Shinsen Shōjiroku

is an imperially commissioned Japanese genealogical record. It was first conceived during Emperor Kanmu's reign in 799 to properly track the clans' then ambiguous lineages, but was not completed before his death in 806. The project was later carried over by his son, Emperor Saga. Thirty volumes in length, it was compiled by the Emperor's brother, Imperial Prince Manda (, 788–830) and by the late Emperor Kanmu's associates such as Fujiwara no Otsugu, and Fujiwara no Sonohito et al. It was initially completed in 814, but underwent a revision to be recompleted in 815.

Contents

The book itself has been lost, but its table of contents and fragments remain. According to the preface, the record contains genealogical records for 1182 families living in the Heian-kyō capital and the Kinai region (encompassing Izumi ��泉 Kawachi ��内 Settsu ��津 Yamashiro ��城 Yamato ��, which means "close to capital"; but the preface warns even this record comprises less than half of all the surnames in circulation there.

The four categories in Japanese are called ''kōbetsu'' (Imperial Ancestry), ''shinbetsu'' (Divine Ancestry), ''shoban'' (Foreign), and uncategorized:

Imperial ancestry

(''kōbetsu''): 335 families
* Scholars have noted that at least one family, the Yoshida family (吉田氏) ja">:ja:吉田氏">ja is listed under ''kōbetsu'' but was likely of foreign origin. According to Japanese historian Yoko Sugasawa ja">:ja:菅澤庸子">ja the Yoshida family falsely claimed ''kōbetsu'' after claiming that Shiodaretsuhiko (塩垂津彦命) ja">:ja:塩垂津彦">ja the son of Emperor Kōshō (who they claim descent) migrated to Gaya and became royalty and that their clan founder, Kitta no Yoroshi (吉田連) was a returning Japanese noble who had royal ties in both lands. In actuality, the Yoshida family was most likely only of Korean descent (specifically Baekje) and thus embraced the story of Emperor Kōshō's son of becoming royalty in Gaya to create legitimacy for having both ties with the imperial line and Korea. The general consensus is that the Yoshida family nor Kitta no Yoroshi was related to Shiodaretsuhiko or the imperial line.

Divine ancestry

(''shinbetsu''): 404 families; of which 246 were of direct heavenly descent claiming to be born of gods who came down to Japan with Ninigi-no-Mikoto, 128 were of heavenly cadet descent, and 30 of (''chigi'', earthly divine) as from gods who already existed in Japan before Ninigi descended.

Foreign

(''shoban''): 326 families; of which, 163 were of 漢 (Kan/かん), 104 of 百済 (Kudara/くだら), 41 of 高句麗 (Kōkuri/こうくり), 9 of 新羅 (Shiragi/しらぎ), and 9 of 任那 (Mimana/みまな) origin. They mainly claim descent from ancient Toraijins who came to Japan from the mainland during the Jōmon period to the Asuka period.
* "漢/Kan" is written as the Han dynasty of ancient China. However, as the character is read as both "から/Kara" or "あや/Aya" which means "the continent (China)", it most likely meant "of Chinese descent", not specifically alluding to the Han dynasty but rather China in general.
** Some ''shoban'' families under "漢" are believed to be classified wrongfully according to modern research. Famous families such as the Hata clan were originally classified under "漢" but were later revised by modern historians.

* "百済 (Kudara)" is the Japanese pronunciation for Baekje of ancient Korea. Due to the strong affinity between the two kingdoms, it is recorded as the largest origin for families of Korean descent.
** Like with "漢", there are certain claims that are questioned by modern historians such as the origins of Yuzuki no Kimi, Achi no omi, and Wani of whether or not Kudara/Baekje was indeed their country of origin and whether they truly existed.

* "高句麗/Kōkuri" is the Japanese pronunciation for Goguryeo of ancient Korea.

* "新羅/Shiragi" is the Japanese pronunciation for Silla of ancient Korea.
** Similar to other immigrant clans, families under "Shiragi/Silla" origin are also questioned due to Amenohiboko having a legendary status.

* "任那/Mimana" is the Japanese pronunciation for Gaya confederacy of ancient Korea.

* A total of 117 are listed as unclassified (未定雜姓).
** Some families under "未定雜姓" have specific names that may allude to foreign origin. These include names such as 百済 (Kudara/くだら) for Baekje in "Kudara clan (百済氏)", "加羅 (Kara/から)" for Gaya in "Kara clan (加羅氏)", "韓 (Kara/から)" for Korea (in general) in "Karanoamabenoobito clan (韓海部首)", Wiman for "Fude clan (筆氏) ja">:ja:筆氏">ja, Oh (surname) in "Go clan (呉氏) ja]", etc. However, they are still considered "unclassified".

