TheYamana clan (山名氏,Yamana-shi) was a Japanesesamurai clan which was one of the most powerful of theMuromachi period (1336–1467); at its peak, members of the family held the position of Constable (shugo) over elevenprovinces.^[1] Originally fromKōzuke Province, and later centered inInaba Province, the clan claimed descendance from theSeiwa Genji line, and fromMinamoto no Yoshishige in particular.^[1] The clan took its name from the village of Yamana in present-dayGunma Prefecture.^[1] They were valued retainers underMinamoto no Yoritomo, and counted among hisgokenin.^[2]

Yamana 山名
Mon crest of the Yamana clan
Home province	Kōzuke Province
Parent house	Seiwa Genji,Nitta clan
Titles	various
Founder	Yamana Yoshinori
Founding year	12th century

The Yamana were among the chief clans in fighting for the establishment of theAshikaga shogunate, and thus remained valued and powerful under the new government.^[1] They were Constables of five provinces in 1363, and eleven a short time later. However, members of the Yamana clan rebelled against the shogunate in theMeitoku Rebellion of 1391 and lost most of their land.^[2]Yamana Sōzen (1404 – 1473), likely the most famous member of the clan, would regain these lands in 1441.^[3] Through all of this the clan managed to somehow retain a great degree of reputation and power within the shogunate government; along with theHosokawa andHatakeyama clans, they served as agents of the shogunate in resolving various disputes.

Sōzen would then become embroiled in a conflict withHosokawa Katsumoto over naming the shōgun's successor; this conflict grew into theŌnin War, which destroyed much of Kyoto, and led to the fall of the shogunate and beginning of theSengoku period.^[2] In the end this cost the Yamana much of their former influence and land. By the end of the 16th century, the Yamana had been reduced to holding the better part ofInaba Province. That area would be retained by the Yamana even until the end of theEdo period.^[1]

• Yamana Yoshinori – founder of the Yamana clan.^[1]
• Yamana Tokiuji (late 14th century) – fought in theNanboku-chō Wars, first for the shogunate, and then against it.
• Yamana Tsunehisa (early 15th century) –shugo ofBingo province
• Yamana Sōzen (1404–1473) – played a crucial role in sparking the outbreak of the Ōnin War.
• Yamana Koretoyo – Sōzen's son, fought against his father in the Ōnin War
• Yamana Suketoyo
• Yamana Toyokuni (1548–1626) – defeated byToyotomi Hideyoshi in 1580.

Yamana is a playable nation inEuropa Universalis IV.

InAkira Kurosawa's 1958 filmThe Hidden Fortress, the Yamana clan serve as the antagonists to theAkizuki clan.The Hidden Fortress anachronistically placed the Yamana clan adjacent to the Akizuki clan. However, Akizuki was based inKyushu, while Yamana was in centralHonshu, north ofEdo.

• Tōrin-in, family temple

• Frederic, Louis (2002).Japan Encyclopedia. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press.
• Sansom, George (1961).A History of Japan: 1334–1615. Stanford, California: Stanford University Press.
• Turnbull, Stephen (1998).The Samurai Sourcebook. London: Cassell & Co.