Matsura clan

• Japanese: 松浦家 (Matsura ke)

The Matsura of Hizen province had somewhat obscure origins, and may have originally been a collection of land-owners who united under the name 'Matsura'. One theory holds that the Matsura line that persisted into the Edo period was established by Minamoto no Hisashi, a descendant of Watanabe no Tsuna and Minamoto no Tôru, and through them, of Emperor Saga.

The Matsura, known for their naval power (and involvement in piracy), survived the Sengoku period and in the Edo period became lords of Hirado han. Their territory included not only Hirado Island, but also the Iki Islands to the north and a number of islands between Hirado and the Gotô Islands to the west.

Prominent Members of the Matsura House

• Matsura Hisashi 久 - 8th head of the house; first to hold the surname Matsura
  • Matsura Naoshi 直 (aka Yasushi 安) - 9th head of the house; second son of Hisashi
    • Matsura Minehira 峯披 - 10th head of the house; son of Naoshi
      • • • Matsura Kotau 答 - 14th head of the house; great-grandson of Minehira; first to rule at Hirado
            • Matsura Yoei 與栄 - 16th head of the house; son of Kotau
              • Matsura Yasumasa 安正 - 18th head of the house; son of Yoei
                • Matsura Shôei 昌栄 - 19th head of the house; son of Yasumasa
                  • Matsura Shôrin 正林 - 20th head of the house; son of Shôei
                  • Matsura Koreoki 是興 - 21st head of the house; son of Shôei
                    • Matsura Toyohisa 豊久 - 22nd head of the house; son of Koreoki
                      • Matsura Hirosada 弘定 - 23rd head of the house; son of Toyohisa
                        • Matsura Okinobu 興信 - 24th head of the house; adopted son of Hirosada
                          • Matsura Takanobu (1529-1599) 隆信 - 25th head of the house; son of Okinobu
                            • Matsura Shigenobu (1549-1614) (Hôin) 鎮信(法印) - 26th head of the house; 1st lord of Hirado han; son of Takanobu
                              • Matsura Hisanobu 久信 - 2nd lord of Hirado han; son of Shigenobu
                                • Matsura Takanobu (1592-1637) 隆信 - 3rd lord of Hirado han; son of Hisanobu
                                  • Matsura Shigenobu (1622-1703) (Tenshô) 鎮信（天祥）- 4th lord of Hirado han; son of Takanobu
                                    • Matsura Takashi 棟 - 5th lord of Hirado han; son of Shigenobu
                                    • Matsura Atsunobu 篤信 - 6th lord of Hirado han; son of Shigenobu
                                      • Matsura Arinobu 有信 - 7th lord of Hirado han; son of Atsunobu
                                      • Matsura Sanenobu 誠信 - 8th lord of Hirado han; son of Atsunobu
                                        • Matsura Kuni 邦 - son of Sanenobu
                                        • Matsura Masanobu 政信 - son of Sanenobu
                                          • Matsura Kiyoshi (Seizan) 清・静山 - 9th lord of Hirado han; son of Masanobu
                                            • Matsura Hikaru 晧 - son of Kiyoshi
                                            • Matsura Hiromu 熈 - 10th lord of Hirado han; son of Kiyoshi

References

• Initial text from Sengoku Biographical Dictionary (Samurai-Archives.com) FWSeal & CEWest, 2005