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Hara Joken

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Revision as of 04:04, 23 September 2025 by imported>Batfan13 (Created page with "{{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=Joken Hokkyo |affiliates=Shinbakufu<br> *Kurai Eikyou }} '''Hara Joken''' (died 1582), also known as '''Joken Hokkyo''' and '''The Wise''', was the abbot and caretaker of Tōdai-ji and a former warrior monk during the la...")
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Hara Joken (died 1582), also known as Joken Hokkyo and The Wise, was the abbot and caretaker of Tōdai-ji and a former warrior monk during the late Sengoku period. During Lord Oda Nobunaga's campaign to unite Japan, the abbot fought for his homeland against Matsunaga Hisehide and was promised that the monks would rule the land. After he led his monks in a 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 "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 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 battle, the abbot even fought against one of Hisehide's son Kojiro and defeated him in combat. When Matsunaga fell, however, Nobunaga gifted the land to Lord Tsutsui Junkei, much to Joken's ire.[1] Within a matter of years, he rose in status to become the abbot of the province but still harbored resentment towards Nobunaga.[2]

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 from the Kakushiba ikki.[2]

In September 1581, Joken joined his fellow Shinbakufu members during Nobunaga's invasion of Iga to find the regalia's jewel, the 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 kunoichi Fujibayashi Naoe managed to infiltrate the castle, assassinated Yoshihiro, and recovered the box holding the jewel.[3]

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, "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.[3]

In late June 1582, following Nobunaga's 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.[4] 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.[5]

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.[4]

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.[1]

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[1]

After their investigation at Katsuragi and Takatori Castle Ruins, Naoe and Yasuke determined that an agent called The Messenger sent out orders from his secret superior for bandits to attack and loot shrines to perpetuate angry spirits towards the locals.[5][6] 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.[7]

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.[2]

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[2] and a tea set from Joken's personal effects.[8]

Gallery

  • Hara Joken
    Hara Joken

Appearances

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Assassin's Creed: Shadows – Temple Stories
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Assassin's Creed: Shadows – Darkness Falls
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Assassin's Creed: Shadows – The Onryo Samurai
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Assassin's Creed: Shadows – A Chance Encounter
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Assassin's Creed: Shadows – Kurai Eikyou
  6. ↑ Assassin's Creed: Shadows – Restless Spirits
  7. ↑ Assassin's Creed: Shadows – The Lost Envoys
  8. ↑ Assassin's Creed: Shadows – Tea Bowls for Rikyu

