Editing Hara Joken

{{Era|Individuals}}
{{Character Infobox
|name=Hara Joken
|native=
|image=ACSH Hara Joken Closeup 1.png
|birth=
|death=1582<br>[[Kōfuku-ji]], [[Yamato]], [[Japan]]
|species=[[Human]]
|database=[[Database: Joken Hokkyo|Joken Hokkyo]]
|affiliates=[[Shinbakufu]]<br>
*[[Kurai Eikyou]]
}}
'''Hara Joken''' (died 1582), also known as '''Joken Hokkyo''' and '''The Wise''', was the [[Scholar|abbot]] and caretaker of [[Tōdai-ji]] and a former [[Sōhei|warrior monk]] during the late [[Sengoku period]]. During Lord [[Oda Nobunaga]]'s campaign to unite [[Japan]], the abbot fought for his homeland against {{Wiki|Matsunaga Hisehide}} and was promised that the monks would rule the land. After he led his monks in a {{Wiki|Siege of Shigisan|siege}} against Matsunaga's forces, the abbot and his monks were passed over in favor of Lord [[Tsutsui Junkei]] as ''[[daimyō]].''

Upon his rise as the "''[[wikt:ほっきょう|Hokkyō]]''" of Tōdai-ji, Joken conspired with and joined the [[Shinbakufu]], a secret organization established to bring former [[Shōgun]] [[Ashikaga Yoshiaki]] back into power. In return, he was garnered forces and worked to instigate turmoil between the [[Tsutsui clan]] and the [[Akiyama clan]]. However, the [[Japanese Brotherhood of Assassins|Kakushiba ''ikki'']] members [[Fujibayashi Naoe]] and [[Yasuke]] investigated the tensions and thus discovered the abbot's role in stirring the clans' distrust of one another. Following his exposure, Joken made a last stand against the clans but was ultimately met his demise at the hands of Naoe and Yasuke.

==Biography==
===Time as a warrior monk===
During Lord Oda Nobunaga's unification campaign in 1577, Joken and his fellow monks were promised by Nobunaga to rule the Yamato, in return to join him against the forces of Matsunaga Hisehide. During the {{Wiki|Siege of Shigisan|battle}}, the abbot even fought against one of Hisehide's son [[Matsunaga Kojiro|Kojiro]] and defeated him in combat. When Matsunaga fell, however, Nobunaga gifted the land to Lord Tsutsui Junkei, much to Joken's ire.<ref name="Temple Stories">''[[Assassin's Creed: Shadows]]'' – [[Temple Stories]]</ref> Within a matter of years, he rose in status to become the abbot of the province but still harbored resentment towards Nobunaga.<ref name="Darkness Falls">''[[Assassin's Creed: Shadows]]'' – [[Darkness Falls]]</ref>

===Joining the Shinbakufu===
From this oversight, Joken soon joined the Shinbakufu, which in return, aided in his efforts to create chaos between Lord Junkei and Lady [[Akiyama Ayako]]. In doing so, he took on the role as "The Wise" and took part in regaining the [[Imperial Regalia of Japan|Imperial Regalia]] from the [[Japanese Brotherhood of Assassins|Kakushiba ''ikki'']].<ref name="Darkness Falls"/>

In September 1581, Joken joined his fellow Shinbakufu members during Nobunaga's [[Tenshō Iga War|invasion]] of [[Iga]] to find the regalia's jewel, the  ''{{Wiki|Magatama|Yasakani no Magatama}}''. Using the invasion to mask their efforts, one of their members [[Ido Yoshihiro]] had recovered the jewel and awaited their arrival at [[Katano Castle]]. However, young ''[[ninja|kunoichi]]'' [[Fujibayashi Naoe]] managed to infiltrate the castle, assassinated Yoshihiro, and recovered the box holding the jewel.<ref name="The Onyro Samurai">''[[Assassin's Creed: Shadows]]'' – [[The Onryo Samurai]]</ref>

On the outskirts of the castle, Naoe ran with the box, only to be shot and injured by [[Yaita Wakasa]] and [[Wada Koretake]]. While Wakasa and Koretake argued over taking the box, her father and Kakushiba ''ikki'' member [[Fujibayashi Nagato]] came and attacked them, pushing them back. However, Joken and his other fellow Shinbakufu members arrived with their leader, "[[Ashikaga Yoshiaki|The Tatsu]]", and stood against Naoe and Nagato. Making a last stand, Nagato went towards them, only to fall and die at their hands. With the box recovered, the Shinbakufu left the Fujibayashi's to die while they each returned to their respective lands.<ref name="The Onyro Samurai"/>

