The Ōmura clan (大村氏, Ōmura-shi) was a clan of samurai of Medieval Japan of the province of Hizen descended from Fujiwara no Sumitomo (died 941).[1] The clan is notable for being the first daimyo family in Japan to convert to Christianity in 1562.[2][3]
| Ōmura 大村氏 | |
|---|---|
 The emblem (mon) of the Ōmura clan | |
| Home province |  Fujiwara Clan |
| Titles | Kampaku Daijō-daijin |
| Founder | Ōmura Yoshiaki |
| Final ruler | Ōmura Sumihiro |
| Founding year | c. CE 1600 |
| Dissolution | c. CE 1871 |
Notable clan members edit
- Ōmura Tadazumi (大村 忠澄) An eighth-generation descendant of Sumimoto, he was the first to take the surname Ōmura, named after a village in Hizen Province where he lived.
- Ōmura Sumitada (大村純忠; CE 1532–1587) son of Arima Haruzumi, was chosen to succeed Ōmura Sumiaki. Baptized in CE 1562 with the name Bartholomew he was the first daimyō to remain faithful to the religion until his death. It was he who in 1568 opened the port of Fukae to foreign trade, which later became the city of Nagasaki.
- Ōmura Yoshiaki (大村 喜前; 1568–1615) son of Sumitada, he was also a Christian and received the name Sanche. In CE1600, he remained neutral during the Sekigahara Campaign and had to pass his own domain to his son. He spent the rest of his life in debauchery.
- Ōmura Sumiyori (大村 純頼; CE 1592–1619) son of Yoshiaki. He was baptized and received the name Bartholomew , like his grandfather. However towards the end of his life he persecuted the Christians of his fiefdom.
- Ōmura Sumihiro (大村 純熈; CE 1831–1882) received the title of count after the abolition of the han system.
Note edit
- ^ Edmond Papinot (1964). "Historical and geographical dictionary of Japan". p. [1].
- ^ Amano, Koichi (December 9, 2023). "Monk inserts Buddhist deity into Madonna and Child work". Asahi Shimbun. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
- ^ Yoshitaka, Shoji. "The Arrival and Flourishing of Christianity". Oratio. World Heritage Division, Nagasaki Prefectural Government. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
See also edit
Externial connections edit
- "Mr. Omura su Harimaya.com" (in Japanese).
- "Omura clan". Archived from the original on August 11, 2016. Retrieved August 11, 2016.