八色やくさの姓かばね

also: はっしきのかばね

Meanings

noun

eight hereditary titles (684 CE)

archaic

Historical term referring to the eight kabane ranks established by Emperor Tenmu in 684 CE: Mahito, Ason, Sukune, Imiki, Michinoshi, Omi, Muraji, and Inagi. Used in discussions of ancient Japanese court hierarchy.

See also: 真人 · 朝臣 · 宿禰 · 忌寸 · 道の師 · 臣 · 連 · 稲置

天てん武む天皇てんのうは684年ねんに八や色いろの姓せいを制せい定ていした。
Emperor Tenmu established the eight hereditary titles in 684.
八色やくさの姓かばねには、真ま人ひとや朝臣あそんなどが含ふくまれる。
The eight hereditary titles include Mahito, Ason, and others.

Written forms

八色の姓
- やくさのかばね
  Standard historical term; the reading やくさのかばね is the most common.
- はっしきのかばね
八色姓
- やくさのかばね
  Abbreviated form without の; also read はっしきのかばね.
- はっしきのかばね
  Alternate reading; less common than やくさのかばね.
はっしきのかばね

Kanji

八eight, eight radical (no. 12)
色color
姓surname

Similar words

真ま人ひと
One of the eight titles; the highest rank, given to imperial descendants.
朝臣あそん
The second rank among the eight titles, often granted to powerful clans.
宿すく禰ね
The third rank; later became a common kabane title.
忌い寸みき
The fourth rank; originally for immigrants and technical specialists.
道みちの師し
The fifth rank; a rare title, sometimes read as みちのし.
臣おみ
The sixth rank; an older kabane title incorporated into the system.
連むらじ
The seventh rank; another older title retained in the new hierarchy.
稲いな置ぎ
The eighth and lowest rank; often held by local administrators.

Etymology

From 八色 (eight colors/types) + の (possessive particle) + 姓 (hereditary title). The term refers to the eight ranks of kabane established in 684 CE. The reading やくさ is a specific historical reading of 八色 in this context; はっしき is an alternative on'yomi reading.

Meanings