In late June 1582, following Nobunaga's [[Honnō-ji incident|death]], Joken resumed working on his plan to stir inner turmoil between Lord Junkei and Lady Ayako. Pretending to be an ally to Lord Junkei, he influenced his lord by sowing distrust between both Junkei and Ayako.<ref name="A Chance Encounter">''[[Assassin's Creed: Shadows]]'' – [[A Chance Encounter]]</ref> Meanwhile, he also worked covertly with a group of agents, the [[Kurai Eikyou]], across the province and within the clans to manufacture fear and chaos amongst the locals.<ref name="Kurai Eikyou">''[[Assassin's Creed: Shadows]]'' – [[Kurai Eikyou (memory)|Kurai Eikyou]]</ref> 

While at Junkei's behest, Joken soon saw the arrival of Kakushiba ''ikki'' members Naoe and [[Yasuke]], who pretended to be a samurai with his servant visiting the province. They soon offered to help Lord Junkei to escort their envoys while the lord agreed and dismissed him. Before leaving, he offered them to visit Tōdai-ji as he can show them around the temple.<ref name="A Chance Encounter"/>

Arriving at Tōdai-ji, Naoe and Yasuke arrived and met with Joken Hokkyo, who escorted them around the temple. Talking about his role, he informed them that he hoped to be a spiritual guide and resolve tensions, especially with the use of the temple's sacred texts. However, the Hokkyo left to intend to some matters while leaving the duo to explore the temple. However, Joken soon found them looking among the temples' set of oddities, where he explained his own history with the Matsunaga clan and how he came close to death to Hisehide's son.<ref name="Temple Stories"/>

During their conversation, the temple came under attack from Akiyama soldiers. Joken offered his life for them to stop, However, Naoe and Yasuke managed to kill them. Yet, Joken noted that the sacred scroll was taken and exclaimed that he deserved death. While the duo told him to stay his death, Joken agreed and stated that his punishment should be at Lord Junkei's hands at [[Koriyama Castle]]. When Joken arrived at the castle, he informed Lord Junkei, who was at his ends and nearly declared war. While Joken tried to offer peace, Junkei rejected the claim. Fortunately, Naoe and Yasuke arrived with the scroll and promised to investigate the attack further before the peace talks. Joken thanked them before leaving for preparations at Kōfuku-ji<ref name="Temple Stories"/>

After their investigation at [[Katsuragi]] and [[Takatori Castle Ruins]], Naoe and Yasuke determined that an agent called [[The Messenger (monk)|The Messenger]] sent out orders from his secret superior for [[bandit]]s to attack and loot shrines to perpetuate angry spirits towards the locals.<ref name="Kurai Eikyou"/><ref name="Restless Spirits">''[[Assassin's Creed: Shadows]]'' – [[Restless Spirits]]</ref> They later found themselves meeting Lady Ayako and discovering that Tsutsui envoys were attacked by traitorous Akiyama [[soldiers]] paid by a masked warrior. After saving the remaining envoy, they later recovered the invitation at [[Uda Matsuyama Castle]], handed to Lady Ayako at [[Kasugataisha Shrine]], and assured her attendance at the peace talks.<ref name="The Lost Envoys">''[[Assassin's Creed: Shadows]]'' – [[The Lost Envoys]]</ref>

====Death====
At Kōfuku-ji, Joken supervised Lord Junkei and Lady Ayako's talks and called for an intermission right when Yasuke entered. Meanwhile, Joken's soldiers readied their plans to attack by having an Akiyama soldier fire a shot at Lord Junkei, starting a war between both clans. Fortunately, Naoe intervened and killed the shooter. However, Lord Junkei and Lady Ayako began accusing each other for the attempted assassination. When the abbot tried to blame each leader, Yasuke threw his blade at Joken, who caught it and revealed his true nature.<ref name="Darkness Falls"/>

Upon the reveal, Joken's men stood behind him as he ordered them to kill everyone, starting with Yasuke first. While he fled, Yasuke and the clan's forces managed to kill Joken's soldiers. Soon, Naoe and Yasuke followed Joken and found him kneeling at a small shrine. There, Joken fought with his [[katana]] against them and exclaimed that Nobunaga betrayed him and how he should have been ruler of Yamato. However, he ultimately lost the fight against them. When he was questioned about the box, Joken stated that he would like to die. He soon heard the sound that Kojiro used to make before succumbing to his wounds. Afterwards, they soon acquired the ''[[kusarigama]]'' [[Winds of War]]<ref name="Darkness Falls"/> and a tea set from Joken's personal effects.<ref name="Tea Bowls for Rikyu">''[[Assassin's Creed: Shadows]]'' – [[Tea Bowls for Rikyu]]</ref>

==Gallery==
<gallery captionalign="center" position="center" widths="180">
ACSH Hara Joken 1.png|Hara Joken
</gallery>

==Appearances==
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Shadows]]''

==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{ACSH}}
[[Category:1582 deaths]]
[[Category:Individuals]]
[[Category:Japanese]]
[[Category:Monks]]
[[Category:Priests]]
[[Category:Abbots]]
[[Category:Shinbakufu]]
[[Category:Templar allies]]