It should be added, obviously, that the family status within the clan was the qualification that determined who became the clan chief, instead of who the direct descendant was, and therefore, being the clan chief was not synonymous with being a direct descendant.
もちろん、嫡流であるかどうかというより、同氏族内での身分の高さが長者としての地位を定める資格であり、けして嫡流と同義ではないことも付言しておく。