The Ariwara clan (在原氏, Ariwara-uji, also known as the Arihara clan) was a Japanese noble family of imperial descent The name of the clan is also read Arihara.
[1] The clan was initially formed during the Kōnin era (810-824)[2] in the reign of Emperor Saga from the children of former Imperial Prince Takaoka (廃太子高岳親王, hai-taishi Takaoka-shinnō).
[1] In 826,[2] following a request by Takaoka's brother Prince Abo (阿保親王, Abo-shinnō), the latter's sons Yukihira, Narihira, Morihira (守平) and Nakahira (仲平) were also given this name.
[1] The descendants of Narihira, a great waka poet, continued to flourish.
[1] The clan remained politically obscure, however, due to pressure from the powerful Fujiwara clan.