Minor clan

A minor clan was a clan recognized by the Emperor of Rokugan that was formed after the foundation of the Empire. Minor clans were officially under the Emperor's protection, and the Great Clans were forbidden to begin an offensive war against them.
The minor clans were all considerably smaller and less powerful than the great clans, and most had only a single recognized family name.
== Creation of a Minor Clan ==
Only the Emperor might create a new minor clan, and the formation of a new minor clan was a very rare event. If a samurai had performed a great service for the Empire or had gained unusual and valuable insight, the Emperor might choose to allow him to gather samurai into his service and form a new minor clan, settling upon a tract of land granted to the new Champion by the Emperor. Roleplaying in the Emerald Empire, p. 21 This small bands of samurai were called Jizamurai, Roleplaying in the Emerald Empire, pp. 39-40 and the new minor clan daimyo was expected to teach those who entered into his service to follow his example. This new minor clan would quickly form their own bushi or shugenja school to teach and develop the techniques of their founder. 
=== Ancestral Weapon ===
When a group attained the Minor Clan status, they were formally given a katana from the Emperor's hands, a weapon which would become their ancestral weapon. If the Minor Clan was ever disgraced and had their Clan status revoked, their clan weapon was broken by the Emperor's hand. Winter Court: Kyuden Seppun, p. 43
=== House name ===
Not all Minor clans had family names, and some had no 'first' or house name. House names were given separately by the Emperor's command, and only on rare occasions. In the early 12th century only seven family names were recorded to have been given to Minor Clans. 
=== Unofficial Minor Clans ===
In the past, several minor clans were created without the Emperor also recognizing a family name for the clan. The Tortoise and Mantis clans were examples of minor clans that through most of their history had no recognized family name. Emperor Toturi III ended this practice when he granted in 1166 the Morito family name to the Ox Clan, the only minor clan left that did not also have a family name. Fealty and Freedom, p. 76
== History ==
=== First Minor Clan ===
The first minor clan, as acknowledged by the Emperor, was the Fox Clan Winter Court: Kyuden Seppun, p. 29 in 90. Imperial Histories, p. 19
The founding of the Mantis Clan did occur in 80, a full ten years prior, but they were not recognized as a minor clan until some time later in 429. A Hero's Death, Chapter 2, by Rich Wulf
=== Ascension to Great Clan Status ===
For most of Rokugani history no minor clan managed to attain anywhere near the strength or influence of a great clan. This changed on the Second Day of Thunder, when Yoritomo, through the power gained from his alliances with other minor clans, forced the other great clans to accept the Mantis Clan into their ranks. The Son of Storms (Yoritomo's Alliance) The Yoritomo Alliance (Time of the Void, story back) This was the only example of a minor clan ascending to Great Clan status in history. The only other instance of a group ascending to Great Clan status was that of the Spider Clan, although in this instance they group had not been a minor clan prior to their ascension. Goddesses, Part 4, by Shawn Carman
=== Minor Clan Alliance ===
In 1167 the Minor Clan Alliance was formed, for mutual gain. 
=== Most Recent Minor Clan ===
The most recent creation of a minor clan was that of the Oriole Clan in 1168 in recognition of the Tsi family's (a family of ronin) service to the Empire. The Ruins of Otosan Uchi, Part 3, by Shawn Carman
== Minor Clans ==
There were thirteen Minor Clans in Rokugan during the reign of Hantei XXXVIII. The known minor clans recognized by the Emperor's court were:
Minor Clan 	Founded	Founder
Badger Clan 	110 	Hida Domogu
Sparrow Clan 	400 	Doji Onegano
Tortoise Clan 	442 	Agasha Kasuga
Dragonfly Clan	704 	Mirumoto Asijin and Isawa Maroko
Hare Clan 	750 	Reichin (ronin)
Monkey Clan 	1129 	Toku (ronin)
Firefly Clan 	1152 	Shinjo Jainu
Ox Clan 	1158 	Shinjo Morito
Bat Clan 	1165 	Yoritomo Komori
Oriole Clan 	1168 	Tsi Zutaka (ronin)
Boar Clan 	1200 	Restored under Heichi Tochiko
There were also several clans that were once minor clans, but which had since been destroyed or absorbed by other clans:
Minor Clan 	Founded 	Founder 	Dissolved 	Reason
Mantis Clan 	80 (Officially in 429)	Hida Kaimetsu-uo 	1128 	Became a Great Clan
Fox Clan 	90 	Shinun 	1169 	Joined the Mantis Clan
Tanuki Clan 	Unknown 	Unnamed Badger Clan Samurai 	Unknown 	Disbanded by the Emperor, to erase a Clan he considered as an embarrassment to his grandfather's name
Snake Clan 	339 	Isawa Chuda 	401 	Destroyed by the Phoenix Clan
Centipede Clan	347 	Isawa Azami 	(1127)1133	(Allied with the Mantis Clan)Fully joined through marriage
Boar Clan 	447 	Heichi 	501 	Disappeared (sacrificed to create the Anvil of Despair). They were restored in the year 1200.
Falcon Clan 	834 	Yotogi 	1125 	Joined the Crab Clan
Wasp Clan 	1109 	Tsuruchi 	1128 	Joined the Mantis Clan
Snake Clan 	1159 	Refounded by Asako Mishime as Chuda family	c.1159 	Joined the Lost, then later the Spider Clan, then later diverged from the Spider.
== Schools & Paths ==
=== Schools ===
The following were the basic Schools available within any Minor Clan:
* Minor Clan Diplomat
* Woodland Tracker
=== Paths ===
The following were the Paths available within any Minor Clan:
* Minor Clan Defender
* Minor Clan Explorer
* Minor Clan Sumai Master
* Taryu-Jiai Duelist
Category: Minor Clans