Negoro-gumi
Encyclopedia
The were an order of warrior monks
based in Negoroji temple, in Japan
's Kii Province
. They were famous for their skill with firearms, as well as with more traditional monk weapons like the naginata
. Negoroji, along with many other warrior monasteries, came under siege
at the end of the 16th century; in 1585, the temple was burned to the ground by the forces of Oda Nobunaga
.
The monks of Negoroji were devotees of the Shingi sect of Shingon Buddhism, but were allied with monks of other sects, such as the Ikkō-ikki
, as well as with Tokugawa Ieyasu
, a chief rival of Oda Nobunaga. They aided their allies in a number of battles, including the siege of Ishiyama Honganji, the main base of the Ikkō-ikki. When their own temple came under siege in 1585, its inhabitants are estimated to have numbered 30,000 to 50,000, though many escaped before the siege and sought refuge in Ōta castle
, home of the Saiga Ikki
. Following the destruction, twenty-five of the survivors joined Tokugawa Ieyasu's army, forming the core of his firearms squads.
An insight into the daily lives of the Negoro-gumi was provided by Father Caspar Vilela, a Jesuit missionary who visited the temple. He compared the monks to the Knights of Rhodes, devoted warriors who would give anything to fight for their religion. However, he observed that the monks of Negoroji focused far more on military preparations than on prayer, and that many had not even taken monastic vows. Vilela was impressed by their martial prowess, the extent of their daily training, and the strength of their weapons and armor. These monks were not only expert arquebus
iers, but also some of the best gunsmiths in the country, and accomplished fletcher
s. They celebrated military victories with all the pleasures enjoyed by a secular force, indulging in many things that an ascetic life ought to prohibit, such as women, wine, and song.
Sohei
were Buddhist warrior monks of feudal Japan. At certain points of history they held considerable power, obliging the imperial and military governments to collaborate....
based in Negoroji temple, in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
's Kii Province
Kii Province
, or , was a province of Japan in the part of Honshū that is today Wakayama Prefecture, as well as the southern part of Mie Prefecture. Kii bordered Ise, Izumi, Kawachi, Shima, and Yamato Provinces. The Kii Peninsula takes its name from this province....
. They were famous for their skill with firearms, as well as with more traditional monk weapons like the naginata
Naginata
The naginata is one of several varieties of traditionally made Japanese blades in the form of a pole weapon. Naginata were originally used by the samurai class in feudal Japan, and naginata were also used by ashigaru and sōhei .-Description:A naginata consists of a wooden shaft with a curved...
. Negoroji, along with many other warrior monasteries, came under siege
Siege of Negoroji
The was commanded by Toyotomi Hideyoshi, a former vassal of Oda Nobunaga, who came to inherit his armies, his land, and his rivalry with the warrior monks of Japan when Nobunaga was killed in 1582. Thus, in a way this was the next in a series of many sieges that Oda Nobunaga's forces undertook in...
at the end of the 16th century; in 1585, the temple was burned to the ground by the forces of Oda Nobunaga
Oda Nobunaga
was the initiator of the unification of Japan under the shogunate in the late 16th century, which ruled Japan until the Meiji Restoration in 1868. He was also a major daimyo during the Sengoku period of Japanese history. His opus was continued, completed and finalized by his successors Toyotomi...
.
The monks of Negoroji were devotees of the Shingi sect of Shingon Buddhism, but were allied with monks of other sects, such as the Ikkō-ikki
Ikko-ikki
', literally "Ikkoshū Uprising", were mobs of peasant farmers, Buddhist monks, Shinto priests and local nobles, who rose up against samurai rule in 15th to 16th century Japan. They followed the beliefs of the Jōdo Shinshū sect of Buddhism which taught that all believers are equally saved by Amida...
, as well as with Tokugawa Ieyasu
Tokugawa Ieyasu
was the founder and first shogun of the Tokugawa shogunate of Japan , which ruled from the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600 until the Meiji Restoration in 1868. Ieyasu seized power in 1600, received appointment as shogun in 1603, abdicated from office in 1605, but...
, a chief rival of Oda Nobunaga. They aided their allies in a number of battles, including the siege of Ishiyama Honganji, the main base of the Ikkō-ikki. When their own temple came under siege in 1585, its inhabitants are estimated to have numbered 30,000 to 50,000, though many escaped before the siege and sought refuge in Ōta castle
Wakayama Castle
' in Wakayama, Wakayama Prefecture, Japan, sits at the mouth of the Kii River. Originally Ōta castle, home of the Saiga Ikki, it was captured by Toyotomi Hideyoshi in 1585, during the Siege of Negoroji; many monks from Negoroji sought refuge in Ōta, which was soon destroyed by flood...
, home of the Saiga Ikki
Saiga Ikki
The , based in Ōta in Kii Province, were one of many Ikkō-ikki groups in feudal Japan.In particular, the members of the Saika Ikki, along with the monks of the Negoro-ji, were renowned for their expertise with the arquebus, and for their expert gunsmiths and foundries...
. Following the destruction, twenty-five of the survivors joined Tokugawa Ieyasu's army, forming the core of his firearms squads.
An insight into the daily lives of the Negoro-gumi was provided by Father Caspar Vilela, a Jesuit missionary who visited the temple. He compared the monks to the Knights of Rhodes, devoted warriors who would give anything to fight for their religion. However, he observed that the monks of Negoroji focused far more on military preparations than on prayer, and that many had not even taken monastic vows. Vilela was impressed by their martial prowess, the extent of their daily training, and the strength of their weapons and armor. These monks were not only expert arquebus
Arquebus
The arquebus , or "hook tube", is an early muzzle-loaded firearm used in the 15th to 17th centuries. The word was originally modeled on the German hakenbüchse; this produced haquebute...
iers, but also some of the best gunsmiths in the country, and accomplished fletcher
Fletcher
-People:* Frank Friday Fletcher, United States Navy admiral in the late 19th and early 20th centuries* Frank Jack Fletcher, United States Navy admiral during World War II; nephew of Admiral Frank Friday Fletcher...
s. They celebrated military victories with all the pleasures enjoyed by a secular force, indulging in many things that an ascetic life ought to prohibit, such as women, wine, and song.