History UsefulNotes / Genji

* ''VideoGame/{{Onmyoji}}'' in which the Minamoto is an onmyōji clan. Named members that appear in person consist of Hiromasa and Yorimitsu. Maybe Onigiri (a.k.a. Higekiri/Tomokiri/Shishinoko/Sunnashi) too if you count a personified sword.

* Seiwa Genji: Probably the most successful and famous Genji line. Founded the UsefulNotes/KamakuraShogunate, making them samurai pedigree. Cadet branches: too big to list, but includes the Ashikaga and Tokugawa, [[NamesTheSame both of them]] (well, the second one at least ''claimed'' descent).

* ''Anime/OtogiZoshi''
* ''The Tale of Heike''
* ''VideoGame/{{Genji}}'' series, starring Yoshitsune and Benkei. Though [[WatchItForTheMeme most people would probably know the game for]] finding a GiantEnemyCrab then flip it to AttackItsWeakPoint [[ThisIndexHitsForMassiveDamage For Massive Damage]].

* Sanjō Genji: Chief Genealogists of the imperial family. [[NotMakingThisUpDisclaimer Not kidding.]]

* ''VideoGame/{{Onmyoji}}'' in which the Minamoto is an onmyōji clan. Named members that appear in person consist of Hiromasa and Yorimitsu.

* Seiwa Genji: Probably the most successful and famous Genji line. Founded the UsefulNotes/KamakuraShogunate, making them samurai pedigree. Case branches: too big to list.

In 814 AD, [[UsefulNotes/{{Japan}} Emperor Saga]] was facing a certain problem. [[ReallyGetsAround He had too many children]], causing economic stress for the imperial family. His solution? Make them [[BlueBlood nobles]] rather than [[RoyalBlood royals]]. As part of this, he bestowed upon them [[MeaningfulRename a surname]], as the Imperial line did not officially have one (unless you count "Yamato"). Thus, the Minamoto (源, [[MeaningfulName "Origin"]], to remind them of the fact that they used to be imperials) clan was founded. Unlike most Japanese clans, they weren't a single family (in fact they were only related by way of Imperial blood), they were cadet branches formed at the pleasure of the emperor. To differentiate the 21 lines, they are often called by their Imperial scion's posthumous name, and their arguably more famous name, Genji, an AlternateCharacterReading of the words "Minamoto clan" (源氏). The Minamoto family is the whole reason why {{samurai}} dominated Feudal Japan, and many clans (including the other shogunates) were descended from them, or at least claimed to be. The clan lasted from the middle Heian-era as ''Kuge'' (aristocrats) to the at least the late Sengoku-era as ''Buke'' (samurai), [[ShortLivedBigImpact though only prominent for a fraction of the time]]. One of the Four Noble Clans, including the Fujiwara, the Taira, [[HufflepuffHouse and the Tachibana]].

In 814 AD, [[UsefulNotes/{{Japan}} Emperor Saga]] was facing a certain problem. [[ReallyGetsAround He had too many children]], causing economic stress for the imperial family. His solution? Make them [[BlueBlood nobles]] rather than [[RoyalBlood royals]]. As part of this, he bestowed upon them [[MeaningfulRename a surname]], as the Imperial line did not officially have one (unless you count "Yamato"). Thus, the Minamoto (源, [[MeaningfulName "Origin"]], the thing they shared with the imperial family) clan was founded. Unlike most Japanese clans, they weren't a single family (in fact they were only related by way of Imperial blood), they were cadet branches formed at the pleasure of the emperor. To differentiate the 21 lines, they are often called by their Imperial scion's posthumous name, and their arguably more famous name, Genji, an AlternateCharacterReading of the words "Minamoto clan" (源氏). The Minamoto family is the whole reason why {{samurai}} dominated Feudal Japan, and many clans (including the other shogunates) were descended from them, or at least claimed to be. The clan lasted from the middle Heian-era as ''Kuge'' (aristocrats) to the at least the late Sengoku-era as ''Buke'' (samurai), [[ShortLivedBigImpact though only prominent for a fraction of the time]]. One of the Four Noble Clans, including the Fujiwara, the Taira, [[HufflepuffHouse and the Tachibana]].

[[UsefulNotes/{{Japan}} Emperor Saga]] was facing a certain problem. [[ReallyGetsAround He had too many children]], causing economic stress for the imperial family. His solution? Make them [[BlueBlood nobles]] rather than [[RoyalBlood royals]]. As part of this, he bestowed upon them [[MeaningfulRename a surname]], as the Imperial line did not officially have one (unless you count "Yamato"). Thus, the Minamoto (源, [[MeaningfulName "Origin"]], the thing they shared with the imperial family) clan was founded. Unlike most Japanese clans, they weren't a single family (in fact they were only related by way of Imperial blood), they were cadet branches formed at the pleasure of the emperor. To differentiate the 21 lines, they are often called by their Imperial scion's posthumous name, and their arguably more famous name, Genji, an AlternateCharacterReading of the words "Minamoto clan" (源氏). The Minamoto family is the whole reason why {{samurai}} dominated Feudal Japan, and many clans (including the other shogunates) were descended from them, or at least claimed to be. The clan lasted from the middle Heian-era as ''Kuge'' (aristocrats) to the at least the late Sengoku-era as ''Buke'' (samurai), [[ShortLivedBigImpact though only prominent for a fraction of the time]]. One of the Four Noble Clans, including the Fujiwara, the Taira, [[HufflepuffHouse and the Tachibana]].

* Saga Genji: The one That started it all. Among the imperial court, brothers Makoto, Tokiwa, and Toru stood out as powerful Ministers of the Left. Clans such as the Watanabe, Matsura, and Kamachi claimed descent.

