Aya clan

Origins

Originally, according to ancient Japanese records, Nihon Shoki and Kojiki, Yamato no Aya clan was one of the many clans that arrived from the Korean kingdoms during the reign of Emperor Ōjin.^[7][8] It is said that the clan came from Paekche alongside their ancestor, Achi no Omi and his son, Tsuka no Omi [ja] (都加使主).

『廿年 秋九月、倭漢直祖阿知使主、其子都加使主、並率己之黨類十七縣、而來歸焉。』

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"20th year, Autumn, September. Achi no Omi, ancestor of the Atahe of the Aya of Yamato (Yamato no Aya), and his son Tsuka no Omi immigrated to Japan, bringing with them a company of their people of seventeen districts."

It is said that the clan started off small but gradually grew as other clans integrated themselves to the clan, later becoming one of the most influential clans in Japan.^[7]

It is also said that "Hinokuma no Sato (檜前郡鄕)", present day "Hinokuma [ja] (檜前)" of Nara prefecture was a place Yamato no Aya clan had jurisdiction over as well as being a well-known "Paekche town" also known as "Kudara no Sato (百済の里)" in Japanese.^[9]

Although oldest sources such as the Kojiki (712) and Nihon Shoki (720) state that the clan and its founder, Achi no Omi, originate from the kingdom of Paekche, the Shoku Nihongi (797) claims that Achi no Omi was a descendant of Emperor Ling of Han. Later, according to the Shinsen Shōjiroku (815), it states that he was rather a descendant of Emperor Xian of Han following the claim made by the Sakanoue clan.^{[Notes 1]} However, it is believed that the claims of his supposed royal heritage is an embellishment to make him seem more important as his name is recorded under "King Achi (阿智王)" (instead of his given name) likely to emphasize on the idea that he was of noble background.^{[Notes 2]} In actuality, the general consensus by modern historians is that Achi no Omi was likely a fictional individual, as according to historian Hiroshi Kurita [ja] (栗田 寛), it was common for Korean descendants to rely on prominent families for their lineage in order to raise their social status.^{[Quotes 1][10]}

According to Teiji Kadowaki [ja] (門脇禎二) at Kyoto University, the name "Yamato no Aya" was widely used by Korean immigrants to apply dominance in their newly found home.^[7] Similarly with the Hata clan from Silla being wrongfully credited as a kingdom from the Qin dynasty, Yamato no Aya clan is thought to have been misinterpreted as a clan from the Han dynasty and was wrongfully credited as such when in fact, they were originally from Paekche^[1] or more recently, Kaya based on historical and archaeological evidence.^[11]

Etymology

"Yamato" in Yamato no Aya meant "east (東)" in Old Japanese as seen in the older spelling of the clan name, thus, "Yamato no Aya" meant "Aya clan of the east". The word "Aya", written as "漢 (Kan; かん)" in on'yomi, does not have a native Japanese etymology and scholars suspect it to be a loanword from a different language as explained above.

Modern Japanese historians theorize that Yamato no Aya clan and its founder Achi no Omi, originated from the Kaya confederacy, specifically from the kingdom of "Aya (安邪)" or "Anra (安羅)" (old name for Ara Gaya) where the placename became the etymology of the Aya clans.^{[11][12][13][14]} According to the theory, the immigrants brought many Paekche technologies from Ara Gaya^[15][14] and were considered as close kin to the people of Paekche.^[16][11] Some nationalist historians used this to support the claims over the Mimana controversy stating that Mimana (Kaya) was in fact Japanese due to the relations between the kingdom of Aya and the Aya clans of Japan.^[17][13] Despite the lukewarm reception in Korea, evidence alludes to the possibilities of Japonic speakers in the region.^[18][19]

Achievements

It is written both in the Nihon Shoki and the Kojiki that the clan specialized in architecture and carpentry.^[20][21]

There were also heavily militarized, often guarding and protecting high-ranking members of the Soga clan^[22] who also had deep connections with the Korean peninsula, specifically the kingdom of Paekche.^[23]

Legacy

On top of being one of the most influential immigrant clans in Japan, clans related to Yamato no Aya became much more prominent after its fall.

