Violence in Japan: IntroductionThe basic structure of the state of Japan

Imperial court: emperors and courtiers Powerful clans: warriors (samurai) Religious institutions: Buddhist monks and Shinto

priests Peasants

The warrior class dominated the political landscape of Japan longer than in any culture

Buddhist monks were politically active and powerful for nearly a millennium (from the 6th century to the 16th century).

Types of WarriorsTypes of Warriors At least three types of warriors existed in early At least three types of warriors existed in early

JapanJapan– Imperial court warriorsImperial court warriors– Samurai working for powerful families/clans (Samurai working for powerful families/clans (kenmokenmo

nn))– Monk-warriors (warrior monks, Monk-warriors (warrior monks, soheisohei) )

Most famous were the warrior monks of EnryakujiMost famous were the warrior monks of Enryakuji The Retired Emperor Shirakawa (1053-1129):The Retired Emperor Shirakawa (1053-1129):

– ““The flow of the Kamo river, the roll of the dice, and the mountain The flow of the Kamo river, the roll of the dice, and the mountain monks [of Enryakuji] are things I cannot control”monks [of Enryakuji] are things I cannot control”

Samurai and warrior monks Samurai and warrior monks – the dominant armed forces the dominant armed forces – major sources of violencemajor sources of violence

Religious Institutions in JapanReligious Institutions in Japan

Powerful religious institutions as important plaPowerful religious institutions as important players of Japanese politics is a neglected issue yers of Japanese politics is a neglected issue – Little awareness of religious institutions as importLittle awareness of religious institutions as import

ant co-rulers of the early and medieval Japanese ant co-rulers of the early and medieval Japanese state.state.

– little attention paid to the study of powerful Buddlittle attention paid to the study of powerful Buddhist temples such as Enryakuji and Kofukuji, whichist temples such as Enryakuji and Kofukuji, which were sources of religious riots and disturbancesh were sources of religious riots and disturbances

Buddhist Institutions under Scrutiny

Beginning from the10th century, Buddhist institutions in Nara and Mt. Hiei had private armies that terrified the courtiers and citizens of the capital

Monks armed with glaives, bows, and swords were involved in numerous conflicts, fights, and wars

monk warfare plagued Japanese society until the 16th century

The First Warrior Monks The First Warrior Monks

Warrior MonksWarrior Monks– SoheiSohei, lit. monk-warriors, priest-soldiers, lit. monk-warriors, priest-soldiers– Often called Often called akuso, akuso, evil monksevil monks– Few of them were ordained, but all subject to moFew of them were ordained, but all subject to mo

nastic rulenastic rule– Inhabited in a number of large monasteries to wInhabited in a number of large monasteries to w

hich thousands of monks were attachedhich thousands of monks were attachedIn Nara, the southern capital, before 794In Nara, the southern capital, before 794

– Todaiji, KofukujiTodaiji, Kofukuji

In Heian (Kyoto), between 794 and 1185In Heian (Kyoto), between 794 and 1185– Mt. Hiei (Enryakuji), OnjojiMt. Hiei (Enryakuji), Onjoji

Enryakuji as a Powerful MonasterieEnryakuji as a Powerful Monasteriess

► EnryakujiEnryakuji A large Buddhist temple built in 788 ADA large Buddhist temple built in 788 AD Located on Mt. Located on Mt. HieiHiei northeast of Kyoto, which northeast of Kyoto, which

became Japan’s capital in 794became Japan’s capital in 794 Headquarter of the Tendai Buddhism, surrounHeadquarter of the Tendai Buddhism, surroun

ded by 3000 buildings that constituted the moded by 3000 buildings that constituted the monastery complex of Mt. Hieinastery complex of Mt. Hiei

Owned much property in places near the mouOwned much property in places near the mountain; wealthy and had private armed forcesntain; wealthy and had private armed forces

Enjoyed imperial favor and served as the proteEnjoyed imperial favor and served as the protector of the statector of the state

Formation of Warrior MonksFormation of Warrior Monks Reasons:Reasons:

Protected the temple from being intruded and itProtected the temple from being intruded and its land encroached s land encroached

Protested against emperor’s appointment of nProtested against emperor’s appointment of new temple’s ew temple’s Zasu, Zasu, the head abbot, whom the tthe head abbot, whom the temple disapproved emple disapproved

Stopped other religious institutions from sharinStopped other religious institutions from sharing their privileges g their privileges

Forced or coerced those who benefited from the Forced or coerced those who benefited from the temple’s loans but did not pay their debts bactemple’s loans but did not pay their debts backk

Harassed and terrified people to assure their milHarassed and terrified people to assure their military might itary might

Early Temple FeudsEarly Temple Feuds

Primarily because of political struggle betweePrimarily because of political struggle between rival templesn rival temples

