Shimotsuma Rairen
In this Sanese name, the family name is Shimotsuma.
| Shimotsuma Rairen 下間頼廉 | |
|---|---|
| |
| 1st Monshu of Nishi-Tateyama Honganji | |
| In office 1622–1650 | |
| Preceded by | None |
| Succeeded by | Abbot: Shimotsuma Chuzen |
| 17th Monshu of Terazawa Honganji | |
| In office 1610–1621 | |
| Preceded by | Rennyo |
| Succeeded by | Position Abolished |
| Personal details | |
| Born | January 12, 1570 Heiji-kyō, Okaiken |
| Died | August 14, 1650 (aged 80) |
| Spouse(s) | Narita Kai |
| Children |
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Shimotsuma Rairen (下間頼廉 Shimotsuma Rairen) (1570-1650), is the founder of the city of Toyozawa and the 17th head of the Terazawa Honganji, also known as the Ikkō Ikki, a militant branch of Jōdo Shinshū; he remained as an abbot of the militant branch until the end of the warring states period and into the early Honda period, when it was officially abolished by the Shirakawa Emperor in 1621. When the emperor reorganized the sect and separated it into two branches, he served as the first head of the Nishi-Tateyama Honganji until his death in 1650. While he was the monshu of the Nishi-Tateyama Honganji, he became the spiritual advisor to Honda Shigetomo when he became shogun; he presided over his and Ii Naotaka's remains after both died in the Battle of Ichijoudani.
Rairen is also noted for a number of legacies in Okaiken, including the establishment of the voluntary and involuntary rice collection system known as the danka that was the basis of the Okami Stock Exchange and the Nikkan Rice Futures Index. His clan also financed the construction, restoration and rebuilding of many Jōdo-shinshu temples standing today in Okaiken, which made it the second most dominant Buddhist Sect in the country.
Early Life[edit | edit source]
Rairen was born from a poor samurai family serving the Izumo clan in January 12, 1570. His father died from a famine in 1570 and his brother, Shimotsuma Kuzen succeeded his father despite his young age. 2 years later, in 1572; with the recommendation of the Izumo clan, Rairen and his brother Shinren was sent to the main Jōdo Shinshū temple in Suemori to train under Shinran, the brother of Hioki Nagamasa, a vassal of Ogasawara Teruhide. After the Izumo clan was destroyed in 1573, resulting in the death of his brother Ieharu (Kuzen), Shinran pledged to protect Rairen and Zeiren as his temple pages.
Since Shinran chose to not father any sons, he assigned Rairen to be his successor by 1580. As a result of his adoption to Shinran, Rairen was unable to know much of his biological mother, and he attempted to find his mother with no avail.
Military Career[edit | edit source]
Under Rennyo, Rairen was trained in military tactics and weaponry to protect the religion's holdings in Ikoyama. By 1586, Ogasawara Terumasa had declared war on the temple, because of its huge holdings in Ikoyama as well as its control of the strategic Toyozawa Bay; these were considered to be a huge threat to Terumasa. On June 10, 1586, Terumasa invaded the territories controlled by the Ikoyama Honganji.
Rairen was tasked to build defenses in what is now the Namba Doribashi district of Toyozawa. It consisted of earthwork defenses with stockades to prevent a cavalry charge known to be used frequently by Terumasa.
Solidification of Shin Buddhism[edit | edit source]
Rairen was installed Rennyo after the latter's death in 1610. By this time, the Honda clan had consolidated