Ikkō-ikki (一向一揆)
The Battle of Azukizaka of 1564 between Matsudaira Motoyasu (later Tokugawa Ieyasu) and the ikki by Yoshitoshi (1872).
The Ikkō-ikki (一向 Ikkō meaning Single-Minded and 一揆 ikki meaning league) were mobs of peasants, Buddhist monks, Shinto priests and local Japanese nobles who rose up against the rule of daimyō (and bushi in general) in the 15th and 16th centuries (Muromachi period). While the Ikkō-ikki were originally disparate and disorganized, they were all followers of the Jōdo Shinshū (Pure Land) sect of Buddhism (to which the Ikkō school is attached to). It is said that the only person who had authority over them was Rennyo (1415-1499), the 8th head of the sect, but he remained distant from the social dimensions of their rebellious activities.
The Ikkō-ikki eventually became more organised and by the end of the 15th century, they had established their primary fortress-temple at Ishiyama Hongan-ji, where Rennyo had retired.
From 1570, as part of his efforts to unify the warring states, Oda Nobunaga besieged the fortress until they surrendered in 1580 - this is he longest siege in Japanese history. Interestingly, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, who was Oda's sandal bearer and the second great unifier of Japan, built Osaka Castle upon the ruins of Ishiyama Hongan-ji; its replica still stands there today.
The Ikkō-ikki were not just centralised in Osaka, but were in most provinces. In 1486, they overthrew the Togashi clan which governed Kaga Province (present-day Ishikawa prefecture) and took control of it. Renamed 'The Peasants' Kingdom', it was the first time in Japanese history that a province was ruled by a group of commoners.
The Ikkō-ikki eventually became more organised and by the end of the 15th century, they had established their primary fortress-temple at Ishiyama Hongan-ji, where Rennyo had retired.
From 1570, as part of his efforts to unify the warring states, Oda Nobunaga besieged the fortress until they surrendered in 1580 - this is he longest siege in Japanese history. Interestingly, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, who was Oda's sandal bearer and the second great unifier of Japan, built Osaka Castle upon the ruins of Ishiyama Hongan-ji; its replica still stands there today.
The Ikkō-ikki were not just centralised in Osaka, but were in most provinces. In 1486, they overthrew the Togashi clan which governed Kaga Province (present-day Ishikawa prefecture) and took control of it. Renamed 'The Peasants' Kingdom', it was the first time in Japanese history that a province was ruled by a group of commoners.
The Battle of Ishiyama Hongan-ji by Utagawa Yoshifuji (1869).
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