Sohei

[ToshiMaru]

I was watching Samurai Champloo, and Sohei came up. I was wondering if anyone would like to talk about them.

Sohei
"priest warriors" were Buddhist warrior monks of feudal Japan. At certain points of history they held considerable amount of power, obliging daimyo to collaborate.

They were similar to the mountain ascetic yamabushi, 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.

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.
- Wikipedia

Some Pictures
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/neil_james.bruce/Sohei-guardian.jpg
http://www.scnf.org/sohei.jpg
http://samourais.free.fr/Sohei_01.jpg

[Kiros]

Those look so cool, maybe ill be one >.>

[SunWuKong]

Okay Toshi, you forced my hand.

I had done a 'family' submission on the last forum for the Sohei.
I'll do another write-up and post it.
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edit:

Entry in the "Kodansha Encyclopedia of Japan" (1983)
Armed monks attached to great Buddhist institutions from early times...onward.
Although monks were strictly forbidden to bear arms - both by secular law and by their religion - armed monks and menials from temples and monasteries are known to have participated in civil disturbances as early as the 8th century. By the late 10th, as religious institutions became proprietors of landed estates..., they frequently mobilized warrior-monks to support them in land disputes. By the 11th century, young men were recruited from these estates for military service; and because they shaved their heads in imitation of monks, they too were called sohei. The sohei often fought among themselves and at times threatened both the court and the shogunate with their military might. The warrior-monks of the temples Enryakuji, Kofukuji, and Miidera were especially feared. Their power was ultimately broken by Oda Nobunaga...and Toyotomi Hideyoshi and by the various prohibitions of the early part of the Edo period (1600-1868 [ed: trin :rolleyes: ]).

From the same source:
Goso (forceful appeals): A form of protest or appeal made by groups of people to high authorities. During the Heian period… deputations of warrior-monks… from the temples Enryakuji and Kofukuhi marched into the capital from time to time to protest government policy or, more often, to make unreasonable demands. They usually bore portable shrines or other sacred objects to intimidate the court… In the [Muromachi] periods goso referred to peasant demands that the proprietors of landed estates lower the land tax and corvee labor requirements; aside from collective absconding, it was their principal means of protest. [Goso] was used synonymously with Hyakusho Ikki (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ikko-ikki), armed uprisings by peasants.

As I see it, the Sohei would be perfect candidates for a Rebel sub-faction. Not the main group, but a wild-card that the Emperor would have to watch out for. A small, NPC army of nasty fighters. (As far as I know, they are already in the game.)

My take on the Sohei (how I would want to play one) is that they are the Japanese equivalent of the Chinese Shao Lin (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shao_Lin). Monks that kept to themselves (neutral faction), however, when injustice became too prevalent they would rise-up against the corrupt lord to punish him (Any faction). Restoring balance for the good of the nation.

I’ll post a link to the ‘family’ write-up, soon.

edit: found a neat picture: Sohei pic (http://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/1841765732/ref=sib_dp_pt/002-6684965-1750441#reader-link)

[Trin]

...of the early part of the Edo period (1600-18668)

I wasn't aware that the Edo Period will only end in the year 18,668 AD. ;)

[ShininShado]

This is an interesting topic of discussion. Buddhism started in Japan as more a relgio-philosphic movement. It gave a good contrast to Shintoism, and was widely accepted. The problem with it during Fuedal Japanese era was that it also became a major political faction.

[SunWuKong]

I wasn't aware that the Edo Period will only end in the year 18,668 AD. ;)They were taking reincarnation into account. :-p

[Kamakiri]

I believe Sohei later developed into the Yammabushi....then into Ninja clans... Just stuff I have read, but I can't cite any real source on hand right now.

[Arakawa Nobuaki]

Yamabushi and Sohei are considered to be two different groups. Sohei are Buddhists. Yamabushi follow Shugendo. Yamabushi are said to date back to a man called En no Gyoja from the 8th century. Shugendo combines elements of Shinto with the doctrine, symbolism, and ritual of esoteric Buddhism. The first yamabushi are widely considered to have been hermits, who retreated into the mountains. The first, more or less, organized groups appeared in the Heian Jidai.

