Sohei

Sohei were the Buddhist monk warriors from feudal Japan. Back in the past for the particular time they were highly powerful. They were alike the mountainous ascetic Yamabushi, though being formed in bigger armies or subdivisions unlike Yamabushi.

Sohei used to serve for the biggest cathedrals and abbeys and they acted like the European religious orders and communities as crucifiers, for instance, who used to crusade for the sake of churches.

Sohei monks presented an influential part of the army and they never yielded to any military trained warriors like Samurai in the art of war. People were advocated to profess to recruit the biggest army and in their turn they were promised to be taught various martial arts skills. Like the mountain ascetic Yamabushi, naginata was the favorite weapon used by the Sohei monks. As warriors they were too severe and hawkish, rarely able to act kindly or mercifully.

Enryaku-ji located on the Mount Hiei not far from Kyoto was established by the Sohei people. Enryaku-ji was also known as the home of marathon monks.