The sōhei Benkei with Minamoto no Yoshitsune

Sohei (僧兵), lit. "priest warriors," were Buddhist warrior monks of feudal Japan. At certain points of history they held considerable amount of power, obliging daimyo to collaborate. Download high resolution version (426x625, 255 KB)This is a file from the Wikimedia Commons, a repository of free content hosted by the Wikimedia Foundation. ... Download high resolution version (426x625, 255 KB)This is a file from the Wikimedia Commons, a repository of free content hosted by the Wikimedia Foundation. ... Yoshitsune and Benkei Viewing Cherry Blossoms, by Yoshitoshi Tsukioka, 1885 Minamoto no Yoshitsune (源 義経) (1159 - May 17, 1189) was a late Heian and early Kamakura period general of the Minamoto clan of Japan. ... A replica of an ancient statue found among the ruins of a temple at Sarnath Buddhism is a religion and philosophy based on the teachings of the Buddha, Siddhārtha Gautama, who lived between approximately 566 and 486 BCE. Originating in India, Buddhism gradually spread throughout Asia to Central Asia... Daimyo Matsudaira Katamori visits the residence of a retainer. ...

They were similar to the mountain ascetic yamabushi (山伏), or 'mountain warriors,' but unlike the solitary yamabushi, sohei generally organized into large armies or mobs. The most famous of these mountain monasteries, arguably, is the Enryakuji on Mount Hiei, just outside Kyoto. 19th century photograph of a Yamabushi. ... 19th century photograph of a Yamabushi. ... Enryakuji (延暦寺), a monastery on Mount Hiei (比叡山) overlooking Kyoto, was founded during the late eighth and early ninth centuries by Saicho (最澄: 767-822 AD), also known as Dengyo Daishi (傳教大師), who introduced the Tendai (天台; Chinese tian1 tai2) sect to Japan from China. ... Mount Hiei (Jp. ... This page is about the city Kyoto. ...

The sohei shared many similarities with the Western lay brothers, members of a monastic order who might not have been ordained. Much like warrior monks of Germany (see Teutonic Knights), or other religious orders, such as those involved in the Crusades, sohei were not individuals, or even members of small, individual isolated temple, but rather warriors in a large extended brotherhood or monastic order. Any given 'home temple' of a sohei monastic order might have had several, if not tens or a hundred, smaller monasteries, training halls, and subordinate temples. Lay brothers are Catholic religious occupied solely with manual labour and with the secular affairs of a monastery or friary. ... Teutonic Knights, charging into battle. ... This article is about historical Crusades . ...

