Therefore, Suemitsu should actually be the forefather of the Mori family and the Mori clan; however, as it is the custom of their family to regard Amenohohi (a male Shinto god) as the first head of the family, Suemistu is said to be the 39th head of the clan.
従って、毛利家・毛利氏としては季光が初代とするのが相当であるが、毛利家の慣習上、アメノホヒを初代とするため、季光は39代とされている。