Sōhei And Yamabushi: Fearsome Ancient Warrior Monks Of Japan

Ellen Lloyd - AncientPages.com - In Europe, the Knights Templar were the first known warrior monks, active during the Crusades.

However, warrior monks did not only exist in Europe. In other parts of the world, like Japan, religious organizations trained monks to live an ascetic lifestyle and engage in violent conflicts by becoming great warriors.

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The Sōhei were deeply religious, yet they were regarded as fearsome warriors. The Yamabushi were mysterious mountain-wandering warrior monks searching for spiritual and supernatural powers. They, too, could be very violent and dangerous.

Sōhei: Powerful Buddhist Warrior Monks Of Medieval And Feudal Japan

The Sōhei were influential Buddhist warrior monks of both medieval and feudal Japan. These monk soldiers were easily recognizable because of the white cowls they wore over their heads which were shaved, like all monks. The Sōhei first appeared during the Heian period from  794 to 1185.

It is the period in Japanese history when Buddhism, Taoism, and other Chinese influences were at their height.

The reason why the Sōhei became warriors was power and control. The warrior monks played a vital role when bitter political feuds began between different temples, different subsects of Buddhism, over imperial appointments to the top temple positions.

In the 10th century, the Emperor and his government still retained a great deal of power. This power included appointing which monk would run a particular temple. However, the factional divisions within Buddhist monks and the simple realities of palace politics meant that a member of one faction was appointed as the head of a temple controlled by a rival faction. A dispute between two shrines led to the establishment of a standing army of monks at the Yasaka Shrine in Kyoto. It led to a warrior monk arms race.

Sometimes the disputes ended, and there was peace, but a new conflict arose, and the monk went to war again.

The Sōhei employed a variety of weapons. The most common sword was the tachi, a traditional sword worn by the Samurai warriors. The warrior monks also used blades, daggers, and the heavy kanabō, a  large club forged of solid iron.

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At some point, the Sōhei co-existed with Samurai warriors during the same period.

Yamabushi: Mountain-Wandering Warrior Monks Searching For Spiritual And Supernatural Powers

The mysterious Yamabushi were mountain-wandering warrior monks searching for spiritual and supernatural powers.

Although they mainly kept to themselves for the most part solitary, they did form loose confederations and associations with certain temples occasionally. They also sometimes participated in battles and skirmishes alongside Samurai and Sōhei warrior monks.

The Yamabushi emerged in the eighth and ninth centuries in Japan.

Their beliefs were based on pieces from different religions. The Yamabushi believed that to become spiritually enlightened, one must have a close relationship with nature over a long time.

They also believed that communing with nature would give a person supernatural powers. During their long journeys, the Yamabushi often had to defend themselves, which is why they were trained in martial arts.

Religion combined with violence stretches far back in our history.

Written by Ellen Lloyd – AncientPages.com

Updated on August 12, 2022

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