Monks in Rokugan were the followers of Shinsei. They studied the Tao of Shinsei, hoping to find the secrets of enlightenment within the ancient pages. Monks were generally revered, though they did not have a specific place within the Celestial Order. As such, samurai were not required to show respect or deference to monks, though most did. In addition to worshipping the Tao there were branches of the Brotherhood who worshipped the Fortunes, a number of powerful primordial beings. A schism was widening between the faiths for a time, until an imperial edict merged the two faiths. [1]
Beginning[]
When Shinsei brought his wisdom to Rokugan many shugenja saw the wisdom of the Tao and devoted their lives to pursuing his enigmatic wisdom. They shaved their heads and built isolated mountain temples, retreating to lives of deep contemplation. [2]
Life of a Monk[]
There were certain traditions that were nearly universal to all monks in Rokugan. The initiation process was almost always a series of grueling physical labors, often for no apparent reason. This was done to prepare the mind for a journey undertaken by the spirit. Asceticism was also very common amongst the clergy, as trappings of the mortal realm were viewed as a burden that weighs down the soul. Even the most ostentatious monks in the service of Daikoku, the Fortune of Wealth, set aside their personal wealth in pursuit of his doctrine. Most monks took vows of chastity and poverty, known as an, but these practices varied from sect to sect. Their only goal in the physical realm was the pursuit of enlightenment, and helping others was a necessary step to complete that goal. Purity of the physical body was also a common belief, and contaminating the body with worldly materials was a barrier to the achievement of spiritual purity. Fasting, rigorous exercise, and consumption of only the bare essentials such as rice and water were also common vows among the monks. [3][4] [5]
A Monk's Past[]
As a rule, the monks of the Brotherhood were not forthcoming about their past, and it was considered highly inappropriate to even inquire about it. The monk had left their former life behind, and the fact that some of them were once peasants and others samurai would have made it difficult to interact with them, as one would not know what station should be afforded them. Therefore they were treated with mostly universal respect and admiration, as to do otherwise could be an insult to a former daimyo. [6]
Mendicants[]
Wandering Monk
Some monks sought enlightenment as Shinsei himself did, engaging in actions such as wandering the towns and villages of Rokugan, learning all the knowledge they could, helping the unfortunate, and teaching any who would listen. These wandering monks had no fixed home, so they often relied on donations from generous samurai or pious commoners. [7]
Roles in Rokugan[]
The monks of Rokugan tended to fall into roles as advisers, teachers, and spiritual guardians. Even though most samurai outranked them, monks were always very much respected, and a samurai would never give an order to a monk, out of respect for Shinsei and his teachings. [3]
Ranks[]
The three ranks of monks were the sojo, the sozu, and the risshi. [5]
Study[]
Worshipping the Fortunes[]
The worship of the Fortunes was the oldest form of religion in Rokugan, pre-dating the Fall of the Kami. The traditions and mannerisms of monks of these orders varied considerably from order to order, as doctrine depended on the fortune worshipped. For example, the monks at a temple to Daikoku, the Fortune of Wealth, would urge others to make donations, while monks at a temple to Osano-Wo, the Fortune of Fire and Thunder, spent their time developing martial prowess. Fortune worship was the most popular religion among the peasants, as in their eyes the ancestors were not looking down upon them and the Tao was far too complex for their liking. Inari, the Fortune of Rice, was very popular amongst peasants due to most of them working the farms that fed all of Rokugan. [4]
Students of the Tao[]
A Student of the Tao
Studying the Tao of Shinsei was by far the most common practice among the monks, and was the most common conception about the Brotherhood. Every monk in Rokugan studied the Tao, and even the devotees of the most militant Fortunes admitted Shinsei truly was a prophet. Few dared to openly criticize or disagree with the path of Shinsei, but it did have its detractors and those who considered it to be of lesser importance . The most notable of the naysayers were monks who had formerly been Lion Clan samurai. Their strong beliefs in ancestor worship, as well as the Kami Akodo's infamous disagreements with Shinsei, were the primary reasons for former Lions to consider Shinsei's teachings as a secondary pursuit to overall enlightenment. [4]
Monks and Others[]
Monks and the Clans[]
Though the Scorpion and Lion Clans might not have the greatest respect for the Tao of Shinsei, they did not deny that its students were worthy and enlightened souls. [3] Crab monks were relatively rare, since fewer Crab samurai survived to retirement age. [8]
Monks and Shugenja[]
To an outsider, the monks of Rokugan might seem similar in form and function to shugenja, but such was not the case. Monks were generally stationary keepers of temples and shrines, as opposed to shugenja, who travelled where they will (or where their daimyo commanded). Also, monks drew upon their own chi for power, not the kami. [9]
Monks and Peasants[]
While samurai were uncertain as to how to interact with monks, the peasants revered them. Monks were teachers who treated all people equally regardless of social status, and many monasteries sent their members to teach in villages and towns, and some even aided eta in menial tasks. [6]
Taxes[]
Monks were not obligated to pay taxes, but in turn did what they could to serve samurai by keeping the peace among the peasant populace and disseminating the teachings of enlightenment and gentle wisdom, acts which promoted order and harmony in the lands of the Empire. [3]
The Elements[]
Although they could not call upon the spirits for spells as shugenja could, the path of a monk granted an understanding of the kami nonetheless. This was embodied most in their use of kiho, which were mystical or superhuman acts that resembled magic in their scope and ability. [3]
See Also[]
References
- ↑ Legend of the Five Rings: Third Edition, pp. 28, 249
- ↑ Roleplaying in the Emerald Empire, p. 138
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Legend of the Five Rings: Third Edition, p. 28 Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; name "3E28" defined multiple times with different content - ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Legend of the Five Rings: Third Edition, p. 250
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Winter Court: Kyuden Seppun, p. 81
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Legend of the Five Rings: Third Edition, p. 249
- ↑ Secrets of the Empire, p. 161
- ↑ Way of the Crab, p. 53
- ↑ Way of the Phoenix, p. 10
 |
This magic or religion related article is a stub. That means that it has been started, but is incomplete. You can help by expanding this article. |
 |