Ashina clan (Japan)

Ashina clan (蘆名氏) is a Japanese clan that emerged during the Sengoku period.

History
The clan claims descent from Taira clan through the Miura clan. 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 daimyō of Aizu.

List of Head Family

 * (Founder) Miura Yoshiaki (1092-1180)
 * 1) Sawara Yoshitsura, son of Yoshiaki
 * 2) Sawara Moritsura, son of Yoshitsura
 * 3) Ashina Mitsumori, son of Yoshitsura
 * 4) Ashina Yasumori, nephew of Mitsumori
 * 5) Ashina Morimune, son of Yasumori
 * 6) Ashina Morikazu (1285-1335), son of Morimune
 * 7) Ashina Naomori (1323-1391), brother of Morikazu
 * 8) Ashina Norimori (1346-1407), son of Naomori
 * 9) Ashina Morimune (1386-1434), son of Norimori
 * 10) Ashina Morihisa (1416-1444), son of Morimune
 * 11) Ashina Morinobu (1408-1451), brother of Morihisa
 * 12) Ashina Moriakira (1431-1466), son of Morinobu
 * 13) Ashina Moritaka (1448-1558), son of Moriakira
 * 14) Ashina Morishige (1482-1521), son of Moritaka
 * 15) Ashina Morikiyo, brother of Morishige
 * 16) Ashina Moriuji (1521-1561), son of Morikiyo
 * 17) Ashina Morioki (1547-1574), son of Moriuji
 * 18) Ashina Moritaka, brother of Morioki
 * 19) Ashina Kameomaru (1584-1586), son of Moritaka
 * 20) Ashina Yoshihiro (1575-1631), descendant of Sawara Yoshitsura’s brother.
 * 21) Ashina Moritoshi (1631-1651), son of Yoshihiro
 * 22) Ashina Sentsurumaru (1650-1653), son of Moritoshi