## Importance of Court Noble and Temple/Shrine Powers in Medieval Japan
Medieval Japanese society was a complex, multilayered structure where the warrior (buke), court noble (kugyo), and temple/shrine (jisha) powers intertwined and mutually influenced each other. To deeply understand this era, it's essential to consider not only the warrior class but also the court nobles and temple/shrine powers. As the NMIH mod author for CK2 may touch upon the warrior powers, I will explain the importance and specific presence of the court noble and temple/shrine powers here.
### Court Noble (Kugyo) Powers
In medieval Japan, court nobles weren't just imperial officials; they formed a strong aristocratic society based on "
kakaku" (family status). Some scholars suggest that through marriages with warrior families, a
unified aristocratic society spanning both court and military came into being, with both sides sharing culture. Living in Kyoto, they controlled vast shōen (manors), and their economic and political influence was undeniable.
Regarding court noble powers, I'm currently researching this topic. It would be appropriate to select forces from among the
Tōshōke (court nobles permitted access to the imperial palace),
Kokushi (provincial governors), and
Kugyō Taishō (court nobles holding military and political authority).
### Temple and Shrine (Jisha) Powers
In medieval Japan, temples and shrines held vast shōen (manors) and wielded significant economic and political power. Below is a summary of the major temple and shrine powers and their characteristics.
#### Major Temple and Shrine Powers
- Enryaku-ji on Mount Hiei (Tendai School): The head temple of the Tendai school, it possessed strong military forces (
sōhei or warrior monks) and exerted considerable influence on politics. Tōnomine was one of its branch temples.
- Kōfuku-ji (Nanto Shoshū, Southern Capital Buddhist Schools): A central temple of Nanto Buddhism, it controlled the Kasuga Shrine. It was also the parent temple of Kiyomizu-dera and held extensive temple estates in
Yamato Province.
- Tōdai-ji (Nanto Shoshū, Southern Capital Buddhist Schools): Known for its Great Buddha in Nara, it was a colossal temple alongside Kōfuku-ji in Nanto Buddhism. It also held extensive temple estates in
Yamato Province.
- Onjō-ji (Tendai School): A powerful Tendai temple alongside Enryaku-ji, it was referred to as
Jimon.
- Kongōbu-ji on Mount Kōya (Shingon School): A sacred site of Shingon Esoteric Buddhism, it controlled vast temple lands and numerous branch temples.
- Tō-ji (Shingon School): Located in Kyoto, it is one of the central temples of the Shingon school.
- Iwashimizu Hachiman-gū: An influential shrine in Kyoto, possessing extensive shōen.
- Kumano Sanzan (Hongū, Shingū, Nachi): Sacred sites for Shugendō (mountain asceticism), they had extensive temple/shrine lands and influence. In particular, in
Kii Province, temple/shrine lands accounted for 80-90% of the paddy field area.
- Tōnomine: Although a branch temple of Enryaku-ji, it maintained its own influence.
- Kinpusen-ji: Located in Yoshino, it was a central site for Shugendō.
#### Other Influential Temples and Shrines
- Kanshin-in (Gion-sha), Kitano-sha, Kiyomizu-dera, Byōdō-in (Uji), Yakushi-ji, Saidai-ji, Gangō-ji, Furu-sha (Nara), Chikuzen Kanzeon-ji, Buzen Usa Hachiman, Echizen Heisen-ji, and*Hōki Daisen-ji were all organized as branch temples or shrines of powerful institutions like Enryaku-ji, Kōfuku-ji, Tōdai-ji, and Iwashimizu Hachiman during the 11th and 12th centuries.
- Atsuta-sha (Aichi), Ise Jingū (Mie), Shitennō-ji (Osaka), Kōkawa-dera, and Negoro-ji (Wakayama) were also important temples and shrines in the medieval period. In
Kii Province, in addition to these temples and shrines, a power known as
Kii Sōkoku also existed, involved in the overall governance of the region.
#### Zen Buddhist Temples
During the Muromachi period, Zen Buddhism received patronage from the shogunate, and the "
Gozan" (Five Mountains) system was established.
- Kyoto Gozan: Tenryū-ji, Shōkoku-ji, Kennin-ji, Tōfuku-ji, and Manju-ji. Nanzen-ji was designated as a special, higher-ranking temple.
- Kamakura Gozan: Kenchō-ji, Engaku-ji, Jufuku-ji, Jōchi-ji, and Jōmyō-ji.
- Ringeka no Zen (Zen of the Forests and Rivers): This refers to Zen temples that did not receive direct shogunate patronage and operated more independently. Representative examples include
Daitoku-ji and Myōshin-ji (Rinzai school) in Kyoto, and Eihei-ji (Fukui) and Sōji-ji (Ishikawa) (Sōtō school). After the Ōnin War, as the Gozan temples declined, the Ringeka no Zen temples gained more popular support.
#### Other Emerging Religious Powers
- Nichiren-shū (Hokke-shū): Gained significant power in Kyoto by attracting the support of the machishū (townsmen).
- Ikkō-shū (Jōdo Shinshū): Expanded rapidly through the evangelism of Rennyo, becoming so powerful that they formed Ikkō-ikki (Ikkō uprisings) and even confronted Sengoku daimyō (warring state lords). Its base was
Ōtani Hongan-ji in Kyoto.
#### Economic Power and Urban Formation of Temples and Shrines
Many temples and shrines possessed vast shōen, giving them immense economic power. Furthermore, merchants and artisans gathered around their precincts and gates, and it was not uncommon for
goyō-jiin (official temples) to form urban centers. The religious structure, with the Kamakura Gozan and Tsurugaoka Hachiman-gū at its apex, was essential for the maintenance of the Kamakura shogunate's system.
### Conclusion
Ultimately, to comprehend the power structures, culture, and economy of medieval Japanese society, it's essential to recognize that court nobles and temples/shrines existed alongside, and often in close conjunction with, warrior families in shaping society. In particular, the presence of court noble and temple/shrine lords was indispensable to the shōen system. Some views even suggest that during the Muromachi period, the shōen system, encompassing warrior-held lands, should be seen as a new stage rather than a period of decline merely due to the reduction of court noble and temple/shrine acquisitions.
### References
- Kuroda Toshio,
Jisha Seiryoku: Mō Hitotsu no Chūsei Shakai (Temple and Shrine Powers: Another Medieval Society)
- Itō Masatoshi,
Jisha Seiryoku no Chūsei (Medieval Temple and Shrine Powers)
- Kawai Atsushi,
Nihon San Daibakufu o Kaibō Suru (Dissecting Japan's Three Great Shogunates)
- Enahara Masaharu,
Muromachi Bakufu to Chihō no Shakai (The Muromachi Shogunate and Local Society)
If you require more detailed information about these temple/shrine powers, please feel free to ask. If you plan to feature these forces in a game or other content, we would be delighted if you could report your progress on the forums or similar platforms!
Correction Notes:
- Kiyomizu-dera's Affiliation: The previous text mistakenly stated Kiyomizu-dera was a branch temple of Enryaku-ji. This has been corrected to show it as a branch temple of Kōfuku-ji, which is historically accurate.
- "Kokushu" to "Kokushi": The term for provincial officials was changed from "Kokushu" (de facto rulers of specific provinces) to "Kokushi" (provincial governors) to reflect a broader administrative scope.