Military Commanders and the Decline of Ikko Ikki

Summary:

Over the course of the Warring States period, Ikko Ikki (revolts led by Honganji Temple Jōdo Shinshū sect followers) continued to grow in power, causing a number of feudal lords to either ban the Ikko sect (militarized Jōdo Shinshū followers) or band with them for their own causes. Oda Nobunaga, a powerful warlord, had a goal of unifying Japan under one rule, and the Ikko sects posed one of the biggest hurdles in that goal. Thus, from about 1570 onwards, he took great effort in attacking the various Ikko sects that were forming throughout Japan, until eventually he was able to overthrow the head temple itself, Honganji Temple. 

The Decline of Ikko Ikki

During the Warring States period, many uprisings broke out in various parts of Japan. At the time, class segregation and strict rules forced common people to live harsh lives, and constant civil war created a chaotic world for them. Their dissatisfaction, further encouraged by their religious beliefs, exploded in the form of revolts.

Many of these revolts were formed by followers of the Jōdo Shinshū sect in each area, often referred to as the Ikko sect. Due to the growing reputation of the numerous Ikko sect revolts, many areas in Japan began attempting to disband them. In the east, the Hōjō clan in Kanto strictly banned the Ikko sect in their territory from the beginning of the 16th century. Similarly, Nagao Yoshikage, the warlord in Echigo Province (Niigata Prefecture) banned the Ikko sect, and he himself went to Etchū Province (Toyama Prefecture) to fight against the sect, where he was ultimately defeated.

Around the same time, the Akamatsu clan in Harima Province (Hyōgo Prefecture), was using oppression to destroy the temples of the Ikko sect followers. In Kyūshū, the Shimazu clan in Satsuma Province (Kagoshima Prefecture) made the prohibition of the Ikko sect the founding law, and in Higo Province (Kumamoto Prefecture), the Sagara clan implemented a similar policy. There were also many conflicts between the Ikko sect and the Oda clan of Owari Province (Aichi Prefecture), as well as the Toki clan in Mino Province (Gifu Prefecture).

The First Ikko Ikki’s Defeat

In 1465, Enryakuji Temple in Kyoto attacked Honganji Temple, and forced its head priest, Rennyo, to flee to nearby Kanamori (Shiga Prefecture), where he began to grow followers. In 1466 when the Enryakuji Temple sent monk warriors against him, Rennyo rallied his followers to rise up against them and fight beside him. This battle became the first official Ikko Ikki in Japan. A century later, when Oda Nobunaga attacked the same area, the Ikko Ikki had re-formed to fight back, but ultimately lost, and was disbanded. 

Influential Military Commanders

Oda Nobunaga (1534 – 1582 ) (Pictured on left)

Nobunaga was a powerful warlord during the mid to late Warring States period of Japan. He was born in Owari Province (Aichi Prefecture) in 1534, and is known for the immense territory he claimed during his reign as head of the Oda Clan. He is attributed with paving the way for the unification of Japan, by reshaping Japan’s power structure. 

His unification of Japan symbolizes the Warring States period, and while his campaign included fighting against numerous feudal lords, one of his biggest missions was taking control of the growing Buddhist influence exploding across Japan. The Honganji Temple and its followers was one of his biggest targets. Their numbers had grown immensely in Japan, making them a huge, armed force, that was against samurai rule, and who had at times great influence among the Shogun and Imperial Family. Throughout his campaign he succeeded in disbanding numerous Ikko sects, starting with the burning of Mt Hiei (Enryakuji Temple) in 1571. He then moved to Nagashima in Ise Province in 1574, Echizen Province in 1575, and the Ishiyama Honganji War in 1580, among many more. 

During the Ishiyama Honganji War, Nobunada fought against the Ishiyama Honganji Temple (the head Honganji Temple) for ten years from 1570 to 1580. In the end he was able to force the surrender of Kennyo, the 11th head priest of the Honganji Temple.

On June 2, 1582, Nobunaga was betrayed by his closest general, Akechi Mitsuhide, at the Honnōji Temple in Kyoto. Unable to escape defeat, he committed seppuku ritual suicide and passed away at the age of 49. However, he had managed to unify almost half of Japan under his rule. His successors continued to unify Japan over the next several decades, until the Tokugawa Shogunate was established in the early 1600s, officially unifying Japan under one ruler. 

Uesugi Kenshin (1530 – 1578) (Pictured top right)

Kenshin was a powerful feudal lord during the Warring States period in Japan. He ruled Echigo Province (Niigata Prefecture), and was an ally of Oda Nobunaga until 1573 when their relationship began to weaken due to issues regarding the shogun. 

In 1576, the military alliance between Nobunaga and Kenshin was severed, and Kenshin formed an alliance with Honganji Temple. On September 15, 1576, Kenshin overthrew Nanao Castle (Nanao City, Ishikawa), and on September 17, he won Suemori Castle (Hakui District, Ishikawa) and defeated the Nobunaga forces at Tedori River in Kaga Province (Hakusan City, Ishikawa). As a result, all of Kaga Province came under Kenshin’s rule and was seen as a part of Kenshin’s domain. However, Uesugi Kenshin died suddenly in March 1578.

Takeda Shingen (1521‐1573）(Pictured right middle)

Takeda Shingen was a powerful feudal lord during the Warring States period of Japan, and the ruler of the Kai Province (Yamanashi Prefecture).　

During the Ishiyama Honganji War, the 11th head priest of the Honganji Temple, Kennyo, was facing pressure from Oda Nobunaga as the Honganji Temple had grown powerful. At the same time, Takeda Shingen found himself involved in a civil war against Uesugi Kenshin in Etchū Province (Toyama Prefecture). At that time Uesugi Kenshin was an ally of Oda Nobunaga, and as Shingen’s wife was sisters with Kennyo’s wife, the two rallied together. 

On New Year’s Day, 1573, Shingen had defeated the Oda Nobunaga forces at the Battle of Mikatagahara (Shizuoka Prefecture), however died in a later battle in April of that same year. 

Hōjō Ujiyasu (1515‐1571) (Pictured bottom right)

Hōjō Ujiyasu was a feudal lord of the Warring States period who established the golden age of the powerful Later Hōjō clan. He was in a triple alliance with Takeda Shingen and Imagawa Yoshimoto – the feudal lord of Suruga Province (Shizuoka Prefecture). From about 1531, they had suppressed the Ikko sect in their territory. However, in 1560, the forces of Uesugi Kenshin attempted to overthrow the Hōjō clan, and over the following years laid siege on Ujiyasu’s castle. In an attempt to make use of the Ikko sect’s power, Ujiyasu lifted the ban on the Ikko sect within his domain in 1566.