ABSTRACT
The population of Japan is considered originally to have been divided into three classes: Shin-betsu (神別), or the “ Divine branch, ” which consisted of the descendants of gods ; Kwō-betsu (皇別), or the “ Imperial branch,” which included the descendants of the Imperial families; and Ban-betsu (蕃別), or the “ foreign branch, ” comprising the descendants of naturalized foreigners. Each of these three branches was divided again into many clans, each having a distinctive clan-name uji (氏) or kabane (姓). With regard to the original signification of the words uji and kabane, there is considerable divergence of opinion among Japanese scholars. Some maintain that the word came from umi-chi (生血), or “blood of birth” ; others derive it from uchi (出), or “origin” ; while the claims of uchi (內)“ house ” also receive support in certain quarters (拾芥抄). As to the derivation of the word kabam, which was sometimes used to denote clan-names, almost equally divergent views exist. Some suggest agamayena (あがまへな), or “reverential name” in view of the fact that the word was more usually employed to convey the meaning of a title of honour; others derive it from kami hone (神骨), or “god, s bone,” the word signifying that a clan-name is like the bone of the ancestor which remains after his death; while not a few are in favour of applying its ordinary meaning, namely “ corpse,” because it is a corpse that descendants succeed. The late Professor Kurita, in his learned dissertation on the subject of clans (氏族考), derived it from kabuné (頭根), “root” or “stock,” the word being employed to designate the root or stock from which descendants sprang. I have no desire, however, to involve myself in an etymological discussion as to the original sigmtication of these words; nor is it within the scope of this book to do so. No matter which of these disputed derivations be the correct one, they one and all convey the idea of a certain common ancestor, and consequently of the community of blood.
