Honganji Kennyo

Biographical Overview & Key Facts

Subject:

Honganji Kennyo

Role / Field:

11th patriarch of Hongan-ji and leader of the Ikkō-ikki during the Sengoku period.

Born:

1543-03-02

Died:

1592-12-27

Century / Era:

1543s Historical Era

Database Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Wikipedia CC BY-SA 4.0

Origins & Early Life

Kennyo (顕如; February 20, 1543 – December 27, 1592), also known as Kōsa (光佐), was the 11th patriarch of the Hongan-ji lineage of Jodo Shinshu Buddhism, and Chief Abbot of Ishiyama Hongan-ji, cathedral fortress of the Ikkō-ikki (Buddhist warrior priests and peasants who opposed samurai rule), during its siege at the end of the Sengoku period. Similar to his father, Shōnyo (10th patriarch), Kennyo engineered many alliances, and organized the defenses of the cathedral to the point that most at the time considered Ishiyama Hongan-ji to be unbreachable. In 1570, Takeda Shingen, a relative of Kennyo through marriage, faced not one but three major rivals: Oda Nobunaga, Tokugawa Ieyasu, and Uesugi Kenshin. He asked the Abbot for aid, and Kennyo persuaded the Ikkō sectarians (also called monto) in Kaga Province to rise up against Uesugi Kenshin. Several years later, after the death of Takeda Shingen, Kennyo secured the aid of the Mōri clan in fighting Oda Nobunaga and defending the Hongan-ji's supply lines from blockade.

Career & Major Achievements

Oda Nobunaga's Siege of Ishiyama Hongan-ji began in 1570, and would be the longest siege in Japanese history. In accordance with Kennyo's strategic organization of the defenses and alliances, the fortress was all but impervious to attack, and the Mōri clan fleet defended the supply lines for some time. Kennyo (and the Mōri) requested aid from both Takeda Katsuyori (son of Shingen) and Uesugi Kenshin, as well as the Ikkō armies of other provinces, to attack Nobunaga, relieving the siege. But neither Takeda nor Uesugi answered his call. When Nobunaga attacked the fortress with 3,000 troops, the priests answered with 15,000; Nobunaga then turned to attacking Kennyo's allies, the Asakura, Uesugi, and Azai clans as well as other outposts of Ikkō-ikki priests.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The Abbot wrote a desperate letter to Ikko followers in Musashi and Sagami Provinces, asking them to stand fast, and to send supplies and reinforcements. The fortress' supplies were nearly exhausted, and their outposts were nearly all destroyed by 1580. Nobunaga ordered the Abbot to evacuate the fortress, and to leave Osaka. Kennyo deliberated with his allies, particularly the Mōri, and then left for Kii Province, hoping to raise reinforcements. He left his son in charge of the fortress, who surrendered after an Imperial Messenger arrived with an official request from the Emperor that he do so.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1543 (1543-03-02): Birth of Honganji Kennyo — 11th patriarch of Hongan-ji and leader of the Ikkō-ikki during the Sengoku period.
2. 1570: 1570 Milestone — In 1570, Takeda Shingen, a relative of Kennyo through marriage, faced not one but three major rivals: Oda Nobunaga, Tokugawa Ieyasu, and Uesugi Kenshin.
3. 1580: 1580 Milestone — The fortress' supplies were nearly exhausted, and their outposts were nearly all destroyed by 1580.
4. 1592 (1592-12-27): Passing & Historical Legacy — Honganji Kennyo passed away on 1592-12-27, leaving an enduring historical legacy.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Honganji Kennyo

True or False: “The siege of Ishiyama Hongan-ji, which began in 1570, was considered the longest siege in Japanese history.”

Answer (TRUE ⭕): Historical records confirm that the protracted conflict surrounding Ishiyama Hongan-ji marked one of the most significant and lengthy sieges during Japan's tumultuous Sengoku period.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Honganji Kennyo