Shonyo, the Honganji Monshu of the True Pure Land sect, sometimes refered to as the Ikko, kneeled silently in prayer in the great Honganji temple near Kyoto. There was much to pray for. Throughout Kinki and Chubo members of his sect, monto, were forming Ikki, communes, in an effort to seek a more holy life. His followers sought to follow the law of Buddha in their lives and to organize communities devoted to this desire. This message was for all. Anyone, from the highest daimyo to the lowert peasant could join and be assured of happiness in the hereafter.
In Kaga, a province in Chobu, this dream had become a reality. In 1488 the Ikko-Ikki of the province had ejected the governor of the province, a man who despite owing his position to the Ikko-Ikki was hostile to them, and assumed control of the province themselves. Peasants there no longer paid rents to their landlords and paid substantially lower taxes than they had before. In gratitude though the peasants freely gave a tithe, a konshi, to the church of the Ikko. The Bupporyo, "Estate of Buddha," had been created.
Shonyo's heart leapt at the thought. A liberated peasant class devoted to the teachings of Buddha!
With the money from the Bopporyo in Kaga the True Pure Land sect had been able to grow. A vast temple near Kyoto had been built and work was even now finishing on another temple, a vast temple fortress in Ishiyama that would be an impenetrable fortress against the enemies of the faith!
Enemies... they were everywhere. Too many of the daimyo failed to respect the teachings of Buddha as preached by the True Pure Land Sect. Too many were hostile to the sect. Shonyo was disgusted at their ignorance. They would not stand in the way though. The Bopporyo would grow. All who formed Ikki and devoted themselves to Ikko would be assured of protection. In the growing fortress of Ishiyama an army was forming. Devoted monks of the True Pure Land Sect were taking up arms and training to ensure the support of their faith! As Shonyo finished his prayers he rose and felt the power and responsibility of his position. "All those who stand against me, who stand against the Faith must be destroyed!" Boomed Shonyo. "Buddha give me strength!"