Hōzōin Kakuzenbō In'ei was a Buddhist monk and sōhei, abbot of Hōzōin temple, and guardian of all the temples of Nara. In the 1560's he founded Hōzōin-ryū, a school which taught the art of the spear, also known as Sōjutsu.
In'ei watching the reflection of the moon. One Hundred Aspects of the Moon, by Yoshitoshi
Sōhei were Buddhist warrior monks of both classical and feudal Japan. At certain points in history, they held considerable power, obliging the imperial and military governments to collaborate.
The sōhei Benkei with Minamoto no Yoshitsune
Oda Nobunaga forces setting fire to Enryaku-ji and massacring the monks in the 1571 Siege of Mount Hiei (depiction in the Ehon taikōki)
Sōhei weapons and dress during the Kamakura period