History

Founding and Feuds

Warrior monks first appeared in a significant way in Japan in the middle of the 10th century, when bitter political feuds began between different temples, different sub-sects of Buddhism, over imperial appointments to the top temple positions (i.e. abbot, or zasu) Much of the fighting over the next four centuries was over these sorts of political feuds, and centered around the temples of Kyoto and Nara, namely the Todaiji, Kofukuji, Enryakuji, and Miidera, the four largest temples in the country. The first armed conflict broke out in 949, when 56 monks from Todaiji staged a protest at the residence of a Kyoto official, over an appointment that displeased them. Protests of this sort continued through the 10th century, often breaking out into brawls in which some participants would be killed. In 970, following a dispute between Enryakuji and the Gion Shrine of Kyoto, the former established the first standing army of warrior monks. It is not entirely clear whether or not this standing army consisted of monks from Enryakuji, or were more like mercenaries, since Ryogen, the abbot who established this army, also established a code of monastic conduct that prevented monks from leaving Mount Hiei during their 12-year training, from covering their faces, and from carrying weapons. In any case, beginning in 981, there were a number of armed conflicts between Enryakuji and Miidera, each the head temple of a different sub-sect of Tendai Buddhism. These disputes were, as before, over political appointments, and dishonorable etiquette. More often than not, these were cases of members of one faction being chosen as the abbot of the other faction's temple, and the monks would protest. This continued, on and off, once stopping for as long as 40 years, through the 11th and into the 12th century. The armies became larger, and the violence increased, until in 1121 and 1141 Miidera was burned to the ground by monks from Enryakuji. Other temples became embroiled in the conflicts as well, and Enryakuji and Miidera united against Kofukuji, and, another time, against Kiyomizu-dera. A replica of an ancient statue found among the ruins of a temple at Sarnath Buddhism is a religion and philosophy based on the teachings of the Buddha, Siddhārtha Gautama, who lived between approximately 566 and 486 BCE. Originating in India, Buddhism gradually spread throughout Asia to Central Asia... This page is about the city Kyoto. ... Nara (奈良市; -shi) is the capital city of Nara Prefecture in the Kansai region of Japan, near Kyoto. ... Main hall of Tōdaiji Tōdai-ji (東大寺), the Eastern Great Temple, is a Buddhist temple in Nara, Japan. ... Five-story pagoda at Kofukuji Kofukuji (興福寺) is a Buddhist temple in the city of Nara, in Nara Prefecture, Japan. ... Enryakuji (延暦寺), a monastery on Mount Hiei (比叡山) overlooking Kyoto, was founded during the late eighth and early ninth centuries by Saicho (最澄: 767-822 AD), also known as Dengyo Daishi (傳教大師), who introduced the Tendai (天台; Chinese tian1 tai2) sect to Japan from China. ... Miidera (三井寺), also called Onjouji (園城寺), is a Buddhist temple located at the foot of Mount Hiei, just outside the town of Otsu, in Shiga Prefecture. ... Events Belgian astronomer Jean Meeus asserts that the orbits of all nine planets were within the same 90% arc of the solar system on 1 February 949. ... Main hall of Tōdaiji Tōdai-ji (東大寺), the Eastern Great Temple, is a Buddhist temple in Nara, Japan. ... This page is about the city Kyoto. ... Events Major volcano eruption in Mashu Japan Devastating decade long famine begins in France Byzantine Emperor John I successfully defends the Eastern Roman Empire from massive barbarian invasion Construction completed on Al-Azhar mosque in Cairo, worlds oldest Islamic university Births Leif Ericson, Norse explorer Seyyed Razi, important Muslim... Enryakuji (延暦寺), a monastery on Mount Hiei (比叡山) overlooking Kyoto, was founded during the late eighth and early ninth centuries by Saicho (最澄: 767-822 AD), also known as Dengyo Daishi (傳教大師), who introduced the Tendai (天台; Chinese tian1 tai2) sect to Japan from China. ... Yasaka Shrine (八坂神社, yasakajinja), once called Gion Shrine, is a Shinto shrine in the Gion District of Kyoto, Japan. ... This page is about the city Kyoto. ... Enryakuji (延暦寺), a monastery on Mount Hiei (比叡山) overlooking Kyoto, was founded during the late eighth and early ninth centuries by Saicho (最澄: 767-822 AD), also known as Dengyo Daishi (傳教大師), who introduced the Tendai (天台; Chinese tian1 tai2) sect to Japan from China. ... Ryogen (良源; 912 – January 31, 985) was a chief abbot of Enryakuji in the 10th century, and the founder of the tradition of sohei warrior monks. ... Mount Hiei (Jp. ... Events Births Princess Theodora, later Empress of the Eastern Roman Empire. ... Enryakuji (延暦寺), a monastery on Mount Hiei (比叡山) overlooking Kyoto, was founded during the late eighth and early ninth centuries by Saicho (最澄: 767-822 AD), also known as Dengyo Daishi (傳教大師), who introduced the Tendai (天台; Chinese tian1 tai2) sect to Japan from China. ... Miidera (三井寺), also called Onjouji (園城寺), is a Buddhist temple located at the foot of Mount Hiei, just outside the town of Otsu, in Shiga Prefecture. ... Tendai (天台) is a Japanese school of Buddhism, a descendant of the Chinese Tiantai or Lotus Sutra school. ... A replica of an ancient statue found among the ruins of a temple at Sarnath Buddhism is a religion and philosophy based on the teachings of the Buddha, Siddhārtha Gautama, who lived between approximately 566 and 486 BCE. Originating in India, Buddhism gradually spread throughout Asia to Central Asia... Events Concordat of Worms condemns Pierre Abélards writings on the Holy Trinity. ... Events February 2 - Battle of Lincoln. ... Miidera (三井寺), also called Onjouji (園城寺), is a Buddhist temple located at the foot of Mount Hiei, just outside the town of Otsu, in Shiga Prefecture. ... Enryakuji (延暦寺), a monastery on Mount Hiei (比叡山) overlooking Kyoto, was founded during the late eighth and early ninth centuries by Saicho (最澄: 767-822 AD), also known as Dengyo Daishi (傳教大師), who introduced the Tendai (天台; Chinese tian1 tai2) sect to Japan from China. ... Enryakuji (延暦寺), a monastery on Mount Hiei (比叡山) overlooking Kyoto, was founded during the late eighth and early ninth centuries by Saicho (最澄: 767-822 AD), also known as Dengyo Daishi (傳教大師), who introduced the Tendai (天台; Chinese tian1 tai2) sect to Japan from China. ... Miidera (三井寺), also called Onjouji (園城寺), is a Buddhist temple located at the foot of Mount Hiei, just outside the town of Otsu, in Shiga Prefecture. ... Five-story pagoda at Kofukuji Kofukuji (興福寺) is a Buddhist temple in the city of Nara, in Nara Prefecture, Japan. ... The main hall of Kiyomizu-dera, Kyoto Kiyomizu-dera (or Kiyomizudera, 清水寺) refers to several Buddhist temples but most commonly to Otowasan Kiyomizudera (音羽山清水寺) in Eastern Kyoto, and one of the best known sights of the city. ...

