The Seiwa Genji (清和源氏) were the most successful and powerful of the many branch families of the Minamoto clan. Many of the most famous Minamoto warriors, including Minamoto no Yoritomo, the founder of the Kamakura shogunate, were descended from this line. The family is named after Emperor Seiwa, grandfather of Minamoto no Tsunemoto , patriarch of the Seiwa Genji.

• Minamoto no Tsunemoto 's son was Minamoto no Mitsunaka (912-997?), who in turn had three sons:
  • Yorimitsu (944-1021)
  • Yorichika (b. 954), ancestor of the Yamato Genji
  • Yorinobu (968-1048), ancestor of the Settsu Genji (also known as the Tada Genji), and the Kawachi Genji.
    • Yoriyoshi (998-1082?), son of Yorinobu
      • Yoshimitsu (d. 1127), son of Yoriyoshi, and ancestor of the Satake , Hiraga , and Takeda families
      • Yoshitsuna (d. 1134), son of Yoriyoshi
      • Yoshiie (1041-1108), son of Yoriyoshi
        • Tameyoshi (1096-1156), grandson of Yoshiie.
          • Tametomo ((1139-1170), son of Tameyoshi
          • Yukiie (d. 1186), son of Tameyoshi
          • Yoshitomo (1123-1160), son of Tameyoshi
            • Yoritomo (1147-1199), son of Yoshitomo, and first Kamakura Shogun
            • Yoshitsune (1159-1189), son of Yoshitomo, and one of the most famous samurai of all time
            • Noriyori (1156-1193), son of Yoshitomo

References

• Sansom, George (1961). 'A History of Japan 1334-1615'. Stanford, California: Stanford University Press.
• Turnbull, Stephen (1998). 'The Samurai Sourcebook'. London: Cassell & Co.