Category Archives: The Genealogies of the Various Houses of the Ma-clan

Ōshiro Aji Shinbu 大城按司眞武 is the originator of the Ma-clan. He established the House Dana 田名家, which is the main house (大宗) of this clan. All other houses are branch houses (支流). Among these are the House Tawada 多和田家, the House Ishimine 石嶺家, the House Nishibaru 西原家, the House Sesoko 瀬底家 and others.

It is notable for Okinawa Kobudo that following the 8th generation Gima Pēchin Shinji, the “Matayoshi House of the Ma-Clan” was established by Shindai, which leads to the current family of Matayoshi Kobudo and Matayoshi Yasushi Sensei of the Kodokan. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find the official genealogical record of the “Matayoshi House of the Ma-Clan” within the official genealogies of the Royal Government, so it might be lost. In such cases, family members often prepare their own lineage charts. The main problem with this is that the official genealogies of the Royal Government included duties, offices, titles etc. of the person, while private lineages made in modern times do not have such entries, and even if, they cannot be considered official.

● Nanori-gashira: Shin 眞.
● Houses within the Monchū 門中: Dana, Gima, Nagamine, Matsumura, Moromizato, Nakamine, Ishimine, Matayoshi, Isa, Yoshizato, Tawada, Iraha, Esu, Nishihara, Sesoko, Toguchi, Tōyama, Arakaki, Nagahama, Tokashiki, Yabiku.
● Episode: The “Dana-ke Monjo” (田名家文書) became a national designated cultural asset. 32 “jireisho” (辞令書, certificates of appointment) issued by the royal government to the Dana House are preserved. Gima Uēkata Shinjō 儀間親方眞常 from the Dana House is said to have been a benefactor of industries, such as the popularization of potato cultivation, cotton weaving, or the preparation of brown sugar.

In the various genealogies of this clan there are a number of hints related to martial arts of an original Ryūkyūan design.

For example, within the House Tawada 多和田家, there are heroic stories from various family members over generations. And today there are Tawada no Passai and Tawada no Sai. Since martial arts was sort-of a family business, it was also labelled Tawada-ryū 多和田流 by one Okinawan Kobudō expert.

In some of the clan members’ genealogies we find clues to a historical martial arts of an original Ryūkyūan design. Among others, these clan members served the royal government as “guard commanders” (seitō 勢頭), which is the highest position within the antique Ryūkyūan military organization called “Hiki”, such as the “Sejiaratomi” 勢治荒富, and the “Jakunitomi” 謝国富.

In this category I publish excerpts from the official genealogies of the various houses of the Ma-clan. By doing so, I hope I can shed some light again on the framework of historical martial arts of an original Ryūkyūan design.

8. Generation Gima Pēchin Shinji 儀間親雲上眞時

Names and DOB Childhood name: Shinshi眞市 Chinese-style name: Ma Sagen 麻作愿 Born: as the firstborn son, 1612 (?) -01-05 Family Father: Shinshi 眞之 Mother: Magami 眞龜 of the Kin-clan 金氏 Wife: Mamichi 眞滿, daughter of Kuniyoshi Pēchin Shinshun 國吉親雲上眞春 of the Sa-clan 査氏 … Continue reading

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7. Generation Gima Satonushi Pēchin Shinshi 儀間里之子親雲上眞之

Names and DOB Childhood name: Masanrā 眞三良 Chinese-style name: Ma Kyōyo 麻擧要 Born: as the firstborn son, 1585 Family Father: Shinjō 眞常 Mother: Manabi 眞鍋 of the Mō-clan 毛氏 Wife: Magami 眞龜, daughter of Tomoyose Pēchin (Kin Shireki) 友寄親雲上 (金仕歴)(she died 1662-02-18. Posthumous … Continue reading

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6. Generation Gima Uēkata Shinjō 儀間親方眞常

Names and DOB Childhood name: Shinshi 眞市 Chinese-style name: Ma Heikō 麻平衡 Born: as the thirdborn son, 1557. Family Father: Shinmei 眞命 Mother: Manabi 眞鍋 of the Sō-clan 莊氏 Wife: Manabi 眞鍋, daughter of Ahagon Shī Sei’i 阿波根子盛懿 of the Mō-clan 毛氏 (she … Continue reading

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5. Generation Gima Pēchin Shinmei 儀間親雲上眞命

Names and DOB Childhood name: Masanrā 眞三郎 Chinese-style name: Ma Jishō 麻時嘗 Born: as the firstborn son, 1513 Family Father: Shinmō 眞孟 Mother: A person from Izumisaki village Wife: Manabi 眞鍋, daughter of Oroku Pēchin Sōshin 小禄親雲上宗親 of the Sō-clan 莊氏 (she died … Continue reading

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4. Generation Gima Pēchin Shinmō 儀間親雲上眞孟

Names and DOB Childhood name: Shutarūgani 小樽兼 Chinese-style name: Ju Tatsuro 壽達魯 Born: as the firstborn son, 1494 Family Father: Shinpuku 眞福 Mother: Taira Ōamushirare 平良大阿母志良禮 Wife: a person from Izumisaki village 泉崎村 (died 1578-09-10. Posthumous name: Shūkei 秋桂) Oldest son: Shinmei 眞命 … Continue reading

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3. Generation Gima Taira Pēchin Shinpuku 儀間平良親雲上眞福

Names and DOB Childhood name: Uminta 思武太 Chinese-style name: Ma Futo 麻普都 Born: as the firstborn son, 1451 Posthumous name: Shinsō 眞宗 Family Father: Shinsō 眞宗 Mother: a Person from Gima village in Mawashi district 眞和志儀間 Wife: Taira Ōamushirare 平良大阿母志良禮  (Her parents are unknown. … Continue reading

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2. Generation Ōshiro Shī Shinsō 大城子眞宗

Names and DOB Childhood name: Shutarūgani 小樽兼 Chinese-style name: Ma Seikō 麻省功 Born: as firstborn son in 1411. Death date unknown. Posthumous name: Isshin 一心 Family Father: Shinbu 眞武 Mother: a person from Kakinohana village in Tamagusuku district Wife: a Person from Gima … Continue reading

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1. Generation of the Ma-clan: Ōshiro Aji Shinbu 大城按司眞武

Names and DOB Childhood name: Umindagani 思武太金 Chinese-style name: Ma Fui 麻普蔚 Born: His life and death dates are unknown. Posthumous name: Kijitsu 貴實 Family His parents are unknown. Wife: a person from Kakinohana village in Tamagusuku district. Her life … Continue reading

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