is a descendant clan of
Jimmu and
Himetataraisuzu-hime
Hime-tatara-isuzu hime 『日本大百科全書』(''Nipponica''), Shogakukan, 1984-1994, Article: Emperor Jinmu. ''(Web) Kotobank version:'' is a Japanese mythological figure, a female deity (goddess), appeared in the ''Nihon Shoki'', the (fi ...
. They are descended from
Kamuyaimimi.
Ō no Yasumaro
was a Japanese nobleman, bureaucrat, and chronicler. He may have been the son of Ō no Honji, a participant in the Jinshin War of 672.Philippi (1968:546)
He is most famous for compiling and editing, with the assistance of Hieda no Are, the ...
was a famous member. He became head of the clan in 716 around the time he wrote the
Kojiki
The , also sometimes read as or , is an early Japanese chronicle of myths, legends, hymns, genealogies, oral traditions, and semi-historical accounts down to 641 concerning the origin of the Japanese archipelago, the , and the Japanese imperia ...
.
[''Obunsha Japanese Encyclopedia 3rd Edition''][Aston (1995:xv)]
Relationship with Takemikazuchi
Takemikazuchi
is a deity in Japanese mythology, considered a god of thunder and a sword god. He also competed in what is considered the first sumo wrestling match recorded in history.
He is otherwise known as "The ''kami'' of Kashima" (Kashima-no-kami), the ...
was originally a local god (
kunitsukami
''Kunitsukami'' (国つ神, 国津神) are the kami of the land and live in ''tsuchi'' (earth). Mythology
Many myths in the Nihon Shoki and the Kojiki are about the conflict between the Kunitsukami and the Amatsukami.
List of kunitsukami
...
) revered by the Ō clan,
[(zasshi code 66951-07; kyōtsu zasshi code T10-66951-07-1000)] and was a god of maritime travel.
However, the
Nakatomi clan who also has roots in this region, and when they took over control of priestly duties from the Ō clan, they also instituted Takemikazuchi as the Nakatomi clan's
ujigami
An is a guardian ''kami'' of a particular place in the Shinto religion of Japan. The ''ujigami'' was prayed to for a number of reasons, including protection from sickness, success in endeavors, and good harvests.
History
The ''ujigami'' is ...
(clan deity). Or so this is the observation by in his ''Jinja to kodai ōken saishi'' (1989). He goes on to theorize that the Ō clan was originally , but was usurped by the Nakatomi who were among the "lesser priesthood" (the latter claims descent from the ).
Genealogy
References
Bibliography
*
**
*, English translation
**
{{DEFAULTSORT:O clan
Japanese mythology
Japanese clans
Ō clan