The clans who were given a position of Muraji were clans from powerful families and were subordinates of Yamato Sovereign as government officials and the duty they had in the court was made with their clan names and they played an important role in establishing the Yamato sovereignty; these clans included the Otomo clan, the Mononobe clan, the Nakatomi clan, the Inbe clan, and the Haji clan.
大伴氏、物部氏、中臣氏（なかとみ）、忌部氏（いんべ）、土師氏（はじ）のように、ヤマト王権での職務を氏（ウヂ）の名とし、王家に従属する官人としての立場にあり、ヤマト王権の成立に重要な役割をはたした豪族である。