Urabe clan

The  was a Japanese noble family. They did Divination for the royal family. Their cadet branch was the Yoshida family. It became one of the most important families of Shinto priests. They helped shape Shinto. The  school was named after them. It was the main kind of Shinto until the Meiji Restoration.

The Urabe clan started in the Heian period or earlier. They said they came from Ame-no-Koyane. like the Nakatomi clan. They first worked as diviners in the Department of Divinities. They were was under the Nakatomi clan.  They did divination with tortoise shells and deer scapulae. Later, they took the name . They served at Yoshida Shrine, their family shrine.

They helped with rituals such as Ōharae-shiki. Later, they gained more power and controlled the job of miyaji. In time, they became almost in charge of the Department of Divinities. Members of the family often held the job of Jingi Daifu (神祇大副), the deputy head of the Department of Divinities. They were known for divination with turtle shells.

Their member Yoshida Kanetomo was a very important Shinto thinker. He created and ran a Hasshinden at Yoshida Shrine

Their rival was the .

 Related pages 

 Yamato clan
 Izumo clan





 Sarume clan
 Kii no Kuni no Miyatsuko
 Munakata clan
 Cadet Branches



 References 

Category:History of Shinto
Category:Noble families
Category:Japanese nobility
Category:Shake clans