The Genpei War

At the end of the 12th century, Japan was plunged into civil war, and so while the feuds between the temples did not end, they became submerged in larger events. The warring Minamoto and Taira clans both tried to obtain the aid of the warrior monks of Nara and Kyoto, adding the temples' forces to the clans' already mighty armies of samurai. Taira no Kiyomori sent generous gifts of rice and silk to Enryakuji, ensuring they would not help his enemies, the Minamoto, who had allied themselves with the monks of Miidera. In 1180, in one of the more famous battles in which sohei participated, the monks of Miidera, along with a force of Minamoto samurai, tried to defend the bridge over the river Uji, and the Byodoin temple behind it, from an attacking Taira force (see Battle of Uji (1180)). The monks pulled up the planks of the bridge, to impair the ability of the samurai, on horseback, to cross. They stood their ground with bow and arrow, naginata, sword and dagger, but were ultimately defeated. However, despite their defeat, and simply for their defiance alone, Taira no Kiyomori ordered that revenge be taken upon the monks that opposed him. Miidera was burned to the ground once again, as were many of the temples of Nara. Only the Enryakuji escaped unscathed. Three years later, when Minamoto no Yoshinaka betrayed his clan by storming into Kyoto, setting the Hojoji Palace aflame, and kidnapping the Emperor Go-Shirakawa, he was opposed by many of the monks of Kyoto, including those from Mount Hiei. Minamoto (源) was an honorary surname bestowed by the Emperors of Japan of the Heian Period to their sons and grandsons after accepting them as royal subjects. ... Taira (平) is a Japanese surname. ... Nara (奈良市; -shi) is the capital city of Nara Prefecture in the Kansai region of Japan, near Kyoto. ... This page is about the city Kyoto. ... Japanese samurai in armour, 1860 photograph. ... Statue of Taira no Kiyomori, Miyajima, Hiroshima Prefecture Taira no Kiyomori (å¹³ 清盛 1118 - 1181) was a general of the late Heian period of Japan. ... Enryakuji (延暦寺), a monastery on Mount Hiei (比叡山) overlooking Kyoto, was founded during the late eighth and early ninth centuries by Saicho (最澄: 767-822 AD), also known as Dengyo Daishi (傳教大師), who introduced the Tendai (天台; Chinese tian1 tai2) sect to Japan from China. ... Minamoto (源) was an honorary surname bestowed by the Emperors of Japan of the Heian Period to their sons and grandsons after accepting them as royal subjects. ... Miidera (三井寺), also called Onjouji (園城寺), is a Buddhist temple located at the foot of Mount Hiei, just outside the town of Otsu, in Shiga Prefecture. ... Events April 13 - Frederick Barbarossa issues the Gelnhausen Charter November 18 - France Emperor Antoku succeds Emperor Takakura as emperor of Japan Afonso I of Portugal is taken prisoner by Ferdinand II of Leon Artois is annexed by France Prince Mochihito amasses a large army and instigates the Genpei War between... Miidera (三井寺), also called Onjouji (園城寺), is a Buddhist temple located at the foot of Mount Hiei, just outside the town of Otsu, in Shiga Prefecture. ... Minamoto (源) was an honorary surname bestowed by the Emperors of Japan of the Heian Period to their sons and grandsons after accepting them as royal subjects. ... Japanese samurai in armour, 1860 photograph. ... Uji (Japanese: 宇治市; -shi) is a city on the southern outskirts of the city of Kyoto, on the Keihan line or the JR Nara Line towards Osaka. ... This article or section should be merged with Byodo-In Temple Built in 998 in the Heian period, Byōdōin (平等院) is a temple in the city of Uji in Kyoto prefecture in Japan. ... Taira (平) is a Japanese surname. ... The First Battle of Uji is famous & important for having opened the Gempei Wars. ... Japanese samurai in armour, 1860 photograph. ... A samurai wielding a naginata Naginata (なぎなた, 長刀 or 薙刀) is a pole weapon traditionally used by Japanese samurai. ... Statue of Taira no Kiyomori, Miyajima, Hiroshima Prefecture Taira no Kiyomori (å¹³ 清盛 1118 - 1181) was a general of the late Heian period of Japan. ... Miidera (三井寺), also called Onjouji (園城寺), is a Buddhist temple located at the foot of Mount Hiei, just outside the town of Otsu, in Shiga Prefecture. ... Nara (奈良市; -shi) is the capital city of Nara Prefecture in the Kansai region of Japan, near Kyoto. ... Enryakuji (延暦寺), a monastery on Mount Hiei (比叡山) overlooking Kyoto, was founded during the late eighth and early ninth centuries by Saicho (最澄: 767-822 AD), also known as Dengyo Daishi (傳教大師), who introduced the Tendai (天台; Chinese tian1 tai2) sect to Japan from China. ... Minamoto no Yoshinaka (Japanese: 源義仲, 1154-1184) was a general and last shogun of the late Heian Period of Japanese history. ... This page is about the city Kyoto. ... For some time, Minamoto no Yoshinaka had desired to seize control of the Minamoto clan from his cousins Yoritomo and Yoshitsune. ... Emperor Go-Shirakawa (後白河天皇) (October 18, 1127 - April 26, 1192) was the 77th imperial ruler of Japan, reigning from August 23, 1155 to September 5, 1158. ... This page is about the city Kyoto. ... Mount Hiei (Jp. ...

