Haji clan
{{Short description|Japanese clan}}
{{Infobox clan
| clan name = Haji clan
| native_name = 土師氏
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| country = Japan
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The Haji clan ({{lang|ja|土師氏}}, Haji-uji, Haji-shi) is a Japanese clan. The clan administered earthenware artisans, organized collectively into a group called Haji-be ({{lang|ja|土師部}}). During the Yamato period, these artisans worked chiefly on soil-related matters, such as creating haniwa, constructing tombs and kofun, and handling other civil engineering.[https://kotobank.jp/word/%E5%9C%9F%E5%B8%AB%E6%B0%8F-787168#E6.97.A5.E6.9C.AC.E5.A4.A7.E7.99.BE.E7.A7.91.E5.85.A8.E6.9B.B8.28.E3.83.8B.E3.83.83.E3.83.9D.E3.83.8B.E3.82.AB.29 Kotobank entry for Hajishi] (in Japanese; retrieved 13 July 2022) The kabane titles of the clan are Sukune or Muraji. They were engaged in constructing the tombs of high-ranking people as well as managing the funeral ceremonies of the ōkimi ("great lords").
History
The Haji clan claims descent from Ame-no-hohi, the second son of Amaterasu, which makes them relatives of the Japanese Imperial Family.{{cite book | last1=Cali | first1=J. | last2=Dougill | first2=J. | title=Shinto Shrines: A Guide to the Sacred Sites of Japan's Ancient Religion | publisher=University of Hawaii Press | year=2012 | isbn=978-0-8248-3775-4 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=J1gEEAAAQBAJ&pg=PA69 | access-date=2020-11-21 | page=69}} Nomi no Sukune was believed to be the ancestor of the clan. According to legend, he was the inventor of haniwa,[https://kotobank.jp/word/%E5%9C%9F%E5%B8%AB%E9%83%A8-114219 Kotobank entry for Hajibe] (in Japanese; retrieved 13 July 2022) the terracotta clay figurines buried with a nobleman and used as a symbolic substitute for junshi, the practice whereby members of high-ranking households would commit suicide upon the passing of the household head, as a way to continue serving them in death.
The clan was later divided into three houses: the Sugawara clan, the {{ill|Akishino clan|ja|秋篠氏}}, and the {{ill|Ōe clan|ja|大江氏}}.
They are relatives of the Izumo clan who are also descended from Ame no Hohi and run Izumo-taishakyo today.{{Citation |title=Converting Japan, 1825–1875 |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.5040/9781474271110.ch-004 |work=The Origin of Modern Shinto in Japan : The Vanquished Gods of Izumo |page=38 |access-date=2023-10-24 |publisher=Bloomsbury Academic |isbn=978-1-4742-7108-0}}{{Cite book |last=Cali |first=Joseph |url=https://www.amazon.ca/Shinto-Shrines-Sacred-Ancient-Religion/dp/0824837134 |title=Shinto Shrines: A Guide to the Sacred Sites of Japan's Ancient Religion |last2=Dougill |first2=John |date=2012-11-30 |publisher=Latitude 20 |isbn=978-0-8248-3713-6 |edition=Illustrated |location=Honolulu |language=English}}{{Cite web |last=Matsunaga |first=Naomichi |title=Kuni no miyatsuko |url=https://d-museum.kokugakuin.ac.jp/eos/detail/?id=8839 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20231025020641/https://d-museum.kokugakuin.ac.jp/eos/detail/?id=8839 |archive-date=2023-10-25 |access-date=2023-10-25 |website=Kokugakuin University Encyclopedia of Shinto |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Matsunaga |first=Naomichi |title=Izumo kokusō |url=https://d-museum.kokugakuin.ac.jp/eos/detail/?id=8603 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20231025020717/https://d-museum.kokugakuin.ac.jp/eos/detail/?id=8603 |archive-date=2023-10-25 |access-date=2023-10-25 |website=Kokugakuin University Encyclopedia of Shinto |language=en}}
Name
The clan takes its name from haji ({{lang|ja|土師}}), a shift from older hani-shi, from {{lang|ja|埴}} (hani, "red clay", such as used to make terracotta) + {{lang|ja|師}} (-shi, a Chinese-derived suffix appended to indicate "master" of a craft). The hani-shi were masters of the crafts of earthenware and earthwork engineering.
In Japanese mythology, the name was given to the founder of the clan, Nomi no Sukune by Emperor Suinin after he crafted haniwa for the burial of Empress Hibasuhime.{{Cite web|title=Nomi no Sukune • A History of Japan - 日本歴史|url=https://historyofjapan.co.uk/wiki/nomi-no-sukune/|access-date=2021-09-01|website=A History of Japan - 日本歴史|language=en-GB}}