− | The Tachibana clan was one of the four most powerful ''[[kuge]]'' (court nobility) families in the [[Nara period|Nara]] and early [[Heian period]]s. Members of the Tachibana family often held high court posts within the [[Daijo-kan|Daijô-kan]] (Ministry of State), most frequently ''[[Sadaijin]]'' (Minister of the Left). Like the other major families at court, they also constantly sought to increase and secure their power by marrying into the [[Imperial family]]. However, as the [[Fujiwara clan]] gained power over the course of the 9th and 10th centuries, the Tachibana were eclipsed and eventually became scattered across the country. Though serving in high government posts outside the capital, they were thus denied the degree of power and influence within the court at [[Kyoto]] (Heian-kyô) which they once enjoyed. | + | The Tachibana clan was one of the four most powerful ''[[kuge]]'' (court nobility) families in the [[Nara Period|Nara]] and early [[Heian Period]]. Members of the Tachibana family often held high court posts within the [[Daijo-kan|Daijô-kan]] (Ministry of State), most frequently ''[[Sadaijin]]'' (Minister of the Left). Like the other major families at court, they also constantly sought to increase and secure their power by marrying into the [[Imperial family]]. However, as the [[Fujiwara clan]] gained power over the course of the 9th and 10th centuries, the Tachibana were eclipsed and eventually became scattered across the country. Though serving in high government posts outside the capital, they were thus denied the degree of power and influence within the court at [[Kyoto]] (Heian-kyô) which they once enjoyed. |
| The family claimed descent from [[Inukai no Michiyo|Agata no Inukai no Michiyo]], wife of [[Prince Minu]], who was bestowed the name Tachibana in [[708]], in return for services rendered to the court. The lineage, however, may go back even further, to [[Tajima Mori]], a Korean who, according to legend, introduced oranges, called ''tachibana'' (橘) in Japanese, to Japan in the first century CE<ref>Frederic, Louis (2002). "Japan Encyclopedia." Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press.</ref>. They likely bore no direct relation to the [[Tachibana clan (samurai)|Tachibana clan]] of samurai which emerged in the 14th century. | | The family claimed descent from [[Inukai no Michiyo|Agata no Inukai no Michiyo]], wife of [[Prince Minu]], who was bestowed the name Tachibana in [[708]], in return for services rendered to the court. The lineage, however, may go back even further, to [[Tajima Mori]], a Korean who, according to legend, introduced oranges, called ''tachibana'' (橘) in Japanese, to Japan in the first century CE<ref>Frederic, Louis (2002). "Japan Encyclopedia." Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press.</ref>. They likely bore no direct relation to the [[Tachibana clan (samurai)|Tachibana clan]] of samurai which emerged in the 14th century. |
| * [[Kamachi Hisanao|Minamoto no Hisanao]] (源久直) - Member of the [[Saga Genji]] line of the [[Minamoto clan]]; founder of Kamachi family from the Chikugo Tachibana branch | | * [[Kamachi Hisanao|Minamoto no Hisanao]] (源久直) - Member of the [[Saga Genji]] line of the [[Minamoto clan]]; founder of Kamachi family from the Chikugo Tachibana branch |