The Sohei were a unique and formidable group of warrior monks in medieval Japan. Their blend of religious devotion and martial prowess set them apart from their contemporary warriors, allowing them to carve a unique path in Japanese culture.
The origins of the Sohei can be traced back to the rise of Buddhism in Japan during the Nara (710–794) and Heian (794–1185) periods. During this time, Buddhism gained widespread popularity, with large monasteries being established throughout the country. These monasteries, particularly those of the Tendai sect, grew to immense power and influence, both spiritually and politically. The primary stronghold of the Tendai monks was Mount Hiei, located near the capital city of Kyoto. Over time, these religious institutions became wealthy and more powerful, attracting a greedy eye from many rival factions and from the government itself.
To protect their temples and religious interests, monks began to train in martial arts and take up arms. Initially, the Sohei's role was to defend their monastic communities from marauders and rival sects. However, as their strength grew, so did their ambitions. The warrior monks became a significant force in Japanese feudal politics, often allying themselves with daimyo (feudal lords) or engaging in battles to protect their autonomy from the central government. They became known for their distinctive appearance, often dressed in traditional monk robes and armed with naginata, a type of polearm.
A naginata blade forged by Osafune Katsumitsu. Muromachi period, 1503, Tokyo National Museum
The peak of Sohei influence came during the turbulent Sengoku period (1467–1603), an era of nearly constant civil war in Japan. During this time, the Sohei were not only religious protectors but also political players who shaped the course of battles and alliances. Perhaps their most famous involvement in Japanese military history was during the Onin War (1467–1477), a civil war that devastated the capital and marked the beginning of the Sengoku period. The Sohei played a key role in many of the conflicts during this period, often siding with different factions and offering their martial services in exchange for political favors or protection of their religious domains.
One of the most notable confrontations involving the Sohei was the conflict between Oda Nobunaga and the Enryakuji monastery on Mount Hiei in 1571. Nobunaga, a powerful daimyo with ambitions to unify Japan, saw the Sohei as a threat to his control. In response, he launched a brutal campaign against the Enryakuji monks, culminating in the destruction of the monastery and the massacre of its inhabitants. This event marked a turning point in the history of the Sohei, signaling the decline of their influence as the military unifiers of Japan, such as Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and Tokugawa Ieyasu, sought to centralize power and suppress religious and political opposition.
Oda Nobunaga statue in Kiyosu park
The decline of the Sohei was gradual but inevitable. As Japan moved toward unification under the Tokugawa Shogunate in the early 17th century, the power of religious institutions was increasingly curtailed. The Tokugawa regime sought to stabilize the country after centuries of warfare, and part of this effort involved reducing the influence of militant religious groups. The Sohei, with their long history of military involvement, were seen as a destabilizing force, and many monastic armies were disbanded or absorbed into the emerging political order.
By the early Edo period (1603–1868), the Sohei had all but disappeared from the political and military landscape of Japan. The once-powerful warrior monks had become relics of a bygone era, replaced by the centralized authority of the Tokugawa Shogunate and the professional samurai class. While their military prowess faded, the legacy of the Sohei lives on in Japanese culture, particularly in literature and popular media, where they are often depicted as fierce and devout warriors fighting for a higher cause.
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References
Conlan, Thomas D. Weapons and Fighting Techniques of the Samurai Warrior 1200-1877 AD. Amber Books Ltd., 2008. ISBN: 9781906626161.
Adolphson, Mikael S. The Teeth and Claws of the Buddha: Monastic Warriors and Sōhei in Japanese History. University of Hawaii Press, 2007. ISBN: 9780824830974.
Friday, Karl F. Samurai, Warfare and the State in Early Medieval Japan. Routledge, 2004. ISBN: 9780415329637.