# When Japan Was Ruled by Monks: The Warrior Monks of History, The Holy Men Who Went to War

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-strange-history-podcast-6015497/when-japan-was-ruled-by-monks-the-warrior-monks-of-history-the-holy-men-who-went-to-war
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-strange-history-podcast-6015497/when-japan-was-ruled-by-monks-the-warrior-monks-of-history-the-holy-men-who-went-to-war.md
Podcast: [The Strange History Podcast](https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-strange-history-podcast-6015497)
Published: 2026-07-20T04:05:02+00:00
Episode link: https://www.spreaker.com/episode/when-japan-was-ruled-by-monks-the-warrior-monks-of-history-the-holy-men-who-went-to-war--71416563
Audio file: https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/op3.dev/e/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/71416563/elevenlabs_untitled_project_16.mp3
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Duration seconds: 615

## Resource

When Japan Was Ruled by Monks explores one of the strangest chapters in Japan history, when powerful Buddhist monasteries became political forces, military powers, and rivals to samurai lords. In this episode of The Strange History Podcast, we dive into the rise of the sōhei warrior monks, the wealth and influence of Enryaku-ji, the armed leagues of the Ikkō-ikki, and the fortress of Ishiyama Hongan-ji. We also explore famous figures like Saichō, Kūkai, Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and Tokugawa Ieyasu, who helped end the era of independent temple armies. This is the story of when temples marched to war. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-strange-history-podcast--5773362/support . 🎧 The Strange History Podcast Love bizarre true stories, forgotten scandals, and history’s most unhinged moments? Submit your ideas for The Strange History Podcast Follow The Strange History Podcast wherever you listen and never miss an episode. 🔗 Listen & Subscribe: Apple Podcasts Spotify iHeartRadio Audible New episodes regularly. History gets weird here.

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