Kabane

Kabane (姓) were hereditary titles used in ancient Japan to denote rank and political standing. There were over 30; some of the more common kabane were omi (臣), muraji (連), miyatsuko (造), kimi (君), atai (値), fubito (史), agatanushi (県主), suguri (村主).

The kabane were divided into two general classes. There were those who claimed they were descendants of the imperial line (皇別, kōbetsu), and those who claimed they were descendants of the gods (神別, shinbetsu). Of course there is no historical evidence for such distinctions.

At first the kabane were administered by individual clans, but eventually they came to be controlled by the Yamato court. In 684 the kabane were reformed into the eight kabane system (八色の姓, yakusa no kabane). Later, as the clans began to devolve into individual households, the kabane system gradually faded from use.