The Five Principal Clans (五大宗家, Godai Sōke), also known as Five Great Families, are five well known distinguished clans, which have purified evil spirits since ancient times.[1] They had protected Japan from behind the scenes in accordance with their own rules and had strictly disposed of anyone who broke their laws.
Summary[]
The Five Principal Clans are five powerful clans composed of Shinto mystics who possess a divine connection to the Shinto gods and have served them for generations. Most of their members from ancient times have been blessed with spiritual powers over one of the five elements also regarded as the Five Phases, which is apart of their respective clans due to both their fervent faith and strict worship in Shintoism.[2]
However, certain members who haven't been blessed with those supernatural powers from birth as by Hanezu Himejima, the previous Section Head of the Utsusemi Agency and the other members were outcasts and exiled from their respective clans.[1] [3] Certain members such as Shuri and Ageha Himejima who violate their religious laws are either executed or even banished as the former had given birth to the daughter of a Fallen Angel; while the latter for her practice of Buddhist Magic, which is from a different religion.
The Five Principal Clans are suspicious of supernatural beings such as from foreign factions as proven by Grigori and Magicians from Grauzauberer.[4] While they normally have a neutral relationship with the Youkais, certain Youkais bear a grudge against the Five Principal Clans such as Inugami Gyoubu.[5]
Due to their strict belief in Shintoism, the Five Principal Clans have an aversion towards the members of their clans who are born with Sacred Gears, which are supernatural powers and items originating from Christian Beliefs as possessing them is considered heresy.[2]
This is most notable for Longinus possessors who are feared due to their Sacred Gears' powerful potential to kill even Gods, as proven with Tobio Ikuse who is of Himejima descent who holds the Longinus, Canis Lykaon, which possesses the Ame-no-Ohabari, a divine blade used to kill Kagutsuchi, a God that the Himejima Clan worshipped. Momoji Nakiri was also forced to live in reclusion due to her ownership of Telos Karma.
By the time of Highschool DxD, they are regarded as the most knowledgeable in Japan's abilities, factions, and supernatural beings. Hence, they were treated as a powerful information-gathering resource. [6] They have also grown under the "new hosts" to be more accepting and open.
Inner Sanctuary[]
Regarding the location of the "Inner Sanctuary", they’d heard about it from Azazel, although it was indirectly. The territory considered to be the origin of the Five Principal Clans——of the users of supernatural powers, is considered to be in Nara prefecture. They’d heard that that territory had been dotted with bases of the Five Principal Clans since antiquity. It is predominantly guarded by the Nakiri Family, leading the five clans.
Within the Five Clans, there is an internal power-dispute with the Sect (who center around the inner sanctuary) and the other four clans (who center around the Himejima). The former, are more open to cooperation with other factions whereas the latter, were resolute about centering it on their own. The Nakiri family advocates for neutrality between the two.
Powers and Abilities[]
In addition to the spiritual power of the Five Elements and Eastern Magic of Shintoism, the Five Principal Clans have command over the Five Sacred Beasts with the strongest members of their respective clans inheriting them and their names.[1]
They are considered the pillar of Japanese Supernatural Power-Users, even by Mephisto, who leads one of the world's leading Magician Organizations.
The Five Principal Clans and the Sacred Beasts linked to the respective clans are:
| Family | Sacred Beast | Element | Name |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kushihashi | Wood | Seiryuu Kushihashi | |
| Doumon | Water | Genbu Doumon | |
| Shinra | Metal | Byakko Shinra | |
| Himejima | Fire | Suzaku Himejima | |
| Nakiri | Earth | Ouryuu Nakiri |
Members[]
| Nakiri | Himejima | Kushihashi | Doumon | Shinra |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|
|
High School DxD[]
The current inheritor of the Yellow Dragon, Ouryuu Nakiri is a second-year student attending Kuoh Academy and a member of the new Student Council led by Xenovia Quarta.
Trivia[]
- Each of the surnames of the five families means:
- Nakiri (
百鬼 ) means "Hundred Demons". - Himejima (
姫島 ) means "Princess Island". - Kushihashi (
櫛橋 ) means "Comb Bridge". - Doumon (
童門 ) means "Child Gate". - Shinra (
真羅 ) means "True Fabric".
- Nakiri (
- Although the Five Principal Clans are strict devotees of Shintoism, at least the Nakiri and Shinra incorporates Buddhist practices among their teachings. For Example: the Nakiri Clan uses Onmyoudou, Shinto and Shugendou, while the Shinra clan draw on Shugendou and Buddhism into their spiritual training. It is worth noting that their Onmyoudou has knowledge that is related to Buddhist and Taoist practices.
- However, the Himejima Clan who strictly follows Shintoism differs from them and will banish members for practicing Buddhist Magic.