Noble Houses (SCB)

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Overview

List of Houses

Noble Houses
Kanji	貴族 (Kizoku)
General Information
Form	Oligarchy (aristocracy)
Affiliation	Central 46 Gotei 13
Headquarters	Kizokugai, Seireitei
Members
Notable Members	Tsunayashiro Clan Shihōin Clan Kuchiki Clan Ōga Clan
Former Members	Shiba Clan

"Do not seek the aesthetics​ in waging war.
Do not seek virtue in death.
Do not think your life is your own.
If you wish to protect each of the heads of the five court nobles, then you must slaughter every foe from under the shadow of the leaves."

—Excerpt from the old edition of the Shinō Academy Shinigami regulations

The Noble Houses form the highest social class of the Soul Society and have an important role in the culture and government of the Seireitei. Among the Noble Houses, the Four Great Noble Families (四大貴族, Yondai Kizoku) carry the most importance, holding influence over Central 46 and the governance of the Soul Society itself. The Gotei 13 and any military institution associated with it (including their sub-affiliations, such as the Shinō Academy, Kidō Corps, and Onmitsukidō) have no authority to act against one of Four Great Noble Families without unequivocal evidence that their actions are treasonous to Soul Society, and these families are even exempt from the authority of the Royal Guard, answering only to the Soul King himself.

Overview

Noble families reside within the Kizokugai (貴族街, "noble quarter") within the Seireitei,^{Reference needed} and are allowed to practice the four Shinigami arts known as Zankensoki (斬拳走鬼), and other martial skills normally reserved for Shinigami. They may also hold weapons such as Zanpakutō without the express approval of the Gotei 13. Additionally, the nobles (and especially the Four Great Houses) possess Sacred Treasures, which are forbidden for Shinigami and common souls to wield. Many nobles enlist in the Gotei 13, where they are automatically ensured high-ranking placements such as that of Lieutenant (as in the case of Izuru Kira, Marechiyo Ōmaeda, and others). Noble families employ their own special physicians, such as Seinosuke Yamada,, and ritual gagaku (雅楽, "imperial court music") performers, which are specific to the Four Great Families such as the Shihōin.

Hierarchy

With a few notable exceptions (namely, the Shihōin, Shiba, Kasumiōgi, Ibaand Ise), the Noble Houses are largely patriarchal and follow a strict social order. The Four Great Houses are delineated between the main household and the branch clan, known as honke (本家, "head house") and bunke (分家, "branch house"), respectively. In addition, the Four Great Families are served by lower noble houses that have pledged their loyalty to the main clan. For example, the Fēng Family has always served as the retainers and personal guard of the Shihōin Clan. Clans may also adopt heirs (such as the case of Kōga Kuchiki) or take on political hostages.

The lesser noble families are divided among upper and lower ranks. The upper ranks comprise older, more prestigious clans, such as the Kyōraku (a high-ranking family). Lower ranking families are typically smaller and more socially mobile, such as the Ōmaeda, who are considered "new" nobility. Lower-ranking noble families are often affiliated with the Gotei 13, as their primary means of gaining status lies in the military feats they accomplish as Shinigami. In contrast, the upper ranks resemble royalty and are typically uninvolved with the day-to-day affairs of the Seireitei. As a result, there is a distinct cultural contrast between upper and lower ranks. The total number of noble clans within the Soul Society is fixed: there are 13 upper-ranking and 28 lower-ranking families, and four Great Houses. When a clan is exiled, the opportunity for a new Shinigami family to ascend into the ranks of the nobility arises.

