Sue clan (é¶æ°Â, Sue-shi) was a Japanese clan during the Heian period that claimed descent from the (å³ç°æ°Â), a cadet branch clan of the à Âuchi family therefore in turn, the ancient Tatara clan.
Historically. Toraijins from the Kaya confederacy, regarded as the main pillars of Sue pottery in Japan, naturalized and became separate clans. One of which was given the name "Sue (é¶/ãÂÂãÂÂ)". The name derives from "Sueki (é Âæµå¨/ãÂÂãÂÂãÂÂ)", the official name for Sue-style pottery, where later in the Heian period, it was written as "Suemono (é¶å¨/ãÂÂãÂÂãÂÂã®)" in alternate characters.
The origins of the Sue clan is rather convoluted with multiple accounts made through chronologically confusing and historically inconsistent events. According to the clan's genealogy, the founder of the clan, Sue Hirokata (é¶å¼Âè³¢) was a member of the Migitashi clan. The Migitashi clan was a cadet branch clan of the powerful à Âuchi clan which claims descent from Prince Imseong of Paekche. However, according to the Shinsen Shà Âjiroku (815), the à Âuchi also claimed descent from another ancient clan of different origin known as the Tatara clan. The Tatara family is believed to have come from Kaya confederacy rather than Baekje which contradicts the claims found in the clan's genealogical records. Modern Japanese scholars began questioning the legitimacy of the claim over the à Âuchi clan's heritage, positing whether the prince was their actual ancestor. Despite the descendants firmly believing that their royal lineage to the Korean prince is true, historians postulate that their true origin most likely lies in Kaya rather than Baekje evident in the clan members claiming descent from the Tatara clan in the Shinsen Shà Âjiroku and the Sue clan adopting the character from a pottery style that is famous for its Kaya roots.
However, it is unclear if the Tatara clan was a parent clan of the à Âuchi family or just a sister clan as the name is included separately in the Shinsen Shà Âjiroku alongside the claim made by the family.
During the Kamakura period and Sengoku period, the Sue clan was given special treatment from another Korea-originating, but more powerful à Âuchi clan for having similar roots. This is evident in the fact that many of the Sue clan's members were hereditary retainers to the à Âuchi family.
Eventually in 1551, a senior retainer of the à Âuchi clan, Sue Harukata successfully overthrew his master, à Âuchi Yoshitaka during the Tainei-ji incident. Harukata put à Âuchi Yoshinaga as the head of the à Âuchi family despite Yoshinaga not being part of the clan (he was originally from the à Âtomo clan). Harukata's reign continued with Yoshinaga acting as a puppet ruler and head of clan in name only until Mà Âri Motonari, another retainer of the à Âuchi clan, revolted and deposed both Yoshinaga and Harukata, ending the à Âuchi clan and Sue clan's reign.