13th-14th Centuries & the Rise of Zen

Following the Genpei War, the monasteries, to a large extent, turned their attention to rebuilding, first physically, and then politically. Their political influence grew stronger through peaceful means, and the warrior monks played only very minor roles in the wars of the 13th and 14th centuries. Violent conflict between the temples still occurred on occasion, once again over political and spiritual appointments, and related matters. During the wars of the Nanboku-cho Period, Mount Hiei took in the rebel Emperor Go-Daigo, and offered him sanctuary. Go-Daigo, along with his son, and the help of the sohei of Mount Hiei, launched a brief rebellion against the Kamakura shogunate. The Ashikaga shogunate took power shortly afterwards, and supported Zen over the other Buddhist sects, drawing the ire of the warrior monks. Over the course of the 1340s-1360s a number of conflicts erupted between the Tendai sect temples, and those of Zen, especially Nanzenji. The Genpei or Gempei War (源平戦争)(1180-1185) was a war of ancient Japan, fought between the Taira and Minamoto clans. ... The Nanboku-cho (南北朝, lit. ... Mount Hiei (Jp. ... Emperor Go-Daigo (後醍醐天皇) (November 26, 1288 - September 19, 1339) was the 96th Emperor of Japan. ... Emperor Go-Daigo (後醍醐天皇) (November 26, 1288 - September 19, 1339) was the 96th Emperor of Japan. ... Mount Hiei (Jp. ... The Kamakura shogunate (鎌倉幕府) was a feudal military dictatorship ruled by the shoguns from 1185 to 1333. ... The Ashikaga shogunate (Jp. ... Zen is the Japanese name of a well known branch of Mahāyāna Buddhism, practiced originally in China as Chan, and subsequently in Korea, Japan, and Vietnam. ... A replica of an ancient statue found among the ruins of a temple at Sarnath Buddhism is a religion and philosophy based on the teachings of the Buddha, Siddhārtha Gautama, who lived between approximately 566 and 486 BCE. Originating in India, Buddhism gradually spread throughout Asia to Central Asia... Tendai (天台) is a Japanese school of Buddhism, a descendant of the Chinese Tiantai or Lotus Sutra school. ... Zen is the Japanese name of a well known branch of Mahāyāna Buddhism, practiced originally in China as Chan, and subsequently in Korea, Japan, and Vietnam. ... Categories: Stub | Buddhist temples ...