Controversy surrounding the book

Due to the inconsistencies found within the records, modern historians are cautious as to deeming the ''Shinsen Shōjiroku'' as a reliable source at face value, especially in regards to the foreign "''shoban"'' families and several imperial "''kōbetsu''" families.

The biggest criticism stems from the lack of evidence and that much of the sources found in the book are mostly baseless claims. Places like the city of Kyoto and Fushimi Inari-taisha, when revising the origins of the Hata clan, specifically stated their sentiments in regards to the ''Shinsen Shōjiroku'' as "unreliable" with having to rely on more reliable historical sources and archaeological evidence to draw up an accurate conclusion.

It is also worth noting that many of the claims found in the ''shoban'' allude to famous figures of great importance, such as influential emperors of China and kings and nobles of Korea. Though not all baseless, many families (like the aforementioned Hata clan) have conflicting origin stories that contradict one another without providing substantial evidence. Yuzuki no Kimi, for example, is considered as the founder of the Hata clan who was first mentioned in the ''Nihon Shoki'' as a refugee from the kingdom of Baekje. It was only when ''Shinsen Shōjiroku'' was published centuries later where the claim of Yuzuki no Kimi of being a descendant of Emperor Qin of the Qin dynasty was added. As mentioned above, the current consensus for the origin of the Hata clan is believed to be Silla and neither of the aforementioned places. Similar phenomena happen with notable ''shoban'' families such as Yamatonoaya clan under Achi no omi, clans such as Kawachinofumi clan under Wani, etc, all individuals who appear with different origin stories than those found in the ''Shinsen Shōjiroku''. Interestingly, the general consensus in Japan is that many of the supposed founders were fictional due to the lack of mentioning in their respective kingdoms of origin, most likely created to help provide agency and legitimacy for immigrant clans to remain in their positions, which was later exacerbated with the ''Shinsen Shōjiroku'' to aggrandize the already fictional claims made prior to the book's completion. Hence, positing possibilities of certain families of not truly being Chinese or Korean descent, only claiming to be related to their royalty for political and social influence.

It is believed that when Emperor Kanmu first ordered a genealogical record of the families in 799, his intention was to properly track the clans' then ambiguous lineages. This notion is evident as Kanmu was the emperor known for bestowing honorary names (such as the Taira clan) for his relatives in order to prevent an overcrowding of the imperial line. This was carried over to his children such as Emperor Saga with the Minamoto clan. It may also have been due to Kanmu's own lineage of being of Baekje descentWatts, Jonathan.
"The emperor's new roots: The Japanese emperor has finally laid to rest rumours that he has Korean blood, by admitting that it is true,"
''The Guardian'' (London). December 28, 2001. where he became personally invested in family lines. With the emperor's intention of officially recording down families of different origins, it is believed that many members ennobled their ancestors in order to distinguish themselves from other clans of similar origins. Therefore, openly embracing their newly appointed identities regardless of their historical accuracy.

See also

* Imperial House of Japan: The dynasty that claims descent of Amaterasu that majority of the ''kōbetsu'' families under ''Shinsen Shōjiroku'' claim origin of.
** Japanese clans#Imperial Clan: List of Imperial clans of Japan.
* Tenson kōrin: The descent of Amaterasu's grandson Ninigi-no-Mikoto from Heaven, and the event which includes many gods that majority of the ''shinbetsu'' families under ''Shinsen Shōjiroku'' claim origin of.
* Toraijin: Immigrants that arrived in Japan predominantly from the southern Korean peninsula that majority of the ''shoban'' families under ''Shinsen Shōjiroku'' claim origin of.
** Japanese clans#Toraijin (渡来人): List of Toraijin clans of different origins.
** Nissen dōsoron: A Meiji era theory that revolves around Japan and Korea's demographics' genealogy impacted by ancient Toraijins that cites ''Shinsen Shōjiroku'' as a major source.

Notes and references

Notes

References

Bibliography

*
*
* Murayama, Izuru 1983 (23rd ed. 2005) ''Ōtomo no Tabito, Yamanoue no Okura: Yūshū to Kunō''. Tokyo : Shintensha.

External links

''Shinsen Shōjiroku'', an online edition

{{DEFAULTSORT:Shinsen Shojiroku
814
810s in Japan
9th-century Japanese books
Genealogy publications
Heian-period books
Heian period in literature
Japanese family registers
Late Old Japanese texts