Ashina clan

Ashina clan (蘆名氏) is a Japanese clan.

History
The clan claims descent from Taira clan through the Miura clan, was a Japanese clan during the Sengoku period. Sometimes the kanji Kan-on characters "芦名" and "葦名" are used also. The name came from the area called Ashina in the city of Yokosuka in Kanagawa Prefecture.

There were two branches of the clan: Sagami-Ashina (相模蘆名氏) and Aizu-Ashina (会津蘆名氏). Sagami-Ashina originated when Miura Yoshitsugu's third son adopted the name Ashina. Aizu-Ashina was descented from Miura Yoshiaki's seventh son Sawara Yoshitsuru. Some sources disagree however. During the Muromachi period the clan claimed the shugo of Aizu. In 1589 the clan suffered a severe loss against Date Masamune at the Battle of Suriagehara, leading to the demise of the clan.

The Ashina play a prominent role in Futaroh Yamada's novel Yagyu Ninpocho where, following their defeat by Masamune, they went into hiding only to emerge years later as ninja in service to the daimyo of Aizu.