The Sengoku-jidai & the Rise of the Ikko-Ikki

The Onin War, starting in 1467, was the prelude to over a century of civil war in Japan, and the stimulus for a reorganization of the warrior monks. Unlike the Shokyu War and Mongol invasions of the 13th century, the Onin War was fought primarily in Kyoto, and thus the warrior monks could no longer remain non-violent and neutral. In addition, a new breed of warrior monks was forming in the countryside. Where the monks of Mount Hiei had subscribed to the teachings of the Tendai sect, these new groups, calling themselves Ikko-ikki, followed the dictates of the Shinshu set of beliefs. They were essentially coalitions of religiously fundamentalist priests, farmers, and families, who were willing to literally fight for their beliefs. Ikko-ikki translates to something like "devoted league," but also had the connotation of "single-minded riots." In 1488, their leader Rennyo, led an uprising against samurai rule, and secured Kaga Province for the Ikko-ikki. From there they spread, establishing themselves in Nagashima, Ishiyama Honganji temple, and Mikawa Province. Their growing power base would eventually attract the attention of the likes of Oda Nobunaga and Tokugawa Ieyasu, who recognized their opposition to samurai rule, their determination, their strength, and their numbers. Tokugawa Ieyasu attacked the monks of Mikawa in 1564, in the Battle of Azukizaka, and failed to defeat them, but returned shortly afterwards with a contingent of warrior monks from his own religious sect, Jodo-shu, and, after defeating the monks in battle, burned all their temples to the ground. As Oda Nobunaga rose to power at the end of the 1560s, the monks of Enryakuji regained their military might, and fought a number of skirmishes, in the streets of Kyoto, against a new rival sect, Nichiren. They eventually burned all of Kyoto's Nichiren temples to the ground, and then proceeded to seek allies among the local lords, or daimyo. Unfortunately for them, the Asai and Asakura clans they allied with were enemies of Oda Nobunaga. Beginning on September 29, 1571, Nobunaga's army of 30,000 attacked Mount Hiei, destroying the Enryakuji. Though it was rebuilt, the standing army of warrior monks would never be reconstituted. Nobunaga then moved on to fighting the Ikko-ikki in their fortresses of Nagashima and Ishiyama Honganji (see Sieges of Nagashima, Siege of Ishiyama Honganji). In the summer of 1574, with the help of former pirate Kuki Yoshitaka, Nobunaga essentially blockaded the monks' fortresses and starved them into submission. The 20,000 inhabitants of the fortress went up in flames along with their home. Two years later, Nobunaga returned to Ishiyama Honganji, which he had failed to take earlier. At the two Battles of Kizugawaguchi, Nobunaga defeated his enemies, the Mori clan, who had naval control over the area. The monks were finally forced to surrender in 1580. In the 1580s and 1590s, various factions of warrior monks sided with either Tokugawa Ieyasu or his rival Toyotomi Hideyoshi, fighting in a number of battles and skirmishes. When Tokugawa Ieyasu finally defeated the last of his enemies and took control of the country in 1603, the time of the warrior monks finally came to an end. Marker at location of outbreak of Onin War The Onin War (応仁の乱 Ōnin no ran) was a civil war from 1467 to 1477 during the Muromachi period in Japan. ... Events October 29 - Battle of Brusthem: Charles the Bold defeats Liege Beginning of the Sengoku Period in Japan. ... The Jōkyū War (承久の乱, jōkyū no ran) (1221), also known as the Shōkyū War or the Jōkyū Disturbance, was fought between the forces of Emperor Go-Taba and those of the Hōjō family regents, whom the Emperor was trying to overthrow. ... Honorary guard of Mongolia. ... Marker at location of outbreak of Onin War The Onin War (応仁の乱 Ōnin no ran) was a civil war from 1467 to 1477 during the Muromachi period in Japan. ... This page is about the city Kyoto. ... Mount Hiei (Jp. ... Tendai (天台) is a Japanese school of Buddhism, a descendant of the Chinese Tiantai or Lotus Sutra school. ... The Ikko-ikki (一向一揆), literally single-minded leagues, were mobs of Japanese warrior monks and farmers, who rose up against samurai rule in the 15th and 16th centuries. ... Shinano (信濃国; -no kuni) is an old province of Japan that is now present day Nagano prefecture. ... The Ikko-ikki (一向一揆), literally single-minded leagues, were mobs of Japanese warrior monks and farmers, who rose up against samurai rule in the 15th and 16th centuries. ... Events February 3 - Bartolomeu Dias of Portugal lands in Mossel Bay after rounding the Cape of Good Hope, at the tip of Africa becoming the first known European to travel this far south. ... Rennyo (蓮如)(1415-1499) was one of the leaders of the Jodo Shinshu sect, and later the Ikko sect of Buddhism, as well as the founder of the Ikko-ikki, mobs of warrior monks, peasants, and farmers, who launched organized attacks on samurai rule. ... The article incorporates text from OpenHistory. ... The Ikko-ikki (一向一揆), literally single-minded leagues, were mobs of Japanese warrior monks and farmers, who rose up against samurai rule in the 15th and 16th centuries. ... Nagashima (長島町; -cho) is a town located in Kuwana District, Mie, Japan. ... The Ishiyama Honganji (石山本願寺) was the primary fortress of the Ikko-ikki, mobs of warrior monks and peasants who opposed samurai rule. ... The article incorporates text from OpenHistory. ... Oda Nobunaga Oda Nobunaga (織田 ä¿¡é•·   Oda Nobunaga?, June 23, 1534 - June 21, 1582) was a major daimyo during the Sengoku period of Japanese history. ... Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu Tokugawa Ieyasu (previously spelled Iyeyasu); 徳川 家康 (January 31, 1543 – June 1, 1616) was the founder of the Tokugawa bakufu of Japan which ruled from the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600 until the restoration of the monarchy in 1868. ... Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu Tokugawa Ieyasu (previously spelled Iyeyasu); 徳川 家康 (January 31, 1543 – June 1, 1616) was the founder of the Tokugawa bakufu of Japan which ruled from the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600 until the restoration of the monarchy in 1868. ... The article incorporates text from OpenHistory. ... Events March 8 - Naples bans kissing in public under the penalty of death June 22 - Fort Caroline, the first French attempt at colonizing the New World September 10 - The Battle of Kawanakajima Ottoman Turks invade Malta Modern pencil becomes common in England Conquistadors crossed the Pacific Spanish found a colony... The second battle of Azukizaka took place in 1564, when Tokugawa Ieyasu sought to combat the growing threat of the Ikko-ikki, a sect of warrior monks who were strongly against samurai rule. ... The Buddha Amitabha, 13th century, Kamakura, Japan. ... Oda Nobunaga Oda Nobunaga (織田 ä¿¡é•·   Oda Nobunaga?, June 23, 1534 - June 21, 1582) was a major daimyo during the Sengoku period of Japanese history. ... Enryakuji (延暦寺), a monastery on Mount Hiei (比叡山) overlooking Kyoto, was founded during the late eighth and early ninth centuries by Saicho (最澄: 767-822 AD), also known as Dengyo Daishi (傳教大師), who introduced the Tendai (天台; Chinese tian1 tai2) sect to Japan from China. ... This page is about the city Kyoto. ... Nichiren (日蓮) (February 16, 1222 - October 13, 1282), born Zennichimaro (善日麿), later Zeshō-bō Renchō (是生房蓮長) and sometimes called Nichiren Shōnin (日蓮聖人) or Nichiren Daishōnin (日蓮大聖人), was a Buddhist monk in 13th century Japan. ... Nichiren (日蓮) (February 16, 1222 - October 13, 1282), born Zennichimaro (善日麿), later Zeshō-bō Renchō (是生房蓮長) and sometimes called Nichiren Shōnin (日蓮聖人) or Nichiren Daishōnin (日蓮大聖人), was a Buddhist monk in 13th century Japan. ... Daimyo Matsudaira Katamori visits the residence of a retainer. ... The Asai family (浅井氏) was a line of daimyō (feudal lords) which, along with the Asakura family, opposed Oda Nobunaga in the late 16th century. ... The Asakura family (朝倉氏) was a line of daimyō (feudal lords) which, along with the Asai family, opposed Oda Nobunaga in the late 16th century. ... Oda Nobunaga Oda Nobunaga (織田 ä¿¡é•·   Oda Nobunaga?, June 23, 1534 - June 21, 1582) was a major daimyo during the Sengoku period of Japanese history. ... September 29 is the 272nd day of the year (273rd in leap years). ... Events January 11 - Austrian nobility is granted Freedom of religion. ... Oda Nobunaga Oda Nobunaga (織田 ä¿¡é•·   Oda Nobunaga?, June 23, 1534 - June 21, 1582) was a major daimyo during the Sengoku period of Japanese history. ... Mount Hiei (Jp. ... Enryakuji (延暦寺), a monastery on Mount Hiei (比叡山) overlooking Kyoto, was founded during the late eighth and early ninth centuries by Saicho (最澄: 767-822 AD), also known as Dengyo Daishi (傳教大師), who introduced the Tendai (天台; Chinese tian1 tai2) sect to Japan from China. ... Oda Nobunaga Oda Nobunaga (織田 ä¿¡é•·   Oda Nobunaga?, June 23, 1534 - June 21, 1582) was a major daimyo during the Sengoku period of Japanese history. ... The Ikko-ikki (一向一揆), literally single-minded leagues, were mobs of Japanese warrior monks and farmers, who rose up against samurai rule in the 15th and 16th centuries. ... Nagashima (長島町; -cho) is a town located in Kuwana District, Mie, Japan. ... The Ishiyama Honganji (石山本願寺) was the primary fortress of the Ikko-ikki, mobs of warrior monks and peasants who opposed samurai rule. ... The Sieges of Nagashima took place in 1571, 1573 and 1574 in Japan. ... The Siege of the Ishiyama Honganji was the longest siege in Japanese history, lasting eleven years. ... Events April 14 - Battle of Mookerheyde. ... Kuki Yoshitaka (九鬼 嘉隆; 1542 - November 17, 1600) was a naval commander during Japans Sengoku Period, under Oda Nobunaga, and later, Toyotomi Hideyoshi. ... Oda Nobunaga Oda Nobunaga (織田 ä¿¡é•·   Oda Nobunaga?, June 23, 1534 - June 21, 1582) was a major daimyo during the Sengoku period of Japanese history. ... Oda Nobunaga Oda Nobunaga (織田 ä¿¡é•·   Oda Nobunaga?, June 23, 1534 - June 21, 1582) was a major daimyo during the Sengoku period of Japanese history. ... The Ishiyama Honganji (石山本願寺) was the primary fortress of the Ikko-ikki, mobs of warrior monks and peasants who opposed samurai rule. ... The two battles of Kizugawaguchi (lit. ... Oda Nobunaga Oda Nobunaga (織田 ä¿¡é•·   Oda Nobunaga?, June 23, 1534 - June 21, 1582) was a major daimyo during the Sengoku period of Japanese history. ... Grave of Yamaguchi Mōri clan at Mount Koya The Mōri clan (毛利氏, Mōri-shi) was a family of daimyō, descended from Oe no Hiromoto and established themselves in Aki province. ... Events March 1 - Michel de Montaigne signs the preface to his most significant work, Essays. ... Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu Tokugawa Ieyasu (previously spelled Iyeyasu); 徳川 家康 (January 31, 1543 – June 1, 1616) was the founder of the Tokugawa bakufu of Japan which ruled from the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600 until the restoration of the monarchy in 1868. ... Hideyoshi in old age. ... Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu Tokugawa Ieyasu (previously spelled Iyeyasu); 徳川 家康 (January 31, 1543 – June 1, 1616) was the founder of the Tokugawa bakufu of Japan which ruled from the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600 until the restoration of the monarchy in 1868. ... Events March 24 - Elizabeth I of England dies and is succeeded by her cousin King James VI of Scotland, uniting the crowns of Scotland and England April 28 – Funeral of Elizabeth I of England in Westminster Abbey July 17 or July 19 - Sir Walter Raleigh arrested for treason. ...

