The sohei, or warrior monks, were armed Buddhist monks in medieval Japan who played significant military and political roles from the late Heian period (794–1185). Originating from powerful monasteries like Enryaku-ji on Mount Hiei, sōhei defended their religious institutions against rival sects, samurai warlords, and even the imperial court. Clad in monk robes and wielding weapons like the naginata, they often marched in large, organized forces, blurring the line between spiritual devotion and military aggression. Their influence waned during the unification of Japan under Oda Nobunaga, who viewed them as a threat and brutally suppressed their power—most notably in the 1571 destruction of Enryaku-ji—marking the decline of militant monasticism in Japan. Japan Reach - Reaching the Japanese people one relationship at a time. www.japanreach.org

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