () and Toyora no Ōomi (). After the death of his father Soga no Umako, Emishi took over '' Ōomi '', the Minister of State, from his father.
According to the ...
and his son
Soga no Iruka Soga may refer to:
People
* Soga clan, a Japanese clan of the Yamato period
* Soga clan (Sagami Province), a Japanese clan
* Soga people, of the Busoga kingdom in present-day Uganda
* Machiko Soga, Japanese voice actress
* Soga Tokimune, Jap ...
began to build increasingly elaborate palaces and tombs for themselves, styling themselves "sovereigns".
In response, the leader of the
Nakatomi clan
was a Japanese aristocratic kin group (''uji''). Papinot, Jacques Edmond Joseph. (1906). ''Dictionnaire d’histoire et de géographie du Japon''; Papinot, (2003)"Nakatomi," ''Nobiliare du Japon'', p. 39 retrieved 2013-5-5. The clan claims desce ...
, Nakatomi no Kamatari (later known as the founder of the
Fujiwara Fujiwara (, written: 藤原 lit. "''Wisteria'' field") is a Japanese surname. (In English conversation it is likely to be rendered as .) Notable people with the surname include:
; Families
* The Fujiwara clan and its members
** Fujiwara no Kamatari ...
and traditionally referred to as
Fujiwara no Kamatari
Fujiwara no Kamatari (藤原 鎌足, 614 – November 14, 669) was a Japanese statesman, courtier and aristocrat during the Asuka period (538–710).Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005). "Fujiwara no Tadahira" in ; Brinkley, Frank ''et al.'' (1 ...
), conspired with
Soga no Kurayamada no Ishikawa no Maro
(ob. 649) was a member of the Soga clan and first holder of the office of udaijin (Minister of the Right). He was the son of Soga no Kuramaro and grandson of Soga no Umako; his daughter was married to Prince Naka-no-Ōe. After the fall of Soga ...
and Prince Naka no Ōe (later
Emperor Tenji
, also known as Emperor Tenchi, was the 38th emperor of Japan, Imperial Household Agency (''Kunaichō'')天智天皇 (38)/ref> according to the traditional order of succession.Ponsonby-Fane, Richard. (1959). ''The Imperial House of Japan'', p. 5 ...
) and arranged for Iruka's assassination. Prince Ōe himself attacked Iruka during a court ceremony concerning edicts from Korean kingdoms in front of
Empress Kōgyoku
, also known as , was the 35th and 37th monarch of Japan,Kunaichō 斉明天皇 (37)/ref> according to the traditional order of succession.
Kōgyoku's reign spanned the years from 642 to 645. Her reign as Saimei encompassed 655 to 661. In other ...
; he survived, but the Empress left the scene and Ōe's guards finished Iruka off. Subsequently, Soga no Emishi committed suicide by burning down his own residence, destroying many important court documents. Soga followers were dispersed and even killed; the Empress abdicated and her brother took the throne as
Emperor Kōtoku
was the 36th emperor of Japan, Imperial Household Agency (''Kunaichō'') 孝徳天皇 (33)/ref> according to the traditional order of succession.
The years of his reign lasted from 645 through 654.
Traditional narrative
Before Kōtoku's ascen ...
. The Soga clan's hold over the imperial family was broken and two years later the Emperor enacted the
Taika Reform
The were a set of doctrines established by Emperor Kōtoku (孝徳天皇 ''Kōtoku tennō'') in the year 645. They were written shortly after the death of Prince Shōtoku and the defeat of the Soga clan (蘇我氏 ''Soga no uji''), uniting Japan ...
, returning full power to the emperor. This disruptive and transformative event is known as the
Isshi Incident.
Legacy
In 2005, the remains of a building which may have been
Soga no Iruka Soga may refer to:
People
* Soga clan, a Japanese clan of the Yamato period
* Soga clan (Sagami Province), a Japanese clan
* Soga people, of the Busoga kingdom in present-day Uganda
* Machiko Soga, Japanese voice actress
* Soga Tokimune, Jap ...
's residence were discovered in
Nara
The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) is an " independent federal agency of the United States government within the executive branch", charged with the preservation and documentation of government and historical records. It i ...