Sacred Treasures

Main article: Sacred Treasures

Sacred Treasures (神器, Shingi, Viz "Divine Tools") refer to the collection of artifacts used by the nobles, many of which are powerful, reality-altering objects and weapons. Particularly noteworthy among the Shingi are the Five Ancestral Zanpakutō (先祖の斬魄刀, Senzo no Zanpakutou), which are passed down through the five great houses through generations and include:

• Muramasa (無裸魔嗩, "Empty and Naked Demon's Flute"; alt. 村正, Muramasa) of the Kuchiki
• Enrakyōten (艶羅鏡典, "Law of the Bewitching Lucid Mirror") of the Tsunayashiro
• Kagome Akume (籠目握目, "Basket-Clutching Eye") of the Ōga
• Getsuga Tenshō (月牙天衝, "Moon Fang Heaven-Piercer") of the Shiba

History

Millenia prior to the creation of the Soul Society, it was said that the founders of the Five Great Noble Houses were instrumental in the sealing of the Soul King. Each clan founder had their own purpose in dividing the realms in order to end the era of chaos.

Clan Founders

Clan Founders
Image	Name	Title	Motive	Clan
	En Kuchiki	En Uzume no Ten'nyou (ゑん鈿ノ天女, lit. Circled Ornamental Hairpiece, Heavenly Woman)	Create stability via a new world order	Kuchiki Clan
	Cáoyán Shihōin	Tsaoyan Karura (曹岩(ツァオヤン) 迦楼羅, lit. Stone Palace Karura)	Progress the cycle of souls to avoid stagnation	Shihōin Clan
	Tsukichi Tsunayashiro	Oomi no Tsukichi (大御月地, lit. August Moonlit Earth)	Limit the destructive power of the Soul King	Tsunayashiro Clan
	Sōun Ōga	Sooun no Shuten-ryo (叢雲朱点旅, "Gathering Clouds of the Red-marked Battalion")	Create a "lid" to cover the pit of Hell	Ōga Clan
	Mikoto Shiba	Ame no Mikoto (天命, Divine Fate)	Seek purification instead of destruction for Hollows	Shiba Clan

Note: The founders were originally known by their titles, as their clans' names did not exist during the era before the Soul King. The clan surnames were attached later by their descendants to more easily refer to them, especially for use in historical records.

Government

Before the reforms that occurred shortly after the founding of the Gotei 13, Central 46 had been directly controlled by the nobles. This control is still reflected in its political structure: the forty sages symbolize the 40 upper ranked families of the lesser noble clans, while five of the judges stand for the Five Great Noble Clans. The sixth judge holds the seat of "speaker of the house" and is meant to symbolize the ever-present authority of the Soul King. Since the reforms, clan members may not hold seats within Central 46 themselves. This measure had been implemented in attempt to ensure that all who lived in Soul Society—namely the Shinigami—had a voice in government as opposed to only the nobles. (Consequently, this is part of what drove so many noble families to become Shinigami instead of politicians). Nonetheless, the Central 46 was never made completely free of noble control, as the seats are usually filled by representatives from vassal families who are hired by the clans, such as Amakado Family, employed by a branch of the Kuchiki. Although the new body chosen after Sōsuke Aizen massacred the entire standing Central 46 tried to break free from the influence of the nobles, they have had little success in effecting change in this regard. Often, the seats of the Central 46 are mere puppets or mouthpieces for the nobles themselves, which is accepted as standard practice and is hardly a secret.

Nobles are often exempt from the rules of Soul Society, but there are some laws that are non-negotiable even for members of the nobility. For example, it is forbidden for a noble to marry a commoner–a practice that is considered taboo and nearly resulted in the ostracism of Byakuya Kuchiki, despite his status as the head of the Kuchiki Clan.

Gilded Seal Assembly

Since affairs of the nobles are out of the Central 46's jurisdiction, the Gilded Seal Aristocratic Assembly (金印貴族会議, Kinin Kizoku Kaigi) deals with matters pertaining to the noble houses, such as issues of succession.

Great House Council

The heads of the Tsunayashiro, Kuchiki, and Shihōin gather at Tokinada's behest to discuss the Soul King.

