1.
family; clan; lineage
A family group or clan sharing a common ancestor or family name. Often used in historical or formal contexts.
平家一門が滅んだ。
The Taira clan perished.
一門の名誉を守る。
To protect the honor of the family.
あの武将は一門の長として知られていた。
That military commander was known as the head of the clan.
2.
school; group of disciples (in an art or discipline)
A group of practitioners or disciples under one master, especially in traditional arts like sumo, rakugo, tea ceremony, or martial arts.
師匠の一門に入る。
To join a master's school.
この一門には弟子が多い。
This school has many disciples.
落語の一門に入門して、修行を始めた。
I entered a rakugo school and began my training.
Refers to a group united by blood ties or by a shared master in a traditional discipline. The word carries a sense of loyalty and shared identity.
SENSE 1 — CLAN/FAMILY:
Common in historical contexts, especially referring to warrior clans of medieval Japan such as 平家一門 (Taira clan) or 源氏一門 (Minamoto clan).
SENSE 2 — SCHOOL/GROUP:
Widely used in traditional arts:
- 相撲の一門: sumo stable group
- 落語の一門: rakugo school
- 茶道の一門: tea ceremony school
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 一門に入る: to join a school/clan
- 一門の長: head of a clan/school
- 一門を率いる: to lead a clan/school
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 一族: family, relatives — focuses on blood relations
- 門下: disciples under a master — focuses on the student-teacher relationship
- 流派: school of art — refers to the style or tradition itself