Weapons, Training, and Lifestyle

Sohei were quite varied in their armament. The naginata is the weapon most often associated with them, though in legend as well as history many warrior monks are known to have been proficient with everything from bow and arrow to tanto and wakizashi (dagger and shortsword). Many fought on horseback, and many with the thatched armor of a samurai. Warrior monks, like most other Buddhist monks of related sects, would wear a series of kimono-like robes over one another, usually white underneath, and tan or saffron yellow on top; this style has changed very little since the introduction of Buddhism to Japan in the 7th century. Footwear traditionally consisted of tabi socks and geta (wooden clogs), or waraji (straw sandals). Warrior monks would often fold and tie the white headcowl to cover more of their head, or would substitute a hachimaki headband. Finally, many warrior monks would wear some form of samurai armor. The sohei employed a variety of weapons. The obi, or belt, of the kimono would often be supplemented with a heavier sash, so a sword could be slung from it. The tachi style of sword was probably the most common, though many monks may have carried tanto as well. Many monks were also accomplished archers, and used bamboo-and-rattan bows, called daikyuu, with bamboo arrows. The most traditional weapon of the monk, however, was the naginata, a weapon much like the European glaive or halberd. The Ikko-ikki monks of the 16th century, due largely to their origins as countryside mobs, were far more varied in their armor & armament. Many wore the more traditional monk robes, with varying degrees and types of armor. Many wore various sorts of helmets, while many others opted for the straw hat & cloak of a peasant. Naginata remained very common, along with a variety of swords and daggers, and a limited number of arquebuses. Finally, while not truly armor nor armament, a very common item wielded by the mobs of Ikko-ikki monk warriors was a banner with a Buddhist slogan written upon it. One of the more common 'slogans' was the chant 'Hail to the Amida Buddha!' (Namu Amida Butsu 南無阿弥陀仏) A samurai wielding a naginata Naginata (なぎなた, 長刀 or 薙刀) is a pole weapon traditionally used by Japanese samurai. ... Yumi (弓, ゆみ) is the Japanese term for bows (which includes the longbow, Daikyu and the shortbow, hankyu) used in the practice of Kyudo (弓道, Japanese archery). ... A Tantō (短刀) is a Japanese blade or small sword. ... Wakizashi style sword mounting, Edo period, 19th century A wakizashi (Japanese: 脇差) is a traditional Japanese sword with a shoto blade between 12 and 24 inches (between 30 and 60 cm, with an average of 50 cm), similar to but shorter than a katana but also quite longer than the kodachi. ... Japanese samurai in armour, 1860 photograph. ... Statues of Buddha such as this, the Tian Tan Buddha statue in Hong Kong, remind followers to practice right living. ... Japanese woman in a kimono, ca. ... A replica of an ancient statue found among the ruins of a temple at Sarnath Buddhism is a religion and philosophy based on the teachings of the Buddha, Siddhārtha Gautama, who lived between approximately 566 and 486 BCE. Originating in India, Buddhism gradually spread throughout Asia to Central Asia... Tabi (足袋) are ankle high, divided-toe socks. ... Geta can be either: Geta, Åland - a Municipality in Finland. ... Waraji (Japanese: 草鞋) are sandals made from straw rope that in the past were the standard footwear of the common people. ... A hachimaki (鉢巻) is a stylised headband, usually made of red or white cloth, worn as a symbol of perserverance or effort, originating in Japan. ... Japanese samurai in armour, 1860 photograph. ... Obi can refer to: a belt worn on a kimono in certain martial arts Obi Island, Moluccas, in the Moluccas Obi Island, Java Sea, in the Java Sea See also: Obi-Wan Kenobi Oak Beach Inn This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists pages that might otherwise... Japanese woman in a kimono, ca. ... The tachi (太刀) is a Japanese sword, often said to be more curved and slightly longer than the katana. ... A Tantō (短刀) is a Japanese blade or small sword. ... Genera Many, see text Bamboos are a group of woody perennial evergreen plants in the true grass family Poaceae, subfamily Bambusoideae, tribe Bambuseae. ... Rattan (from the Malay rotan), is the name for the roughly six hundred species of the genera Calamus and Daemonorops used for furniture and baskets. ... Yumi (弓, ゆみ) is the Japanese term for bows (which includes the longbow, Daikyu and the shortbow, hankyu) used in the practice of Kyudo (弓道, Japanese archery). ... A samurai wielding a naginata Naginata (なぎなた, 長刀 or 薙刀) is a pole weapon traditionally used by Japanese samurai. ... A glaive is a polearm consisting of a single-edged blade on the end of a pole. ... Swedish halberds from 16th century A halberd is a two-handed pole weapon that came to prominent use during the 14th and 15th centuries. ... The Ikko-ikki (一向一揆), literally single-minded leagues, were mobs of Japanese warrior monks and farmers, who rose up against samurai rule in the 15th and 16th centuries. ... A samurai wielding a naginata Naginata (なぎなた, 長刀 or 薙刀) is a pole weapon traditionally used by Japanese samurai. ... The Arquebus (sometimes spelled harquebus or hackbut) was a primitive firearm used in the 15th to 17th centuries. ... The Ikko-ikki (一向一揆), literally single-minded leagues, were mobs of Japanese warrior monks and farmers, who rose up against samurai rule in the 15th and 16th centuries. ...

