Achi no Omi

• 3rd century within the Nihon Shoki, but most likely 5th century
• Japanese: 阿知使主

Nihon Shoki X:13; p.264

20th year, Autumn, 9 month. Achi no Omi, ancestor of the Atahe of the Aya of Yamato, and his son Tsuga no Omi immigrated to Japan, bringing with them a company of their people of seventeen districts

Nihon Shoki X:13; p.265--Aston's note

Aya is the traditional Japanese rendering of 漢 ie. Han, the name of a Chinese dynasty. No satisfactory explanation of the reason why this character should be read aya has been given. As a mere guess, I would suggest that Hada or hata or 秦　(Ts'in), Kure for Wu 呉 and Aya for Han may have been names given from the textile products with which these three Chinese dynasties, or the emigrants, may have been associated; Hada or Hata meaning loom or cloth generally, Kure, dyed stuffs (for Kurenawai, pink or scarlet), and Aya, figured stuffs. There were numerous weavers among the Corean (or Chinese) emigrants to Japan...This family was called the Aya of Yamato to distinguish it from another family of the same name in Kawachi. These two families were also known respectively as the Higashi no Aya, or Eastern Aya, and the Nishi no Aya, or Western Aya...The Yamato Aya claimed descent from the Emperor Ling-ti of the Later Han dynasty, who reigned A.D. 168-190. We are told that on the fall of that dynasty in 221, Prince Achi fled to Corea, whence he subsequently emigrated to Japan; but how much of this is true it is impossible to say.

Nihon Shoki X:13; p.265--Aston's note

37th year, Spring, 2nd month, 1st day. Achi no Omi and Tsuga no Omi [his son]

But, being that Emperor Ling died in 189 A.D., Aston's work is once again shown as dated.

The

Achi no Omi, who settled in Japan in the time of Emperor Ôjin (third century), who said to have been the great grandson of Emperor Ling (A.D. 168-188) of the Later Han dynasty of China. Since he came to Japan at a time when the ruler of the Korean Kingdom of Paekche was on close terms with Emperor Ôjin, it has been suggested that he was brought by Japanese generals on their return from the Korean peninsula.

He is said to have brought with him his family and followers and to have taken charge of the composition and handling of documents at the Japanese court. He is also supposed to have been sent on a mission to China and to have brought back four women who were skilled at weaving. He is representative of the persons who introduced various skills from Korea and China to the court of Emperor Ôjin. The family known as Yamato no Ayauji, which looked to him as their ancestor, later became the hereditary handlers of documents at the Yamato court.

Sources

W.G. Aston (translator), Nihongi.

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