Minamoto clan

was one of the honorary surnames bestowed by the Emperors of Japan of the Heian Period (794–1185) on those of their sons and grandsons who were not considered eligible for the throne. The Taira were another such offshoot of the imperial dynasty. The Minamoto clan was also called the Genji clan, using the alternate pronunciation of the Chinese characters for Minamoto (gen) and uji, or family (ji).
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