* Seiwa Genji: Probably the most successful and famous Genji line. Founded the UsefulNotes/KamakuraShogunate, making them Samurai pedigree. Case branches: too big to list.
* Yōzei Genji: evidence suggests that Tsunemoto was a member of this instead of the Seiwa Genji as commonly thought. No one really cares however.
* Kōkō Genji: They were busshi, Buddhist sculptors.
* Uda Genji: Formed five dōjō houses (those who sat on the floor with the emperor) as kuge, and the Sasaki and Kuroda as Buke.

* Murakami Genji: held the title of Genji no Chōja... at least until the Ashikaga took it during the Muromachi period.

* Go-Shirakawa Genji: One man wonder. As one of the causes of the Genpei war, Prince Mochihito-ō was exiled and declassed.

* Go-Fusakusa Genji: Kamakura' s final shoguns.

[[caption-width-right:172:The crest of the Minamoto]]
[[UsefulNotes/{{Japan}} Emperor Saga]] was facing a certain problem. [[ReallyGetsAround He had too many children]], causing economic stress for the imperial family. His solution? Make them [[BlueBlood nobles]] rather than [[RoyalBlood royals]]. As part of this, he bestowed upon them [[MeaningfulRename a surname]], as the Imperial line did not officially have one (unless you count "Yamato"). Thus, the Minamoto (源, [[MeaningfulName "Origin", the thing they shared with the imperial family]]) clan was founded. Unlike most Japanese clans, they weren't a single family (in fact they were only related by way of Imperial blood), they were cadet branches formed at the pleasure of the emperor. To differentiate the 21 lines, they are often called by their Imperial scion's posthumous name, and their arguably more famous name, Genji, an AlternateCharacterReading of the words "Minamoto clan" (源氏). The Minamoto family is the whole reason why {{samurai}} dominated Feudal Japan, and many clans (including the other shogunates) were descended from them, or at least claimed to be. The clan lasted from the middle Heian-era as ''Kuge'' (aristocrats) to the at least the late Sengoku-era as ''Buke'' (samurai), [[ShortLivedBigImpact though only prominent for a fraction of the time]]. One of the Four Noble Clans, including the Fujiwara, the Taira, [[HufflepuffHouse and the Tachibana]].

Yeah, many of these lines where trivial. But hey, trivia is trivia.

* Literature/TheTaleOfGenji
* Anime/OtogiZoshi
* The Tale of Heike

[[UsefulNotes/{{Japan}} Emperor Saga]] was facing a certain problem. [[ReallyGetsAround He had too many children]], causing economic stress on the imperial family. His solution? Make them [[BlueBlood nobles]] rather then [[RoyalBlood royals]]. [[MeaningfulRename As part of this, he gave a surname]], as the Imperial clan didn't have one (unless you count Yamato). Thus the Minamoto (源, [[MeaningfulName Origin, the thing they shared with the imperial family]]) clan was founded. Unlike most Japanese clans, they weren't a single family (in fact they were only related by way of the Imperial clan), they were cadet branches made when the emperor at the time decided. To differentiate the 21 lines, they are often called by their Imperial scion's posthumous name, and their arguably more famous name, Genji, an AlternateCharacterReading of Minamoto-shi (源氏). The Minamoto family is the whole reason why the {{Samurai}} dominated Feudal Japan, and many clans (including the other shogunates) were descended from them, or at least claimed to be. The clan lasted from the middle Heian-era as Kuge (Aristocrats) to the at least the late Sengoku-era as Buke (Samurai), [[ShortLivedBigImpact though only prominent for a fraction of the time]]. One of the Four Noble Clans, including the Fujiwara, the Taira, [[HufflepuffHouse and the Tachibana]].

* Sanjō Genji: Cheif Genealogists of the imperial family. [[NotMakingThisUpDisclaimer not kidding]]

[[UsefulNotes/{{Japan}} Emperor Saga]] was facing a certain problem. [[ReallyGetsAround He had too many children]], causing economic stress on the imperial family. His solution? Make them [[BlueBlood nobles]] rather then [[RoyalBlood royals]]. [[MeaningfulRename As part of this, he gave a surname]], as the Imperial clan didn't have one (unless you count Yamato). Thus the Minamoto (源, [[MeaningfulName Origin, the thing they shared with the imperial family]]) clan was founded. Unlike most Japanese clans, they weren't a single family (in fact they were only related by way of the Imperial clan), they were cadet branches made when the emperor at the time decided. To differentiate the 21 lines, they are often called by their Imperial scion's posthumous name, and their arguably more famous name, Genji, an AlternateCharacterReading of Minamoto-shi (源氏). The Minamoto family is the whole reason why the {{Samurai}} dominated Fuedal Japan, and many clans (including the other shogunates) were descended from them, or at least claimed to be. The clan lasted from the middle Heian-era as Kuge (Aristocrats) to the at least the late Sengoku-era as Buke (Samurai), [[ShortLivedBigImpact though only prominent for a fraction of the time]]. One of the Four Noble Clans, including the Fujiwara, the Taira, [[HufflepuffHouse and the Tachibana]].

* Seiwa Genji: Probalbly the most successful and famous Genji line. Founded the UsefulNotes/KamakuraShogunate, making them Samurai pedigree. Case branches: too big to list.

* Kōkō Genji: They were busshi, Buhhdist sculptures.

* Juntoku Genji: Pretty much the point at which the Minamoto clan started the lose relevance.

* Go-Fusakusa Genji: Kamakura' s final shoguns
* Ōgimachi Genji: The Genji' s end point, a footnote in history. Became the Hirohata.