Shinmen clan
Encyclopedia
The was a Japanese clan that flourished during the 15th–16th (Sengoku period
) and 17th centuries (Edo period
) of Japan. The clan resided in Western Kyoto
.
family. The Shinmen clan were known for employing highly skilled swordsman as their vassals. This long line of skilled swordsmanship within the clan dated back around to the 15th century, when men such as Hirata Shokan were employed.
One noteworthy member of the Shinmen clan was Shinmen Sokan
(16th century). Retainers from that era include Hirata Munisai (commonly known as Miyamoto or Shinmen Munisai
), the father of the famous swordsman, Miyamoto Musashi
. Munisai soon became the most senior retainer of this clan and enforced Shinmen policies.
The history of the Shinmen clan following the Edo era is unknown.
Sengoku period
The or Warring States period in Japanese history was a time of social upheaval, political intrigue, and nearly constant military conflict that lasted roughly from the middle of the 15th century to the beginning of the 17th century. The name "Sengoku" was adopted by Japanese historians in reference...
) and 17th centuries (Edo period
Edo period
The , or , is a division of Japanese history which was ruled by the shoguns of the Tokugawa family, running from 1603 to 1868. The political entity of this period was the Tokugawa shogunate....
) of Japan. The clan resided in Western Kyoto
Kyoto
is a city in the central part of the island of Honshū, Japan. It has a population close to 1.5 million. Formerly the imperial capital of Japan, it is now the capital of Kyoto Prefecture, as well as a major part of the Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto metropolitan area.-History:...
.
History
The Shinmen were a daimyoDaimyo
is a generic term referring to the powerful territorial lords in pre-modern Japan who ruled most of the country from their vast, hereditary land holdings...
family. The Shinmen clan were known for employing highly skilled swordsman as their vassals. This long line of skilled swordsmanship within the clan dated back around to the 15th century, when men such as Hirata Shokan were employed.
One noteworthy member of the Shinmen clan was Shinmen Sokan
Shinmen Sokan
Shinmen Sokan was a Japanese lord, daimyo of the during the middle of the Sengoku period. Sokan was known as a rather petty daimyo in the mountainous regions of Sakushu, which was west of Kyoto. Even though this was so, the Shinmen clan had very good ties with that of the Hirata family, leading...
(16th century). Retainers from that era include Hirata Munisai (commonly known as Miyamoto or Shinmen Munisai
Shinmen Munisai
, also called Hirata Munisai, was a martial artist, expert in using the sword and the jutte. He was also the father of the samurai named Miyamoto Musashi. He was the son of Hirata Shōgen 平田将監, a vassal of Shinmen Iga no Kami, the lord of Takayama Castle in the Yoshino district of Mimasaka Province...
), the father of the famous swordsman, Miyamoto Musashi
Miyamoto Musashi
, also known as Shinmen Takezō, Miyamoto Bennosuke or, by his Buddhist name, Niten Dōraku, was a Japanese swordsman and rōnin. Musashi, as he was often simply known, became renowned through stories of his excellent swordsmanship in numerous duels, even from a very young age...
. Munisai soon became the most senior retainer of this clan and enforced Shinmen policies.
The history of the Shinmen clan following the Edo era is unknown.