Jimon and Sammon
Encyclopedia
and , also known as the Enchin
and Ennin
factions respectively, were rival branches of Tendai
Buddhism created in the 9th century and based on Mount Hiei
just outside Kyoto
.
Jimon's head temple was Miidera, at the foot of Mount Hiei
, while the Sammon sect was based at Enryakuji, at the summit of the mountain. This rivalry does not appear to be based on differing opinions on dogma or doctrine, only a sort of jealousy, each seeking to be the chief or sole Tendai core temple. Following the deaths of Enchin
in 891, this rivalry only deepened, and over the next several centuries, led to a number of armed conflicts. Most were the result of a monk from one faction becoming appointed Abbot (zasu
) of the other faction's temple, or of one faction not being invited to events, conferences, or festivals held by the other.
As the disagreements escalated into armed conflicts, both sects formed the first standing armies of warrior monks, called sohei
. When the Genpei War
broke out in 1180, the warrior monks of the two sects found themselves on opposing sides, the Enryakuji Sammon monks supporting the Taira clan while Miidera's Jimon monks supported the Minamoto clan.
Only after the end of the Genpei War
and the establishment of the first shogunate
did the conflicts between the two sects settle down. However, the division and disagreement lasted several centuries longer, until both temples were destroyed by the forces of Oda Nobunaga
at the end of the 16th century. Though it is unclear when the names 'Jimon' and 'Sammon' fell out of use, and when the two temples ceased fighting, the destruction of both temples by a greater, larger outside force brought a definite end to their quarrels.
Enchin
' was a Japanese Buddhist monk the founder of the Jimon School of Tendai Buddhism, and Chief Abbot of Miidera at the foot of Mount Hiei...
and Ennin
Ennin
Ennin , who is better known in Japan by his posthumous name, Jikaku Daishi , was a priest of the Tendai school.- Birth and origin :...
factions respectively, were rival branches of Tendai
Tendai
is a Japanese school of Mahayana Buddhism, a descendant of the Chinese Tiantai or Lotus Sutra school.Chappell frames the relevance of Tendai for a universal Buddhism:- History :...
Buddhism created in the 9th century and based on Mount Hiei
Mount Hiei
is a mountain to the northeast of Kyoto, lying on the border between the Kyoto and Shiga prefectures, Japan.The temple of Enryaku-ji, the first outpost of the Japanese Tiantai sect of Buddhism, was founded atop Mount Hiei by Saichō in 788. Both Nichiren and Honen studied at the temple before...
just outside Kyoto
Kyoto
is a city in the central part of the island of Honshū, Japan. It has a population close to 1.5 million. Formerly the imperial capital of Japan, it is now the capital of Kyoto Prefecture, as well as a major part of the Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto metropolitan area.-History:...
.
Jimon's head temple was Miidera, at the foot of Mount Hiei
Mount Hiei
is a mountain to the northeast of Kyoto, lying on the border between the Kyoto and Shiga prefectures, Japan.The temple of Enryaku-ji, the first outpost of the Japanese Tiantai sect of Buddhism, was founded atop Mount Hiei by Saichō in 788. Both Nichiren and Honen studied at the temple before...
, while the Sammon sect was based at Enryakuji, at the summit of the mountain. This rivalry does not appear to be based on differing opinions on dogma or doctrine, only a sort of jealousy, each seeking to be the chief or sole Tendai core temple. Following the deaths of Enchin
Enchin
' was a Japanese Buddhist monk the founder of the Jimon School of Tendai Buddhism, and Chief Abbot of Miidera at the foot of Mount Hiei...
in 891, this rivalry only deepened, and over the next several centuries, led to a number of armed conflicts. Most were the result of a monk from one faction becoming appointed Abbot (zasu
Zasu
Zasu may refer to:*Zasu, Master of the seat, head of the temple in Sōkan, the Japanese system of rankings for Buddhist clergy*Zasu...
) of the other faction's temple, or of one faction not being invited to events, conferences, or festivals held by the other.
As the disagreements escalated into armed conflicts, both sects formed the first standing armies of warrior monks, called sohei
Sohei
were Buddhist warrior monks of feudal Japan. At certain points of history they held considerable power, obliging the imperial and military governments to collaborate....
. When the Genpei War
Genpei War
The was a conflict between the Taira and Minamoto clans during the late-Heian period of Japan. It resulted in the fall of the Taira clan and the establishment of the Kamakura shogunate under Minamoto Yoritomo in 1192....
broke out in 1180, the warrior monks of the two sects found themselves on opposing sides, the Enryakuji Sammon monks supporting the Taira clan while Miidera's Jimon monks supported the Minamoto clan.
Only after the end of the Genpei War
Genpei War
The was a conflict between the Taira and Minamoto clans during the late-Heian period of Japan. It resulted in the fall of the Taira clan and the establishment of the Kamakura shogunate under Minamoto Yoritomo in 1192....
and the establishment of the first shogunate
Kamakura shogunate
The Kamakura shogunate was a military dictatorship in Japan headed by the shoguns from 1185 to 1333. It was based in Kamakura. The Kamakura period draws its name from the capital of the shogunate...
did the conflicts between the two sects settle down. However, the division and disagreement lasted several centuries longer, until both temples were destroyed by the forces of Oda Nobunaga
Oda Nobunaga
was the initiator of the unification of Japan under the shogunate in the late 16th century, which ruled Japan until the Meiji Restoration in 1868. He was also a major daimyo during the Sengoku period of Japanese history. His opus was continued, completed and finalized by his successors Toyotomi...
at the end of the 16th century. Though it is unclear when the names 'Jimon' and 'Sammon' fell out of use, and when the two temples ceased fighting, the destruction of both temples by a greater, larger outside force brought a definite end to their quarrels.