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Inbe clan | |
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Founder | Futodama |
Inbe clan (忌部氏; also spelledImibe clan orInbe clan)[1] was a Japanese clan during theYamato period.[2] They claimed descent fromFutodama.[3]
The Inbe clan originally had a religious function by preparing and taking care of offerings.[4]
According to theKogo Shūi the Inbe clan were givenAwa Province inShikoku so they could cultivate hemp there.[5]: 384 This is whereInbe Shrine was built.
Their family shrines areAwa Shrine[6] andInbe Shrine.
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As the name of the clan "Imu" means "to abstain fromKegare", or "Saibai", the Imu clan was responsible for the rituals of the ancient Imperial Court, as well as for making ritual implements and building palaces. In the narrow sense, it refers to the Inbe family, the central family that led the Inbe clan, but in the broad sense, it includes the clans of the tribesmen who were led by the Inbe clan.
The main Inbe family claimed its ancestor wasAmatatama-no-mikoto, who appeared in theAmano-Iwato myth of the Chronicles. It was based in the area around the present-day town of Inbe inKashihara, Nara. They led the various clans in the region, and together with theNakatomi clan, administered rituals for the Imperial Court since ancient times. In theShukushi of theEnki-Shiki, it is written, "Let the Saibe clan's shukushi be used for the rituals of the palace and the gates, and let the Nakatomi clan's shukushi be used for all other rituals."
However, starting around theNara period, the Nakatomi clan grew in power, and overwhelmed the Inbe position. In the earlyHeian period, the clan changed its name from Inbe to Saibe, and Saibe Hironari wrote the bookKogo Shūi. However, it never regained its momentum, and the position of ritual clan was occupied by the Nakatomi and Ohnakatomi clans.
The Inbe were divided into two groups: the Tomobe (public officials belonging to the imperial court) and the Kakibe (private citizens of the Inbe). Unlike the Saibes of the central clans, who had fewer and fewer achievements, the Inbe of the various regions included Izumo, who delivered jade, Kii, who delivered wood, Awa, who delivered cotton and linen, andSanuki, who delivered shields. It is known from the literature that the people of these tribes later took the name of Inbe. These local clans left their traces everywhere.
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In theKojiki and theNihon Shoki, it is written thatAmenotama-no-mikoto andAmenokoya-no-mikoto were involved in rituals in the myth ofAmano-Iwato. Ame-no-Koyane were involved in the ritual relationship, and both deities were followed together in theDescent of the Sun. Both of these deities were in charge of the rituals of the Imperial Court at the time of the compilation of the Chronicles. This reflects the difference in power between the Nakatomi clan and the Inbe clan at the time of the compilation. On the contrary, the position is reversed in theKogo Shūi of the Inbe clan.
TheKogo Shūi on the side of the Inbe clan reverses its position. As for the origin of Amata-tamamikoto, theKogo Shūi says that he is the son ofTakamimusubi no Kami, and theShinsen Surname Records follows this, but the origin is not mentioned in theKojiki orNihonshoki, so the truth is not clear.
The clan started off as low class but gained power due to religious reasons.[7] During the reign ofEmperor Kōtoku, the Inbe, along with theNakatomi and Urabe clans, were tasked with supervisingJingikan.[7] The clan lost its power during the reign ofEmperor Shōmu.[8] In the year 927 CE, members of the clan lost their long-standing right to presentasa cloth for use in the imperial rituals.[9]