Negoro-ji: The Warrior Monks Who Mastered Firearms in Feudal Japan

In the 16th century, Japan's Negoro-ji temple, located in Kii Province (present-day Wakayama), transformed into a significant military force by incorporating matchlock firearms, a technology brought by Portuguese sailors in 1543. The sohei, or warrior monks, became renowned for their exceptional marksmanship by producing quality replicas of European matchlocks and undergoing extensive training. Negoro-ji functioned as an independent state with a standing army exceeding 10,000 soldiers and vast land holdings. They initially allied with the Ikko-Ikki against Oda Nobunaga during the Ishiyama Hongan-ji War (1570–1580) but later switched allegiances. In 1584, they joined Tokugawa Ieyasu against Toyotomi Hideyoshi, who viewed armed monasteries as threats. Hideyoshi besieged Negoro-ji in 1585 with 40,000–60,000 troops, destroying the temple complex and diminishing its military influence. Although many monks survived, they faced exile or servitude under different lords. This marked the end of the era when temples held both military and spiritual power, with Hideyoshi prohibiting armed religious groups. The temple saw partial restoration during the Edo Period (1603–1868).