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Achi no Omi
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Achi no Omi (阿知使主; 3rd–5th century) also known Achi no Ō (阿智王) as well as Achikishi (阿知吉師) or Achiki (阿直岐), was the legendary founder of the "Yamatonoaya clan (東漢氏)" who settled in Japan with his son Tsuga no Omi.[1] He is considered one of the three most influential Toraijins alongside Yuzuki no Kimi and Wani during the Kofun period.
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Origin
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Originally from the kingdom of Baekje, he is first mentioned in the Nihon Shoki when discussing about his arrival in Japan.
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.[2]
However, due to conflicting details across several sources that claim different origins of Achi no Omi, several theories have been proposed by modern historians.
According to Shoku Nihongi (797), it is said that he was the great-grandson of Emperor Ling of Han (other sources said he was still a descendant of Emperor Xian of Han being either his grandson or great grandson) which is the reason why his clan was named "東漢" meaning "Eastern Han" in Chinese characters.
On the contrary, older documents such as the Kojiki (711) and Nihon Shoki (720) state that Achi no Omi and his clan, the Yamatonoaya clan had originated from the kingdom of Baekje.[3]
Japanese scholars have indicated that Yamatonoaya clan and other "Aya (漢)" clans were all related and that they were generally classified under the same ethnic group.[4] These mainly included: the "Aya clan (漢氏)", the "Yamatonoaya clan (東漢氏/倭漢氏)" and the "Kawachinoaya clan (西漢氏/河内漢氏)". It is said that Yamatonoaya clan, Aya and Kawachinoaya, though not from the same founder, were ethnically related,[4] most likely all immigrating from Baekje.
百濟王遣阿直岐，貢良馬二匹。即養於輕阪上厩。因以阿直岐令掌飼。阿直岐亦能讀經典。及太子菟道稚郎子師焉。於是天皇問阿直岐曰，如勝汝博士亦有耶。對曰，有王仁者。是秀也。時遣上毛野君祖荒田別・巫別於百濟，仍徴王仁也。
The King of Baekje sent Achiki (Achi no omi) to deliver two horses. He was stationed at a stable in Karu where he took care of the horses. He was a master of reading scriptures and was placed as the mentor to Ujinowakiiratsuko. One day, the Emperor of Japan asked him "is there someone more talented than yourself?" and he replied, "a great scholar named Wani". The emperor dispatched his men to bring Wani from Baekje.
It is very likely that the added information and claims are aggrandizations made by the authors to accentuate the clan's importance.
Regardless of the claims found in the sources, the truth surrounding Achi no Omi and the other prominent immigrants such as Wani and Yuzuki no Kimi remain skeptical with modern historians considering them as fictional individuals whose stories were added later to help create origin stories for clans with foreign backgrounds.
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Name
Achi no Omi's name is often referenced differently depending on the source with four names in particular, "Achi no Omi", "Achi no Ō ", "Achiki", and "Achikishi" being the main four candidates.
The "-kishi (吉師)" suffix in Achikishi is believed to be an allusion to the title "-gilji (吉支)", or "-kichi" in Old Korean, of Baekje when addressing their royalty, specifically to that of the king. In Baekje, the king was called "Geon'gilji (鞬吉支/건길지)" and it is believed that the title was given to Achikishi when depicting him of Baekje descent (also seen in Wanikishi).
This sentiment is further examined in his alternate name, "Achi no Ō (阿智王)" or "King Achi" despite not referencing him of being royalty. It is believed that Achi no Omi and other invented clan founders were given the "King" title (also seen in Yuzuki no Ō) to elevate their importance in their respective clan's founding stories.
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See also
- Yamatonoaya clan: Achi no Omi's clan.
- Toraijin
References
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