was a family of Japanese nobles descended from the
Fujiwara family
was a powerful family of imperial regents in Japan, descending from the Nakatomi clan and, as legend held, through them their ancestral god Ame-no-Koyane. The Fujiwara prospered since the ancient times and dominated the imperial court until ...
, many of whom held high government offices in
Kyūshū. Prior to the
Kamakura period
The is a period of Japanese history that marks the governance by the Kamakura shogunate, officially established in 1192 in Kamakura by the first ''shōgun'' Minamoto no Yoritomo after the conclusion of the Genpei War, which saw the struggle bet ...
(1185–1333), "Shōni" was originally a title and post within the Kyūshū (
Dazaifu) government, roughly translating to "Junior Counselor", and working under a
Daini (大弐).
Dominated by members of the Fujiwara branch family of Mutō, the title over time came to be used as a family name. When
Minamoto no Yoritomo
was the founder and the first shogun of the Kamakura shogunate of Japan, ruling from 1192 until 1199.Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005). "Minamoto no Yoriie" in . He was the husband of Hōjō Masako who acted as regent (''shikken'') after his ...
established the
Kamakura shogunate
The was the feudal military government of Japan during the Kamakura period from 1185 to 1333. Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005)"''Kamakura-jidai''"in ''Japan Encyclopedia'', p. 459.
The Kamakura shogunate was established by Minamoto no ...
in 1185, he reorganized the administration of Kyūshū. The post of
Chinzei Bugyō replaced that of Daini, and the Shōni were similarly pushed out of their traditional hereditary position; members of the family were, however, still granted various other important posts in the region.
Members of the family would play an important role in commanding the defense against the
Mongol invasions of Japan
Major military efforts were taken by Kublai Khan of the Yuan dynasty in 1274 and 1281 to conquer the Japanese archipelago after the submission of the Korean kingdom of Goryeo to vassaldom. Ultimately a failure, the invasion attempts are of m ...
in 1274 and 1281.
They would later ally with
Ashikaga Takauji
was the founder and first '' shōgun'' of the Ashikaga shogunate."Ashikaga Takauji" in ''The New Encyclopædia Britannica''. Chicago: Encyclopædia Britannica Inc., 15th edn., 1992, Vol. 1, p. 625. His rule began in 1338, beginning the Murom ...
and the
Northern Court
The , also known as the Ashikaga Pretenders or Northern Pretenders, were a set of six pretenders to the throne of Japan during the Nanboku-chō period from 1336 through 1392. The present Imperial House of Japan is descended from the Northern Cou ...
in the
Nanboku-chō Wars of the 14th century.
Repeatedly defeated by the
Ōuchi family in the 14th and 15th centuries, the Shōni gradually lost their territories, and were eliminated entirely by the
Ryūzōji clan
was a Japanese kin group which traces its origin to Hizen Province on the island of Kyushu. Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005)"Hōki"in ''Japan Encyclopedia'', p. 802.
History
The clan was founded by Fujiwara no Suekiyo in 1186. The clan was a ...
in the mid-16th century.
Shōni of note
*
Shōni Tsunesuke (1226–1289) – fought the Mongols
*
Shōni Kagesuke (d. 1285) – fought the Mongols
*
Shōni Yorihisa – fought in the Nanboku-chō Wars
[
* Shōni Sukemoto (1497–1532)
* Shōni Tokinao – son of Sukemoto, last head of the clan
]
References
*Frederic, Louis (2002). "Japan Encyclopedia." Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press.
*Turnbull, Stephen (1998). 'The Samurai Sourcebook'. London: Cassell & Co.
{{DEFAULTSORT:Shoni Clan
Government of feudal Japan
Fujiwara clan
People from Dazaifu, Fukuoka