Sohei are sometimes called "yamabushi", but in general the kanji used for them are different than the ones used for the followers of Shugendo.

The Sohei also stopped being a real factor after Oda Nobunaga dealt with them. Hideyoshi didn't have any problems with them, same goes for the Tokugawa.

[MiideraSect]

Yes, Yamabushi and Sohei are usually considered to be different. Benkei was a famous Yamabushi in the service of Yoshistune during the Gempei war, the story of their meeting and fight at Gojo bridge and subsequent friendship is one of my favorite Japanese tales, along with the story of Miyamoto Musashi (great book "Musashi" read it if you havent already) and the 47 Ronin (chinshingura, a great movie, see it you havent seen it already).

I really like all the stories and history of the Sohei...you can probably tell by my forum name. I would love to be able to play on in an MMO and I could especially get into roleplaying one.
I love the Naginata, I think it is an amazing martial weapon and it was widely usd by the Sohei. It has developed into a modern martial art widely practice by women today.

Here is another photo to add to the collection.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v446/MiideraSect/Yamabushisohei.jpg

[Arakawa Nobuaki]

Musashibo Benkei was a sohei, he was a Buddhist monk, as such he can't be a Yamabushi. I've once read that he may have left the Buddhists and joined the Yamabushi at one stage of his life. However, most of the time in literature and on prints he's described or shown as a sohei. Sometimes even as normal samurai with the typical headgear that was worn under the helmet. In common Japanese lore the Yamabushi part of his life is often completely ignored.

That women are practicing with naginata today has its roots in feudal Japan. It was, strangely, considered to be a weapon of women, which was used when all defenses were breached and the women would be the last line of defense. In the last days of the Boshin War the Aizu Women's Brigade around Nakano Takeko used naginata as primary weapons, but these women also carried swords. Nakano is said to have killed 5 to 6 Royalist soldiers with her naginata before she was shot (the statue on top of her memorial shows her holding a naginata, too).

Ironically, the photo on wikipedia labelled "19th century photograph of a yamabushi" clearly shows a sohei.

As for the 47 Ronin, I'd rather suggest reading the original play (or watching it on stage if you have the chance). Movies are sometimes based on the 13-times-changed versions from the Meiji, Taisho and Showa governments and is extremely nationalistic and emperor-centered (while the original story is outright anti-government, THE reason why the play was so popular during the Edo Jidai). 'Sides, it's just a great story of revenge, but not really a great story of bushido.

[MiideraSect]

Yes,
Benkei was a Sohei before he left the Buddhist monastary in his late teens and became a Yamabushi (they wore black caps instead of the white cowls that you commonly see depicted on Sohei) or so the legend as I know it goes.

As a child he was called Oniwaka "devil's child" because of his size and wild look.

Later, He took over Gojo bridge and collected a variety of weapons including 999 swords of defeated samurai before he himself was defeated by Minamoto Yoshitsune. Impressed with Yoshitsune's skill he became his friend and loyal servant.

Benkei's last stand and death was during a battle at the castle Koromogawa no Tate where Benkei stood on the bridge to the castle defending his master as he retreated into the castle to commit Seppuku. Benkei stood in defiance as we was pierced with many arrows and still stood in defence even after his death. Finally the frightened soilders approached him only to discovered he was standing there in death (they must have felt foolish).

One of my favorite prints is a print depicting Benkei being defeated in a game of go by Ushiwakamaru (Yoshitsune)
Game of Go (http://www.pandanet.co.jp/English/art/benkei.html)

I love the tale of the 47 ronin and have read several different reditions of it, though I really did enjoy the movie. There are also some really great woodblock prints by Kuniyoshi on the subject.

There are some tales of great women warriors in Japanese history, Tomoe Gozen is one that comes to mind, she served Minamoto Yoshinaka (later to be known as Kiso Yoshinaka I believe) during the gempei wars and was with him to the end. After the Minamoto clan won the war he decided to take over Kyoto and imprison the Emperor so that he would be name Shogun. Yoshitsune and Noriyori were sent to kill him and Yoshinaka was driven from the city. Both he and Gozen were killed in the ensuing battle at Awazu.

I looked up Yamabushi in Wikipedia and I saw the photo of the Sohei, the same one I posted above there, hehe. I have had that photo on my PC and on photobucket for ages now, cant even remember where I found it originally.

