| Tanegashima clan 種子島氏 | |
|---|---|
 The emblem (mon) of the Tanegashima clan | |
| Home province | Tanegashima Island |
| Parent house | Higo clan |
| Titles | Baron |
| Current head | Tanegashima Tokikuni |
| Founding year | 14th century |
| Dissolution | still extant |
| Ruled until | 1868 (Abolition of the han system) |
TheTanegashima clan (種子島氏,Tanegashima-shi) is a Japanesearistocratic family ofsamurai origins that originated on theTanegashima Island, just south ofKyūshū. From the lateSengoku era to the start of theMeiji era, the Tanegashima wereretainers of theShimazu clan of theSatsuma Domain. In 1900, they were appointedBaron.
The Tanegashima clan claimsTaira ancestry. According to the family genealogy, its founder Nobumoto (信基) was a great-grandson ofTaira no Kiyomori. Surviving theGenpei War (1180–1185), he was adopted byHōjō Tokimasa, changed his name to Tokinobu (時信) and was given the island of Tanegashima at the beginning of theKamakura period. However, this story is considered unhistorical because no contemporary source supports it.[1]
The actual origin of the Tanegashima clan was theHigo clan. In 1203,Hōjō Tomotoki, the founder of the Nagoe branch of theHōjō clan, was appointed as ajitō or land steward of theestate of Shimazu, which covered Tanegashima Island. Since the Nagoe family resided inKamakura, the Higo clan was sent to the estate to rule it on behalf of the Nagoe family. Some members of the Higo clan seem to have spread to Tanegashima. The Higo clan made itself autonomous in Tanegashima after the Hōjō clan was annihilated. During theNanboku-chō period, it began to claim the clan name of Tanegashima, which implied the ownership of the island.[2]
During the Nanboku-chō period, the Tanegashima clan began to contact with the Shimazu clan, who had gained the position of theshugo or governor ofSatsuma,Ōsumi andHyūga Provinces. Shimazu long suffered from internal struggles and faced resistance from local rulers. The Tanegashima clan enjoyed a high degree of autonomy until Shimazu unified southern Kyūshū in the late 16th century.
Shimazu ceded control of various southern islands to Tanegashima. In 1409,Higo (Tanegashima) Kiyotoki was given the islands ofYaku andKuchierabu byShimazu Motohisa, the head of the Ōshū branch of the Shimazu clan, who rivaled the Sōshū branch family. In 1424, however, Tanegashima was forced to give Kuchierabu back to the Ōshū family although it regained the island three years later.[3] In the 1420s, the Ōshū family gave the Upper Three Islands (Kuroshima,Iōjima andTakeshima) to the Tanegashima clan. Around 1430, however, they were recaptured by Shimazu. In 1436,Shimazu Mochihisa, the head of Sasshū, another branch family, gave Kiyotoki's sonHatatoki two of theSeven Islands, which are identified asGaja andTaira Islands.[2]
The Tanegashima clan established firm control over Yakushima, which was known for forestry. In 1524Tanegashima Tadatoki built two fortresses on Yakushima. In 1543, Tadatoki's sonShigetoki was attacked byNejime Shigetake, a ruler of Ōsumi Province, and fled to Tanegashima. Shigetoki handed over Yakushima to Nejime but restored it by force the following near. Tanegashima continued to battle against Nejime until 1572.[1]
Tanegashima Tokiuji, Tadatoki's father, established a channel of communication toKinai (central Japan). In the 1460s the population of Tanegashima, Yakushima and Kuchierabu converted en masse to the Hokke sect ofNichiren Buddhism. This established a firm link toHonnō-ji ofKyoto andHonkōji ofSettsu Province, the sect's strongholds. Historical sources show that gifts dedicated to Honnō-ji by Tanegashima Tokiuji included Chinese and South Asian products such as silk fabric and pepper. In addition to Buddhist monks, craftsmen were moved from Kinai to Tanegashima. The heads of the Tanegashima clan personally visited Kinai and developed a network of contacts. Using this network, Tanegashima Shigetoki served as an intermediary between the imperial court and the Sōshū branch of the Shimazu clan, who later re-unified the Shimazu clan.[3]
Tanegashima Island functioned as a relay station of one of the main routes of Chinese trade that connectedSakai toNingbo. The Tanegashima clan cooperated with theHosokawa clan, one of two powers who controlled Chinese trade. Tanegashima also engaged in trade withOkinawa-centeredkingdom of Ryūkyū, which is attested by some letters given to Tanegashima by Ryūkyū in the 16th century. It is known that Japanese trade ships to Ming China exported Southeast Asian products such as pepper and sappanwood. They were probably obtained by the Tanegashima clan via Ryūkyū.[2] Historians draw attention to a letter given to Ryūkyū by theŌuchi clan in 1542, which requested Ryūkyū to detain Tanegashima's ships. The Ōuchi clan, who rivaled the Hosokawa clan in Chinese trade, seems to have intended to bar Hosokawa from trade.[3]
Tanegashima is traditionally known as the site of the introduction of European firearms to Japan although this account is frequently questioned by historians. It is said that firearms were introduced in 1543 by the Portuguese who drifted to Tanegashima. The Tanegashima clan, led by its 15 year olddaimyōTanegashima Tokitaka, quickly acquired the methods of producing firearms and gunpowder. Due to Tanegashima's role in the spread of firearms, firearms were colloquially known as "Tanegashima" in Japan.
Although Tanegashima had long enjoyed semi-autonomy, the newly unified Shimazu clan gradually tightened control over the clan. In 1582, Tanegashima's trade with Ryūkyū was put under control of Shimazu. Shimazu also forbade Tanegashima from selling lumber to the rulers of Kyūshū except Shimazu.[2]
After subjugating Shimazu,Toyotomi Hideyoshi finalized Tanegashima's vassalage to Shimazu. In 1595, the Tanegashima clan was moved from its medieval homeland toChiran, Satsuma Province. Although Tanegashima was given back to the Tanegashima clan in 1599, the islands of Yaku and Kuchierabu remained under Shimazu's direct rule. In 1598,Tanegashima Hisatoki was appointed askarō or top-ranking official. This family rank was maintained throughout theEdo period. When Hisatoki died in 1612 leaving his successor in the mother's womb, Shimazu intervened in Tanegashima's governance, making it a dutiful subject.[2]
The 24th headHisamichi (久道) died in 1829 without male issue. His widow Shōjuin, who was a daughter ofShimazu Narinobu and a sister ofShimazu Narioki, administered Tanegashima for 15 years. In 1842 Tanegashima finally adoptedHisamichi (久珍) from the Shimazu clan.
The 27th headMoritoki was made abaron in 1900.[4] As of 2012, Tanegashima Tokikuni served as the 29th head of the clan.