Ikkō-ikki
The Ikkō-ikki (一向一揆, "Ikkō-shū Uprising"), also known as the Ikkō League was a confederation of followers of the Jōdo Shinshū sect of Buddhism,[1] active in 15th-16th centuries Japan. Mainly consisting of priests, peasants, merchants and local lords who followed the sect,[2] the groups that formed the Ikkō-ikki opposed the rule of local daimyō. Its headquarters was the Ishiyama Hongan-ji fortress, located in present day Osaka, but it had groups of adherents scattered throughout the provinces of central Japan.[1]
History
In 1486, the Ikkō-ikki of Kaga Province overthrew the local daimyō and ruled the province without any samurai rule for almost 100 years.[1]
The Jōdo Shinshū were a sect whose power and wealth worried Oda Nobunaga, who feared that the sect could issue a statement against him, declaring him an enemy and raising armies from their followers.[3] This, coupled with their resistance of political and military control by local governors, incited Nobunaga into starting a war against them in 1570.[1] He launched a siege against their main compound, which lasted much longer than expected due to the waterways leading to the complex since Chief Abbot Kōsa had allies that managed to supply the castle by sea until Oda eventually defeated these mariners.[3]
Until the end of the siege, the Ikkō-ikki found itself in constant war against Nobunaga in various locations of the country, being the linchpin of various coalitions that opposed him. In 1580, the Ikkō-ikki surrendered, after a court noble was sent by Emperor Ōgimachi to broker a settlement between the two parties.[1] When they were forced out of their fortress, Kōsa's son set fire to the complex, not wishing for it to fall into Nobunaga's hands.[3]
Appearances
- Echoes of History (first mentioned)