First violent incident: 969 ADFirst violent incident: 969 AD– Kofukuji’s and Todaiji’s dispute over the jurisdictioKofukuji’s and Todaiji’s dispute over the jurisdictio

n of temple lands resulted in the death of several n of temple lands resulted in the death of several Kofukuji monks Kofukuji monks

Succeeding violent incident: 970Succeeding violent incident: 970– Enryakuji used force to settle a dispute with the Enryakuji used force to settle a dispute with the

Gion shrine in Kyoto Gion shrine in Kyoto

Enryakuji’s Warrior Monks

Ryogen, the 18th abbot of Enryakuji, decided to maintain a permanent fighting force at Mt. Hiei, which was arguably the first of warrior monk armies

Warrior monks in two rival factions in Mt. Hiei Ryogen-Ennin faction Gishin-Enchi faction

Conflicts between the two factions resulted in Mt. Hiei’s Tendai Buddhism split Sanmonha (Mountain branch) Jimonha (Temple branch)

Violence from Within

The Ennin faction monks drove out of the Enchin faction monks In 981, imperial court named Yokei as abbot of the templ

e of Hoosshoji, which angered Ennin faction monks 200 warrior monks from Ennin faction carried out a violent

protest to force the change of decree, finally resulting in the removal of Yokei as the abbot of Hooshoji

In 989, emperor appointed Yokei abbot of Enryakuji, causing uproar of the Ennnin faction monks. They forced Yokei to resign after confronting warriors sent from imperial court

In 993, Enchin faction monks took revenge on Ennin faction, marched on Mt. Hiei, and burnt Ennin’s temple. Ennin faction’s retaliation caused 1000 Enchin faction monks to flee to Miidera (Onjoji)

Enryakuji, Miidera, and the Samurai1039, bloody fight took place between warrior

monks from Enryakuji and samurai summoned by officials Cause:

• incumbent abbot of Miidera was names zasu of Enryakuji

• 3,000 enraged monks from Mt. Hiei descended on the residence of Fujiwara Yorimich to demand change of appointment

Result:• Violent fight between warrior monks and the summoned

samurai took place• Fujiwara gave me and renamed the Mt. Hiei candidate a

s zasu

Warrior monks vs. the SamuraiWarrior monks vs. the Samurai In 1095, thousand of armed warrior monks oIn 1095, thousand of armed warrior monks o

f Enryakuji fought with samurai who served f Enryakuji fought with samurai who served of the Fujiwara clan and the imperial familyof the Fujiwara clan and the imperial family Reason:Reason:

Enryakuji wanted to further punish an official of FujiwEnryakuji wanted to further punish an official of Fujiwara clan who had interceded monks’ brautal actara clan who had interceded monks’ brautal act

Result:Result: Warrior monks were driven from palace because they lWarrior monks were driven from palace because they l

acked the military discipline and training of the sumuracked the military discipline and training of the sumuraiai

Warrior monks attacked the capital again and brought Warrior monks attacked the capital again and brought their displaced abbot back to Enryakujitheir displaced abbot back to Enryakuji

Enryakuji vs. MiideraEnryakuji vs. Miidera

Confrontation/fight between the two was due Confrontation/fight between the two was due to Miidera’s ordination rightto Miidera’s ordination right– Enryakuji denied Miidera’s ordination rightEnryakuji denied Miidera’s ordination right– Temples of Nara supported MiideraTemples of Nara supported Miidera

1074, warrior monks from Mt. Hiei attacked 1074, warrior monks from Mt. Hiei attacked MiideraMiidera

1081, 1121, 1141 Enryakuji monks attacked 1081, 1121, 1141 Enryakuji monks attacked Miidera and burnt its buildingsMiidera and burnt its buildings

In 1141, Miidera was burnt to the groundIn 1141, Miidera was burnt to the ground

Enryakuji and Miidera Joined ForcesEnryakuji and Miidera Joined Forces

1081, Enryakuji and Miidera joined forces to 1081, Enryakuji and Miidera joined forces to attacked Kofukujiattacked Kofukuji– Cause: unclearCause: unclear– Results: Kofukuji burnt Miidera Results: Kofukuji burnt Miidera

1113, Enryakuji attacked Kiyomizudera, Kofu1113, Enryakuji attacked Kiyomizudera, Kofukuji’s branch temple, in Kyodo kuji’s branch temple, in Kyodo – Cause: rival appointment of an abbotCause: rival appointment of an abbot– Result: warrior monks burnt KiyomizuderaResult: warrior monks burnt Kiyomizudera

1117, Enryakuji and Miidera joined forces to 1117, Enryakuji and Miidera joined forces to attacked Kofukuji againattacked Kofukuji again