. This discovery appeared to be consistent with the description found in ''Nihon Shoki''.
"Soga no Iruka house believed found,"
''Japan Times Weekly,'' 14 November 2005; retrieved 2013-2-29.
Family
*Takenouchi no Sukune
or Takeshiuchi no Sukune was a legendary Japanese hero-statesman of the 1st century, and a Shinto kami.
He is recorded in Japan's earliest literary texts, the ''Kojiki'' (ca. 712) and the '' Nihon Shoki'' (720).
Life
Takenouchi no Sukune was ...
(武内宿禰, ?–?)
**Soga no Ishikawa Soga may refer to:
People
* Soga clan, a Japanese clan of the Yamato period
* Soga clan (Sagami Province), a Japanese clan
* Soga people, of the Busoga kingdom in present-day Uganda
* Machiko Soga, Japanese voice actress
* Soga Tokimune, Japa ...
(蘇我石川, ?–?)
***Soga no Machi Soga may refer to:
People
* Soga clan, a Japanese clan of the Yamato period
* Soga clan (Sagami Province), a Japanese clan
* Soga people, of the Busoga kingdom in present-day Uganda
* Machiko Soga, Japanese voice actress
* Soga Tokimune, Japanes ...
(蘇我満智, ?–?)
**** Soga no Karako (蘇我韓子, ?–465)
***** Soga no Koma (蘇我高麗, ?–?)
******Soga no Iname
was a leader of the Soga clan and a statesman during the reign of Emperor Kinmei in the Asuka period. He was the first person to hold the position of ''Ōomi'' that can be verified with reasonable accuracy, in 536 A.D. Essentially what this me ...
(蘇我稲目, c.506–570)
*******Soga no Umako
was the son of Soga no Iname and a member of the powerful Soga clan of Japan.
Umako conducted political reforms with Prince Shōtoku during the rules of Emperor Bidatsu and Empress Suiko and established the Soga clan's stronghold in the go ...
(蘇我馬子, 551?–626)
********Soga no Emishi
was a statesman of the Yamato Imperial Court. His alternative names include Emishi () and Toyora no Ōomi (). After the death of his father Soga no Umako, Emishi took over '' Ōomi '', the Minister of State, from his father.
According to the ...
(蘇我蝦夷, 587–645)
*********Soga no Iruka Soga may refer to:
People
* Soga clan, a Japanese clan of the Yamato period
* Soga clan (Sagami Province), a Japanese clan
* Soga people, of the Busoga kingdom in present-day Uganda
* Machiko Soga, Japanese voice actress
* Soga Tokimune, Jap ...
(蘇我入鹿, 610?–645)
******** Soga no Zentoko (蘇我善徳, ?–?)
******** Soga no Kuramaro (蘇我倉麻呂, ?–?)
********* Soga no Kurayamada no Ishikawamaro (蘇我倉山田石川麻呂, ?–649)
*********Soga no Akae Soga may refer to:
People
* Soga clan, a Japanese clan of the Yamato period
* Soga clan (Sagami Province), a Japanese clan
* Soga people, of the Busoga kingdom in present-day Uganda
* Machiko Soga, Japanese voice actress
* Soga Tokimune, Japanes ...
(蘇我赤兄, 623?–?)
********* Soga no Murajiko (蘇我連子, 611?–664)
**********Soga no Yasumaro Soga may refer to:
People
* Soga clan, a Japanese clan of the Yamato period
* Soga clan (Sagami Province), a Japanese clan
* Soga people, of the Busoga kingdom in present-day Uganda
* Machiko Soga, Japanese voice actress
* Soga Tokimune, Japanes ...
(蘇我安麻呂, ?–?)
********* Soga no Himuka (蘇我日向, ?–?)
********* Soga no Hatayasu (蘇我果安, ?–672)
References
*Sansom, George (1958). ''A History of Japan to 1334 Stanford, California: Stanford University Press.
*Hall, John Whitney, et al. (1993). ''The Cambridge History of Japan: Volume 1 Ancient Japan''. Cambridge University Press. {{ISBN, 0-521-22352-0.
Japanese clans
Buddhism in the Asuka period