Characters
Assassins
Templars
Shinbakufu
Sanzuko Ippa
Minor targets
The Betrayers (Fujichika Nakayama • Endo Tomoyasu • Itakura Shigezo • Masatoshi Nakahara • Sato Genta • Sato Katsubei • Usami Yoshiko) • The Butterfly Collectors (Gamemaker • Kacho • Mucho • Richo • Shucho) • The Corrupt Daikan (Endo Riku • Gamo Morinari • Ise Asuka • Isshiki Mansaku • Izumi Bunzo • Okudaira Toshizo) • Genzaburo's Soldiers (Akane • Genzaburo • Shishimaru • Shin-no-suke • Yasokichi) • The Godai Shinobi (Kaji • Akira • Azai Jukei • Kazumi • Rokkaku Yoshimitsu) • The Hunters of Kyonyo (Inumaru • Kamakichi • Shishi-o • Toro • Tsuchi-Gumo) • The Iron Hand Guild (Ginroku • Kanta • Kin-no-suke • Tamao • The Iron Hand) • The Kabukimono (Big Sueki • Chief Cuckoo • Corrupt Blade • Ember • Ghost General • Grave Dancer • Laughing Man • Peacock) • Kurai Eikyou (The Akiyama Agent • The Blacksmith Agent • The Katsuragi Agent • The Tsutsui Agent • The Messenger) • Nobutsuna's Students (Asari Nobutane • Hozoin In'ei • Marume Nagayoshi • Nagano Saemon • Sanada Masatoyo • Yagyū Munetoshi • Yuki no Kata) • The Pirate Alliance (Kage • Little Kappa • Lopo Cruz • Oni-yuri • Sen) • The Seta River Killers (Gaspar • Ermigo • Trader • Exterminator • Builder • Contractor • Collector • Stalker • Tormentor) • The Silver Smugglers (Enju • Fernam Moreno • Takeru • Mai • Nycollaao de Castel Branco • Shinji • Yoshisada) • The Twisted Tree (Takahashi Goro • Takahashi Ichi-Hime • Takahashi Inoshichi • Takahashi Jiro • Takahashi Saburo • Takahashi Shiro • Takahashi Taro) • The Winter Raiders (Akumu • Hayate • Sobei • Jinbei • Yasha) • The Yamabushi Imposters (The Clifftop Yamabushi • The Forest Yamabushi • The Mountain Yamabushi • The Pathway Yamabushi • The Pond Yamabushi • The River Yamabushi • The Shadow Yamabushi • The Valley Yamabushi • The Village Yamabushi) • The Yokai (Ao Andon • Daitengu • Kappa (Kappa Taku • Kappa Rei) • Makuwauri no Bakemono • Oshiroi Babā • Suika no Bakemono • Taka Nyudo • Yuki-onna)
Mythic Beings
Others
Animus EGO user • The Eagle • Ego • The Guide | Akechi Mitsuyoshi • Aoi • Aoki Ujimasa • Asajiro • Bessho Nagaharu • Luís Fróis • Fujita Juro • Furuta Tanji • Fuyu • Gamo Yoshimitsu • Gennojo • Genpaku • Hatakeyama Yoshimasa • Hori Hidemasa • Hosokawa Fujitaka • Imai Sōkun • Imai Sōkyū • Ise Sadatame • Ishikawa Goemon • Kanō Eitoku • Kamiizumi Nobutsuna • Kennyo • Konishi Yukinaga • Konatsu • Kumabe Ujiie • Kuroda Yoshitaka • Kyonyo • Mamushi • Matsu • Mayu • Meiran • Mitsumune • Mori Ranmaru • Murakami Norimasa • Nakamura Tadashige • Nene • Niwa Nagahide • Norimune • Oda Nobukatsu • Oda Nobunaga • Ōta Gyūichi • Otama • Rin • Samemaru • Satoko • Shibata Katsuie • Shindo Hiroshii • Shin'nyo • Shōtei • Sorin • Suzu • Tetsuo • Tokubei • Tokugawa Ieyasu • Tatsugoro • Tominaga • Tomita Nobutaka • Toyotomi Hideyoshi • Ukita Hideie • Ujimasa • Yakichi • Yamamoto Masakatsu
Factions
Assassins (Kakushiba ikki) • Templars (Abstergo Industries (Sentinels) | Japanese Rite (Sanzoku Ippa) • Portuguese Rite • Roman Rite) • Shinbakufu • Japanese clans (Akiyama • Akechi • Bessho • Fukui • Niwa • Oda • Rokkaku • Sengoku • Takahashi • Takeda • Tokugawa • Toyotomi • Tsutsui • Ukita) • Japanese confederations (Iga ikki • Ikkō-ikki • Koga ikki) • Japanese subcultures (Ashigaru • Kabukimono • Rōnin • Samurai • Shinobi • Sōhei • Yamabushi) • Minor factions (The Butterfly Collectors • Godai Shinobi • Iron Hand Guild • Kurai Eikyou • Pirate Alliance • Seta River Killers • Winter Raiders) • Jesuits • Portuguese Empire
Locations
Japan (Awaji (Sumoto • Yura) • Harima (Aga • Himeji • Miki • Takasago) • Iga (Hijiyama • Ichinomiya (Aekuni Shrine Town) • Mibuno Vale) • Kii (Mount Kōya • Negoro-ji • Saika • Shingū) • Ōmi (Azuchi (Azuchi Castle) • Hachiman • Lake Biwa (Chikubushima) • Nagahama • Ōmizo • Ōtsu • Sakamoto • Shiotsu) • Izumi Settsu (Amagasaki • Katano • Osaka • Sakai • Takatsuki • Tomiko's Homestead) • Tamba (Fukuchiyama • Kameyama • Miyazu • Tada • Takeda • Yakami) • Wakasa (Obama • Tsuruga) • Yamashiro (Kyoto (Honnō-ji) • Shōryūji • Ujitawara • Yamazaki) • Yamato (Asuka • Katsuragi • Kōriyama • Nara Heartland (Tōdai-ji) • Takatori • Uda Matsuyama • Yoshino))
Events
Terms and concepts
Animus (Anomalies • Database • Genetic memory • Hub • Memories • Rifts) • Crafting • Kakurega • Oni • Activities (Hidden Trails • Horse Archery • Kata • Kofun • Kuji-kiri) • Collectibles (Kamon • Tea sets • Sumi-e • Kano Paintings) • Imperial Regalia • Skills (Assassination • Eagle Vision • Freerunning • Eavesdropping • Leap of Faith) • Wardrobe (Naoe • Yasuke)
Weapons and tools
Blunt weapons (Kanabō) • Bow • Firearms (Teppō) • Grappling hook • Hidden Blade • Kusarigama • Polearms (Naginata • Yari) • Shinobi Tools (Kunai • Bells • Makibishi • Nightingale floor • Shuriken • Smoke bombs • Tezutsu) • Short blades (Tantō) • Staff (Bō) • Swords (Katana)
DLC
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