Sohei in Fiction

While most warrior monks of fiction are more closely derived from Chinese schools of martial arts, drawing upon imagery and concepts from Tibet and Nepal, there are a significant number of fictional references to the Japanese concept of a warrior monk. For example, in CrossGen's samurai comic book "The Path," many of the chief characters are warrior monks from the Takaihashi monastery; the main character of the series, Obo-San is more like the yamabushi type of monk. Also, in the anime series Samurai Champloo the heroes encounter a group of Sohei in one episode. Chinese martial arts, often abbreviated as CMA, refers to the enormous variety of martial art styles native to China. ... Tibet (Tibetan: བོད་, Bod, pronounced pö in Lhasa dialect; Chinese: 西藏, pinyin: Xīzàng; older spelling Thibet) is a region and former independent country in Central Asia and the home of the Tibetan people. ... Cross Generation Entertainment, or CrossGen, was an ambitious American comic book publisher founded in 1998 by Mark Alessi. ... The Path was the seventh studio album by English acoustic roots duo Show Of Hands. ... 19th century photograph of a Yamabushi. ... Samurai Champloo (サムライチャンプルー) is an anime title consisting of 26 episodes that began broadcasting on Fuji TV in Japan on May 19, 2004, directed by Shinichiro Watanabe of Cowboy Bebop fame. ...

See Also

• Gochin no Tajima
• Inei
• Saito Musashibo Benkei
• Tsutsui Jomyo Meishu

Gochin no Tajima, called Tajima the arrow-cutter, was a warrior monk from Miidera who fought alongside the Minamoto Clan forces, and many of his fellow Miidera monks at the Battle of Uji in 1180. ... Benkei as portrayed in Kabuki plays. ... Tsutsui Jomyo Meishu was a warrior monk, or sohei, from Miidera, who fought alongside Minamoto no Yorimasa and his fellow monks at the Battle of Uji in 1180, defending the Byodoin and Prince Mochihito from the Taira clan. ...

References

• Turnbull, Stephen (2003). 'Japanese Warrior Monks AD 949-1603'. Oxford: Osprey Publishing.