| Akodo Kento | |
|---|---|
| Born: | Unknown |
| Died: | 535 |
| Titles: | Lion Clan Champion |
| People | |
Akodo Kento was the Lion Clan Champion under the rule of Hantei XII.
Clan Champion[]
In 518 the Scorpion Clan Champion Bayushi Tsuya conquered Shiro no Meiyo, and renamed it the Lion's Shadow. [1] The Lion Clan Champion, Akodo Ieyatsu, immediately set out to retake the castle and died in the unsuccessful attack. Kento succeeded him. [2]
Five Rings, Five Clans[]
In the year 521 Kento ordered the Kitsu Daimyo Kitsu Eiji to contact the monk Gorinno, the spiritual leader of the religious movement known as the Five Rings, Five Clans. The monk had suggested the Empire was unbalanced, and the solution was to merge the Crane and Scorpion Clans. The peasant revolts of the previous year had convinced Kento that Gorinno's teachings could be used against both Great Clans. [3]
Supporting Gorinno[]
In the year 523 Gorinno presided the funeral of the revered hero Akodo Samune, and Kento patroned the construction of a monastery dedicated to the study of Gorinno's teachings, thus effectively founding the Order of the Five Rings. Both the Crane and the Scorpion could not prevent the monastery's construction. [4]
Confronted by the Phoenix[]
In the year 525 the Phoenix Clan led by the new Master of Void Isawa Amiku chose to establish supervision over the new monastic sect, leading to conflict with the Lion Clan in the courts, and border skirmishes on the ground. In 531 the Phoenix were routing when they tried to seize the monastery. [5]
Defeating the Scorpion[]
In 532 a new Emperor ascended, Hantei XIII, and he made Gorinno his Imperial Advisor. Five Ring monks began to openly attack opposing samurai and violence escalated between Fortunist and Shintaoist sects of the Brotherhood of Shinsei. Gorinno pursued his agenda to merge both Clans in the Hawk Clan, and the Scorpion feeled threatened. In 533 Tsuya assaulted Kyuden Ikoma to crush Gorinno's main supporters, the Lion Clan, but he failed and retreated to the Lion's Shadow. Kento counterattacked leading the entire Matsu Second Army. He took the stronghold and killed every Scorpion there, renaming the city Kenson Gakka (“Humility's Lesson”), in the battle which would be known as the Battle of Kenson Gakka. [6]
Death[]
Eventually in 535 the Order of the Five Rings was named a False Path, Gorinno was banished from Otosan Uchi, and the Order disbanded by Imperial Edict of Hantei XIII. At Winter Court, Akodo Kento and Kitsu Eiji committed seppuku to atone for their involvement in the Heresy of the Five Rings. [7] Kento was succeeded by his cousin Akodo Renzu. Kento's unconventional and ultimately destructive behavior was blamed by some on the influence of Ikoma's "Comprehensive History". [8]
| Preceded by: Akodo Ieyatsu |
Lion Clan Champion 518 - 535 |
Succeeded by: Akodo Renzu |
References
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