Maybe the monk of the shogunate

Japanese monks have many career options after swearing. Some people continue to be Great Warriors and Exorcists. The others are miracle workers. However, during the war, many chose to lead the populist uprising that swept the country at that time.

One commander was Shimotsuma Rairen, whose sects of warrior monks and peasants became so powerful that they considered attacking the capital at one time and installing Shimotsuma as the new Shogun. What is the result? Let’s find out.

Dream of the Peasant Kingdom

First, there is a little background. True Pure Land Buddhism (Jodo Shinshu) is currently the most popular Buddhist school in Japan. It got there through incredible access. This religion is not a religion reborn in a pure land of heaven by reciting “namu amida butsu” (“I commissioned myself to the statue of Amida Buddha”), rather than a rigorous study, asceticism and meditation.

This makes true pure land Buddhism very popular among farmers, some of whom become fanatics, repeating mantras thousands of times a day.

Believe that they are now guaranteed to be in heaven and that they are not afraid of death. Therefore, they are easily recruited into fundamentalist warrior communities. Being called ikko-ikki (One-minded group), they became serious, trained military forces in the 1400s and 1500s.

For decades, from the mid-15th century, Kaga’s Ikko-ikki (southern and west of modern Ishikawa Prefecture) controlled the military governor of the province until they were completely freed from their posts.

In 1546, Kaga was called hyakusho no mochitaru kuni – Land belonging to the peasants – Ruled by radical believers of the Oyama Gobo Fortress, it will eventually develop into the city of Kanazawa.

This is the first time in history that the Japanese province was ruled by someone other than aristocrats or samurai. This became a powerful inspiration for monks at the main compound of Ikko-ikki in Ishiyama Honganji in Osaka.

Toyonobu (1859-1886) “The Battle of Ishiyama Omwana Muttle” | Wikimedia, TW’s EDTS

Under the golden sun flag of Ishimu Leren

Shimotsuma Rairen is also named after Shimotsuma Nakayuki and is admired for his diligence. He served directly under the abbot of Ishiyama Honganji, and he quickly rose up in various fields ikko-ikki Group, write letters and form alliances.

With Ishiyama Ikki Some suggested that they should imitate Kaga by controlling Kyoto and using one of their own as a shogun. Shimotsuma is the obvious candidate. We can only guess how this keen, multi-tasking warrior monk will deal with the Japanese government.

Sadly, we can never be sure because the group’s political revolution plan was stopped by Oda Nobunaga. The one-minded group was the last fortress against Nobunaga’s conquest of Japan, and he wanted them to leave. Ikko-ikki refused to walk quietly. This triggered the Hungani War.

For a decade, Nobunaga has besieged Ishiyama, fought monks and farmers, was highly trained in the use of guns, and was supported by the Mori family and village pirates. Both defenses are secured by Shimotsuma’s diplomatic and logistical work, who also keeps the label for the Ikko-Ikki faction outside Ishiyama. When a dispute arose, he served as judge while handling the attacks of one of the greatest warriors in Japanese history.

However, this person is more than just an administrator. Shimotsuma, dressed in full combat armor, held a red banner with golden sunshine, was also a talented general who led many battles with Nobunaga’s advance troops.

Shimotsuma swears loyalty to Nobunaga

The warlords finally broke the Marine Blockade of the Morrie clan (beaten One of the Japanese Pirate Kings In the process), Hurghaji slowly completed the regulations and prepared to surrender.

Shimotsuma negotiated the end of the war and he actually got the terrible Nobunaga to save everyone’s life (with the help of the emperor). The Shishan complex was burned down, but there was no one inside. Shimotsuma signed a pledge of loyalty to Nobunaga in his own blood, but was subsequently allowed to continue his work as a monk.

After Nobunaga’s death, he becomes an intermediary between the surviving Ishiyama Ikko-ikki Japan’s second great unity, Toyotomi hideyoshi. Hideyoshi used warrior groups in some of his campaigns, also recognized Hungaj’s strategic position and established his main defense on his website.

Hongji’s split faction

Today, it is called Osaka Castle. As for Shouwuma, he experienced a period of opposition from Hungaji and worked hard to maintain peace between the two. Later, he also negotiated with Tokugawa Ieyasu, the third great unification man in Japan.

Thanks to him, the true pure land Buddhism was allowed to continue, surrounding the temples of Kyoto’s rivals Nishi Honganji and Higashi Honganji, which were granted by Hideyoshi and Ieyasu.

Finally, in 1626, the shogun monk was satisfied with the fact that his religion survived. He may be happy to know that Nishi Honganji and Higashi Honganji are still today.

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