Kabane
Encyclopedia
were hereditary titles used in ancient Japan to denote rank
and political standing. There were more than thirty. Some of the more common kabane were omi
, muraji
, , , , , , and .
The kabane were divided into two general classes: those who claimed they were descendants of the imperial line
, and those who claimed they were descendants of the gods
. There is no historical evidence for such distinctions.
At first the kabane were administered by individual clans, but eventually they came to be controlled by the Yamato
court. In 684
the kabane were reformed into the eight kabane system . The powerful omi of the time were given the kabane of ason
, which ranked second under the new system, while most of the muraji were given the kabane of sukune, which ranked third. Later, as the clans began to devolve into individual households, the kabane system gradually faded from use.
Social class
Social classes are economic or cultural arrangements of groups in society. Class is an essential object of analysis for sociologists, political scientists, economists, anthropologists and social historians. In the social sciences, social class is often discussed in terms of 'social stratification'...
and political standing. There were more than thirty. Some of the more common kabane were omi
Omi
was an ancient Japanese hereditary title denoting rank and political standing that, along with muraji, was reserved for the most powerful clans during the Kofun period...
, muraji
Muraji
Muraji . Muraji was an ancient Japanese hereditary title denoting rank and political standing that was reserved for the most powerful among the Tomo no Miyatsuko clans, which were clans associated with particular occupations...
, , , , , , and .
The kabane were divided into two general classes: those who claimed they were descendants of the imperial line
Emperor of Japan
The Emperor of Japan is, according to the 1947 Constitution of Japan, "the symbol of the state and of the unity of the people." He is a ceremonial figurehead under a form of constitutional monarchy and is head of the Japanese Imperial Family with functions as head of state. He is also the highest...
, and those who claimed they were descendants of the gods
Kami
is the Japanese word for the spirits, natural forces, or essence in the Shinto faith. Although the word is sometimes translated as "god" or "deity", some Shinto scholars argue that such a translation can cause a misunderstanding of the term...
. There is no historical evidence for such distinctions.
At first the kabane were administered by individual clans, but eventually they came to be controlled by the Yamato
Yamato period
The is the period of Japanese history when the Japanese Imperial court ruled from modern-day Nara Prefecture, then known as Yamato Province.While conventionally assigned to the period 250–710 , the actual start of Yamato rule is disputed...
court. In 684
684
Year 684 was a leap year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar. The denomination 684 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.- Asia :* Wu Ze Tian takes power in China.* The Ummayad...
the kabane were reformed into the eight kabane system . The powerful omi of the time were given the kabane of ason
Ason
is a prestigious title , initially conferred in the Nara period of the history of Japan, on princes who had been reduced to the commonalty.Notable ason were:...
, which ranked second under the new system, while most of the muraji were given the kabane of sukune, which ranked third. Later, as the clans began to devolve into individual households, the kabane system gradually faded from use.