Ryōgen

Ryogen was a chief abbot of Enryakuji in the 10th century, and the founder of the tradition of sohei warrior monks.

Over the course of the 10th century, there had been a number of disputes between Enryakuji and the other temples and shrines of the Kyoto area, many of which were resolved by force. In 970, Ryogen formed a small army to defend Enryakuji and to serve its interests in these disputes. Records are not fully clear on whether this army consisted of hired mercenaries, or, as would be the case later, trained monks of Enryakuji. Most likely, this first temple standing army was a mercenary group, separate from the monks, since Ryogen forbade monks from carrying weapons.

In addition to the prohibition on carrying weapons, Ryogen's monks were subject to a list of 26 articles released by Ryogen in 970; they were forbidden from covering their faces, inflicting corporal punishment, violently interrupting prayer services, or leaving Mount Hiei during their 12-year training.

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• Turnbull, Stephen (2003). 'Japanese Warrior Monks AD 949-1603'. Oxford: Osprey Publishing.