Soga no Iname facts for kids

Soga no Iname (蘇我 稲目) was an important leader of the Soga clan in ancient Japan. He lived from around 506 AD to March 22, 570 AD. He was a powerful statesman during the time of Emperor Kinmei in what is known as the Asuka period.

Soga no Iname was the first person to hold the title of Ōomi in a way that historians can confirm. This happened in 536 AD. Being an Ōomi meant he was like the main advisor or head of government for the Yamato ruler, who was called the Ōkimi (later known as the Emperor). So, he was a very influential person in the government.

He was the son of Soga no Koma and the father of Soga no Umako, who also became a very powerful figure.

How Soga no Iname Gained Power

Soga no Iname made his family very strong by connecting them to the Emperor. He arranged for two of his daughters, Soga no Kitashihime and Soga no Oanegimi, to marry Emperor Kinmei.

These marriages were very successful for the Soga clan. His daughters gave birth to three future emperors: Emperor Yōmei, Emperor Sushun, and Empress Suiko. They also had many other princes and princesses. This meant the Soga family had close ties to the imperial family for generations.

Bringing Buddhism to Japan

Soga no Iname is also famous for supporting Buddhism early on in Japan. This new religion came to the Yamato court from a kingdom called Baekje (in what is now Korea).

According to an old Japanese book called the Nihon Shoki, Buddhism arrived in 552 AD. However, another old book, the Jōgū Shōtoku Hōō Teisetsu, says it arrived earlier, in 538 AD.

Not everyone was happy about this new religion. Two powerful clans, the Mononobe and the Nakatomi, were against accepting Buddhism. Their leaders, Mononobe no Okoshi and Nakatomi no Kamako, strongly opposed Iname's support for the new faith.

Clan Rivalries

The disagreement over Buddhism led to a big rivalry between the Soga clan and the Mononobe and Nakatomi clans. This rivalry continued for many years and through several generations.

• Iname's son, Soga no Umako, later defeated Okoshi's son, Mononobe no Moriya, in a battle in 587 AD. This showed the Soga clan's growing power.
• Much later, Iname's grandson and great-grandson, Soga no Emishi and Soga no Iruka, were defeated by a descendant of Kamako, Nakatomi no Kamatari. This happened in an event called the Isshi Incident.

This long-lasting rivalry shows how important Soga no Iname's decisions were for the future of Japan.

Family Members

• Father: Soga no Koma
• Wives: Bijohime and Lady Agako
• Children:
  • Soga no Kitashihime: A daughter who married Emperor Kinmei. She was the mother of Emperor Yōmei and Empress Suiko.
  • Soga no Umako: His first son, born in 551 AD. He became a very powerful leader after his father.
  • Soga no Oane: Another daughter who married Emperor Kinmei. She was the mother of Emperor Sushun.
  • Soga no Ishikina: A daughter who was a concubine of Emperor Yōmei.
  • Sakaibe no Marise: His second son.
  • Kojoshin: His third son.