Ikoma family | |
---|---|
Clan: | Lion Clan |
Founded: | 12 |
Daimyo: | Ikoma Hakige |
The Ikoma family were the historians and strategists of the Lion Clan. They were decended from the followers of Ikoma, the first and closest of Akodo's followers. The Akodo, Ikoma, and Matsu families all led the armies of the Lion with unparalleled skill. [1]
Historians[]
The Ikoma had always traditionally been the historians of both the Lion and the Empire, recording the great deeds of their fellow Lions and keeping records of each battle fought on Imperial soil. Although many claimed that they placed too much emphasis on history, it could not be denied that the Ikoma had the most intricate and complete records of the history of the Empire. In the beginning, the Ikoma role of historian was an important but minor role of the family, which had been a family of warriors like the Akodo and the Matsu. [1] The influence and machinations of the Kolat,turned the family to a less martial way over the years. [citation needed] Their records were collected in the Ikoma Histories. [2]
Library Collections[]
The Ikoma kept a copy of each of the four major treatises on warfare - Akodo's Leadership, Kakita's The Sword, Mirumoto's Niten, and Bayushi Tangen's Lies. Each were recorded in full, with annotations, addenda and arguments. [3]
The Ikoma were also said to have the only complete, unedited copy of Akodo's Leadership. [3] The truth was that the complete text had been declared heresy by Hantei VII, who claimed that Akodo would never write a manual advocating deception and other less than noble means of waging war. Since this proclamation, the Ikoma had ensured that the text was suitably 'modified' before it was distributed to the other clans, and only they secretly maintained the complete original of the text in their libraries. Only the Lion Clan Champion knew what was truly held in the text.[citation needed]
When each Champion retired, he was expected to give his journals to the Ikoma historians in order to have his exploits included in Leadership.[citation needed]
The Loss of the Histories[]
In 1132 a sudden attack by the Lying Darkness left the great histories of the Ikoma family in ruins. With the Empire's past lost, the Lion historians could do little but pick up the pieces. [4] [5]
Shosuro-Ikoma Alliance[]
Since the first rise of Iuchiban, the Shosuro family were tasked to cooperate with the Ikoma family in preventing certain secrets that could threaten the reputation of the Emperor from ever coming out. [6]
- For further information on this section, please see Shosuro-Ikoma Alliance
Training[]
Bushi[]
Bushi of the Ikoma family would follow the path of the Akodo, learning tactics and strategy along with the use of weapons, and it was not uncommon for an Ikoma to attend the Akodo school for part of their training. The Ikoma were more peaceful than the other families of the Lion Clan, and it was partly because of this and their interest in accurately recording history that they had a keen eye for ingenious strategies. Instead of treating battles as simply losses or victories, the Ikoma intensely studied and learned from their experiences. At times, this allowed a skilled Ikoma strategist to provide a contribution to Lion battle plans that might otherwise have gone unnoticed.[citation needed]
Loss of the Akodo[]
During the reign of Hantei XXXIX, the Akodo family were disolved by Imperial edict, its members made ronin or forced to relinquish their name and join the Ikoma or Matsu families. The Ikoma family took over the management of the main Tactical School of the Lion Clan by adopting many Akodo. After the Akodo were reinstated under the rule of Toturi I, the Ikoma kept the important and prestigious Tactician Academy.[citation needed]
Courtiers[]
The Ikoma are most commonly the ones sent by the Lion to the Imperial court, which they view as just another battlefield, albeit one with different rules and alternate strategies. The constant dedication of the Ikoma has brought their house honor many times. [1]
Notable Schools[]
The Ikoma Omoidasu, or Ikoma Bard, served an important role in the Lion Clan. They were the Clan's historian, law keeper and heart; they were among the few Lion who were allowed to openly display emotion. [3]
The Ikoma Spymaster was only known to a few members in the Clan. [7] They were trained at the secret Honor's Sacrifice Dojo, and would normally perform duties as historians, courtiers, bushi and omoidasu as 'cover' for their real mission as intelligence agents. Until the rule of Ikoma Daimyo Ikoma Sume their existence was almost completely unknown, even to the previous Ikoma Daimyo. [8]
Within the Ikoma[]
Ikoma Mon[]
The Ikoma mon was a torii arch [9] surrounding nothing. All Ikoma realized the significance of the portal. Through each portal lay knowledge and ultimate understanding, along with another portal and a greater vista. The path to comprehension was never-ending, as each new discovery led only to more questions. [10]
Politics of the Ikoma[]
Daimyo of the Ikoma[]
Ikoma | 12 - 82 |
Ikoma Komori | 82 - ? |
Ikoma Karaku | (c. 512) |
Ikoma Osudo | (c. 597) |
Ikoma Shabiko | (c. 815) |
Ikoma Gohesu | c. 925 - ? |
Ikoma Anakazu | (c. 1108) |
Ikoma Ujiaki | (c. 1125) - 1128 |
Ikoma Tsanuri | 1128 - 1133 |
Ikoma Sume | 1133 - 1166 |
Ikoma Korin | 1166 - 1170 |
Ikoma Hagio | 1170 - ? |
Ikoma Hakige | ? - Present |
Vassals of the Ikoma[]
The following were the vassal families of the Ikoma:
Lands[]
Provinces[]
The following were known provinces under the control of the Ikoma family; [11]
- Eiyu province (Ik2)
- Gisei province (Ik1)
- Gunsho province (Ik5)
- Ikota province (Ik4)
- Shiranai province (Ik3)
Major Ikoma Holdings[]
Minor Holdings[]
Extra Territorial Holdings[]
See also[]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Way of the Lion, p. 39
- ↑ The Ikoma Histories (Ambition's Debt)
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Way of the Lion, p. 40
- ↑ Hidden Emperor, p. 65
- ↑ Legend of the Five Rings; Third Edition, p. 23
- ↑ Way of the Scorpion, p. 30
- ↑ Way of the Ninja, Website Extras
- ↑ Way of the Ninja , pp. 74-75
- ↑ Great Clans, p. 115
- ↑ Way of the Lion, p. 38
- ↑ Secrets of the Lion, p. 95
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