Ryōgen

[3] Ryōgen was born in the Omi Province in 912, and he began his practice at Mount Hiei in 923, becoming chief abbot in 966.

[1] Over the course of the 10th century, there had been a number of disputes between Enryaku-ji and the other temples and shrines of the Kyoto area, many of which were resolved by force.

In 970, Ryōgen formed a small army to defend Enryaku-ji 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.

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