Shinsen Shōjiroku

Shinsen Shōjiroku

The abridged version of the lost Shinsen Shōjiroku and the only remaining contents of the book today.
Original title	しんせんしょうじろく (新撰姓氏録)
Language	Classical Chinese
Subject	History of Japan
Genre	Ancient history
Publication date	815
Publication place	Japan

Shinsen Shōjiroku (新撰姓氏録; "Newly Selected Record of Hereditary Titles and Family Names")^[a] was an imperially commissioned Japanese genealogical record from Heian period Japan.

The book itself has been lost, but its abridged version and fragments remain.

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 (万多親王, 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.

The original book is believed to have existed until the Kamakura period, but only its abridged version that supposedly contains 1/10 of the information survives today. The abridged version includes the preface and table of contents from the original as well as very brief summaries of the clans and their lineages.

All of the information provided is based on the abridged version.

According to the preface, the record contains genealogical records for 1182 families living in the Heian-kyō capital and the Kinai region (encompassing Izumi [和泉], Kawachi [河内], Settsu [摂津], Yamashiro [山城], Yamato [和]), 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 main categories in Japanese are called kōbetsu (Imperial ancestry), shinbetsu (Divine ancestry), shoban (Foreign ancestry), and uncategorized:^[1]

皇別 (kōbetsu): 335 families

• Scholars have noted that at least one family, the Yoshida clan ^[ja] (吉田氏), is listed under kōbetsu but was likely of foreign origin.^[2] According to Japanese historian Yoko Sugasawa ^[ja], the Yoshida family falsely claimed kōbetsu after claiming that Shiodaretsuhiko ^[ja] (塩垂津彦命), the son of Emperor Kōshō (who they claim descent) migrated to Gaya and became royalty^[3] 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.^[3] The general consensus is that the Yoshida family nor Kitta no Yoroshi was related to Shiodaretsuhiko or the imperial line.

神別 (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 地祇 (chigi, earthly divine) as from gods who already existed in Japan before Ninigi descended.

諸蕃 (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. Historically, shoban also meant "barbarian".^[4]

• "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.^[5] See controversy surrounding the book.

• "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. See controversy surrounding the book.

• "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. See controversy surrounding the book.

• "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)", Oh (surname) in "Go clan (呉氏)", etc. However, they are still considered "unclassified".

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"^{[Quotes 1][6]} with having to rely on more reliable historical sources and archaeological evidence to draw up an accurate conclusion.^[7]

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.^[8] 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.^[7][6] Similar phenomena happen with notable shoban families such as Yamatonoaya clan under Achi no Omi,^[9] clans such as the Kawachinofumi clan under Wani, etc, all individuals who appear with different origin stories than those found in the Shinsen Shōjiroku.^{[Notes 3]}

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 creation of 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.^[10] This was carried over to his children such as Emperor Saga with the Minamoto clan.^[11] It may also have been due to Kanmu's own lineage of being of Baekje descent (through Yamato no Fuhito clan)^[12] where he became personally invested in family lines in general. 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 foreign origins. Therefore, openly embracing their newly appointed identities regardless of their historical accuracy.

Similar to shoban clans claiming descent from famous figures throughout the history of East Asia, other native Japanese clans also participated in embellishing their heritage to become closer to the divine shinbetsu family or the imperial kōbetsu family. After declaring the standards of each category through the publication of the book in 815, many future samurai clans who were from lesser important clans begun to claim descent from those who were of the shinbetsu line (such as the Fujiwara clan) or the kōbetsu line (such as the Taira clan, the Minamoto "Genji" clan and the Tachibana clan).

Famous cases include:

• The Oda clan claiming descent from the Taira clan (when it most likely came from the Inbe clan).

• The Sō clan claiming descent from the Taira clan (when it most likely came from the Koremune clan).
• The Tokugawa clan claiming descent from the Kawachi Genji (when it most likely came from the Matsudaira clan).
• The Sanada clan claiming descent from Seiwa Genji (when it most likely came from the Shigeno clan).
• The Shimazu clan claiming descent from Seiwa Genji (when it most likely came from the Koremune clan).
• The Saitō clan claiming descent from the Fujiwara clan (disputed).
• The Ii clan claiming descent from the Fujiwara clan (disputed).
• The Asakura clan claiming descent from the Kusakabe clan (disputed).
• The Chōsokabe clan claiming descent from the Hata clan (disputed).
• etc

It is believed that by doing this, they were able to elevate their positions within their ranks similar to the shoban families.

The book also presents claims that encompass not only the Japanese lineage, but heritage found outside of Japan as well. According to the book, Inahi no Mikoto, the brother of Emperor Jimmu who was the first emperor of Japan, was the ancestor to the kings of Korea, specifically to that of Silla. This narrative was carried over by other similar claims made by separate but related Japanese sources such as the Kojiki, Nihon Shoki, and Shoku Nihongi, and was utilized by Meiji era Japanese historians and anthropologists to create the Nissen dōsoron.

Similar to the criticisms above, these claims are also scrutinized by modern historians.

• 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.

• Kubota, Jun (2007). Iwanami Nihon Koten Bungaku Jiten [Iwanami Dictionary of Japanese Classical Literature] (in Japanese). Tokyo: Iwanami Shoten. ISBN 978-4-00-080310-6. OCLC 122941872.
• Nihon Koten Bungaku Daijiten: Kan'yakuban [A Comprehensive Dictionary of Classical Japanese Literature: Concise Edition]. Tōkyō: Iwanami Shoten. 1986. ISBN 4-00-080067-1. OCLC 22820487.
• Murayama, Izuru 1983 (23rd ed. 2005) Ōtomo no Tabito, Yamanoue no Okura: Yūshū to Kunō. Tokyo : Shintensha.

• Shinsen Shōjiroku, an online edition