The clan was divided into clans with distinct surnames, such as the aforementioned Sakanoue clan, the Fumi clan, the Min clan, the Ikebe clan, and the Aratai clan.

Origins

According to the family's genealogy, the clan descends from a Paekche scholar named Wani (originally known as "Wanikishi").

Records such as the Kojiki (712) and Nihon Shoki (720) state that Wani arrived from Paekche under the order of Emperor Ōjin.^[24]

"[...] and, [the Emperor Ōjin] ordered [Geunchogo, the King of] Paekche, "If there is any wise man, offer him up as tribute." The person whose name, offered by the command, was Wani-kishi (和邇吉師). And, [the King] gave, as tributes, along with him, ten volumes of the Analects and one volume of the Thousand Character Classic. This Wani-Kishi is the progenitor of the Fumi-no-Obito clan."

"In the 15th year [of the Emperor Ōjin's reign] (AD 284), in autumn, in August, new moon of rén-xū, dīng-mǎo (the sixth), the King of Paekche dispatched Achiki (Achi no Omi) and offered up two good horses as a tribute [to Japan, along with him]. Then, they were reared in the stable (umaya) atop the hill (saka) of Karu. And, Achiki was entrusted to raise them. Therefore, the place where the horses were raised was called Umayasaka. Achiki also read the Confucian classics well. Then, Prince Uji-no-Waki-Iratsuko took him as his teacher. Now, the Emperor inquired to Achiki, saying, "Is there any scholar superior to you?" He replied, "There is a man called Wani. He is excellent." Then, the Emperor dispatched Aratawake and Kamunagiwake (a male oracle), who were ancestors of the Kamitsuke-no-Kimi clan, to Paekche, to summon Wani. This Achiki is the progenitor of the Achiki-no-Fubito clan. In the 16th year, in spring, in February, Wani had come. Then, Prince Uji-no-Waki-Iratsuko took him as his teacher, learned various classics under him and there was nothing he didn't become thoroughly acquainted with. This so-called Wani was the progenitor of the Fumi-no-Obito clan."

According to Japanese scholars, Wani and Achi no Omi of the Yamato no Aya clan, founded Kawachi no Aya and Yamato no Aya clan respectively, both being of Paekche origin and influential ethnic Koreans in Japan at the time. They shared the same character "Aya" but separated one another with the use of cardinal directions ("Kawachi; 西" meaning West and "Yamato; 東" meaning East) as Wani's Kawachi no Aya clan resided in "Furuichikoori (河内国古市郡)", (present day Furuichigun [ja] (古市郡) in Osaka) located in the west of Japan, while Achi no Omi and his Yamato no Aya clan resided in the Yamato Kingdom found in the east.

However, similar to Achi no Omi, where it was later added in the Shoku Nihongi (797) that he was of Han dynasty origin, the founder of Kawachi no Aya clan, Wani was also later added to have come from Han dynasty in the same book. Similar to Achi no Omi, the modern consensus is that this is also an aggrandization with many believing that the founders were more likely fictional than factual.^[25] In actuality, the clan is most likely an immigrant (Toraijin) clan which subsequently claimed Wani as their ancestor.

Etymology

"Kawachi" in Kawachi no Aya meant "west (西)" as well as "river-side (河内)" in Old Japanese as seen in the older spelling of the clan name, thus, "Kawachi no Aya" meant "Aya clan of the west" or "Aya clan of the river-side". The word "Aya", written as "漢 (Kan; かん)" in on'yomi, does not have a native Japanese etymology and scholars suspect it to be a loanword from a different language as explained above.

Origins

According to the family's genealogy, the clan descends from a Paekche individual named "Tayaka (多夜加)" though records surrounding him are scarce.

Similar to the other Aya clans, it is speculated that the Ayahito clan was a cadet branch clan of the bigger Aya family and only claimed Tayaka as their founder later on. His existence is also under scrutiny by modern Japanese historians.^[25]