In addition to their involvement in Central 46, the Four Great Clans preside on a council that oversees matters of the nobility and the Seireitei. The location of the council's subterranean meeting room is said to be second in importance only to the Soul King Palace itself, as when the heads of the Five Great Noble Clans are gathered there, the very existence of the Seireitei becomes tied to its safety. As such, the location of the council is kept a secret except to the clan heads, and it is furthermore prohibited for all five clan heads to gather in one place at the same time to guard against losing all leaders at once in the event of an attack or disaster (a regulation which had been established after the first Quincy war). As a result, the council meets very rarely. Prior to Tokinada Tsunayashiro summoning Yoruichi Shihōin and Byakuya Kuchiki to a meeting to discuss the nature and will of the Soul King, the Noble Council hadn't met since the previous generation of clan heads, before the downfall of the Shiba. The head of the Ōga clan was not present for this meeting.

Four Noble Houses

The Four Noble Houses (四大貴族, Yondai Kizoku; literally "Four Great Noble Families") are the highest ranked and most revered of all the noble houses in the Soul Society. Whichever clan holds a leadership position among the Four Great Clans is known as the Shōichī (正一位, First Hierarchical Rank; Viz "True First"). Currently, this seat is held by the Kuchiki Clan. This is not a permanent position, and the rank of Shōichī can transfer to another clan should the current seat lose its status. There were once five great noble houses, known as the Five Noble Families (五大貴族, Godai Kizoku; lit. "Five Great Noble Families"), until the Shiba clan fell from grace following the defection of Isshin Shiba and the death of Kaien Shiba. Tokinada Tsunayashiro once stated that when the Five Noble Families are fully united, their authority completely supersedes that of Central 46 and the Royal Guard, hence his attempt to reinstate the Shiba Clan into nobility.

Although not official, a commonly held tradition is that each clan specializes in one of the four Zankensoki arts. While these may vary from generation to generation, the skill of the current clan leader typically reflects the clan's specialization. Currently, it is held that the:

• Kuchiki specialize in Kidō
• Shihōin specialize in Hohō
• Tsunayashiro specialize in Zanjutsu
• Ōga Clan specialize in Hakuda
• Shiba Clan (formerly) specialize in Reiryoku

Members

Four Great Noble Houses
Symbol	Name	Current Head	Rank
	Kuchiki Clan (朽木家, Kuchiki-ke; literally "Kuchiki Family")	Byakuya Kuchiki	Shōichī (正一位, First Hierarchical Rank; Viz "True First")
	Shihōin Clan (四楓院家, Shihōin-ke; literally "Shihōin Family")	Yūshirō Shihōin	Shōnī (正一位, Second Hierarchical Rank)
	Tsunayashiro Clan (綱彌代家, Tsunayashiro-ke literally "Tsunayashiro Family")	None (formerly Tokinada Tsunayashiro†)	Shōsanmi (正三位, Third Hierarchical Rank)
	Ōga Clan (奥覇家, Ouga-ke; lit. "Ōga family")	Gengan Ōga	Shōshī (正四位, Fourth Hierarchical Rank)

Former Great Noble House
Symbol	Name	Current Head	Rank
	Shiba Clan (志波家, Shiba-ke; literally "Shiba Family")	Kūkaku Shiba	Shōgoi (正五位, Fifth Hierarchical Rank) (formerly Shōsanmi)

Trivia

• Each of the colors associated with the Great Noble Families is also a shade of one of the "forbidden colors" historically reserved for Japanese nobility with the exception of the Shiba, whose signature color was the regulated black dye for common clothing during the Edo period. The colors are:
  • Kuchiki: Windflower Blue (花浅葱, Hana'asagi, lit. "light blue flower")
  • Shihōin: Royal Orange (黄丹, Ōdan, lit. "yellow rust")
  • Tsunayashiro: White Oak (麹塵, Kikujin, lit. "Koji dust")
  • Ōga: Butterfly Iris (著莪紫, Shagamurasaki, lit. "fringed iris purple")
  • Shiba: Kenpōzome (憲法染, (regulation dye color))