I love talking about this stuff!

[Arakawa Nobuaki]

There is the problem that Tomoe Gozen may not have been a real person (similar to Okuni, the claimed inventor of Kabuki, there is evidence, however many questions remain unanswered). However, depending on which version of the Heike Monogatari you read, her fate is described differently. Some say she was actually killed in combat, being one of Yoshinaka's last fighters standing. Others say she escaped and became a nun. What really happened, well... we'll never find out. All witnesses are dead and the only, somewhat useful, written account was certainly manipulated by the Minamoto and Hojo for propaganda purposes after the war.

Benkei, I read once, was called "Oniwakamaru" as child, while Yoshitsune was called "Ushiwakamaru". "Dear young goblin/demon" and "dear young ox". Cute, isn't it.

Though, I would say that the whole events at the Gojo Bridge never really happened like that. 999 swords and then, the 1,000th, would be that of Yoshitsune, whom Benkei would serve loyally till death? A very strange coincidence and quite an extraodrinary number of swords without anyone doing anything about it. That's extremely unlikely. There's a lot of myth involved, of course, given the time that passed and the whole story itself (Yoshitsune's father is defeated by the Taira, Yoshitsune -ultimately- takes revenge, and then is betrayed by his own brother which leaves him only a glorious last stand and seppuku, a classic tragedy, perfect to be loved by the crowds). It's even said that Yoshitsune learned his trade from a tengu. So, many of the "details" of the adventures of Yoshitsune and Benkei are to be taken with care.

[Akitora]

I have a bunch non online things on Sohei - will post soonest with citations etc. Have to find the books.

[MiideraSect]

There is the problem that Tomoe Gozen may not have been a real person (similar to Okuni, the claimed inventor of Kabuki, there is evidence, however many questions remain unanswered). However, depending on which version of the Heike Monogatari you read, her fate is described differently. Some say she was actually killed in combat, being one of Yoshinaka's last fighters standing. Others say she escaped and became a nun. What really happened, well... we'll never find out. All witnesses are dead and the only, somewhat useful, written account was certainly manipulated by the Minamoto and Hojo for propaganda purposes after the war.

Benkei, I read once, was called "Oniwakamaru" as child, while Yoshitsune was called "Ushiwakamaru". "Dear young goblin/demon" and "dear young ox". Cute, isn't it.

Though, I would say that the whole events at the Gojo Bridge never really happened like that. 999 swords and then, the 1,000th, would be that of Yoshitsune, whom Benkei would serve loyally till death? A very strange coincidence and quite an extraodrinary number of swords without anyone doing anything about it. That's extremely unlikely. There's a lot of myth involved, of course, given the time that passed and the whole story itself (Yoshitsune's father is defeated by the Taira, Yoshitsune -ultimately- takes revenge, and then is betrayed by his own brother which leaves him only a glorious last stand and seppuku, a classic tragedy, perfect to be loved by the crowds). It's even said that Yoshitsune learned his trade from a tengu. So, many of the "details" of the adventures of Yoshitsune and Benkei are to be taken with care.

I have to agree that alot of the tale and legend of Yoshitsune and Benkei is just that, a legend based on true events. I have read several different writings on them and the events of the Gempei War and realize alot of it is embellished.
I do enjoy reading and researching it all, even if alot of it didnt happen the way it is described today it is still very intriguing.

[MiideraSect]

I am brushing up on my Warrior monk history and was wondering when exactly during the 16th century is Tatsumaki supposed to take place?
This will also play a factor on how I develop my character.

The main question I think I need answered is does Tatsumaki take place before or after the following events?
Oda Nobunaga burned Mount Hiei (1571) and the Ikko Ikki at thier stonghold at Nagashima (1574) Killing around 40,000 - 50,000. He then defeated the Ikko Ikki lead by Shimotsuma Nakayuki at Ishiyama Hoganji (1580) but spared them the same fate that as given to the monks of Mount Hiei and Nagashima. Finally with the defeat of the warrior monks of Negoroji and Ota castle by Toyotomo Hideyoshi (1585) the era of the warrior monk pretty much came to an end...

I am so fascinated by the history of warrior monks of Japan.