#Faiths of the Sengoku (戰國の信仰, Faiths of the Sengoku)

Contents

What guides the hand that takes up the blade: god (神), Buddha (佛), the Way (道), or the god across the sea?

Related Entries: Three Ways and Six Hearts · Factions · Lore · Classes

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#1. Map of Faith — The Spiritual World of the Sengoku

#Scent

Sengoku Japan is not a world ruled by a single religion. Shinbutsu-shugo (神佛習合), the syncretism of kami and buddhas: the kami of Shinto (神道) and the buddhas of Buddhism are enshrined in the same temples, divination from Onmyodo (陰陽道) determines the day a warrior marches, and the loyalty and filial piety of Confucianism (儒教) grip the sheath of a samurai's blade.

In Konsei Reiyotan, one more fact is added: yoma's existence proves faith empirically. Kami truly exist, Buddhist sutras truly repel yoma, and Daoist talismans truly create barriers. "Do gods exist?" is not the question. The question is "which god will you follow?"

#Law — 5 Major Faith Systems

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#2. Shinto (神道) — The Way of Kami

#Scent

Kami (神) dwell in all things: mountains, stones, trees, rivers, even old blades. Humans coexist with kami and perform rites (祭) to avoid their anger.

In the Sengoku period, Shinto is not a purely ceremonial religion. The appearance of yoma makes the existence of kami a physical reality. Tengu are messengers of mountain kami, kappa are river spirits, and Ryugu messengers are divinities of the seabed. From a Shinto perspective, yoma extermination is either "the price of disrespect toward kami" or "a trial from kami."

#Core Concepts

#Shinto and Game Rules

• The Faith resource of the arahitogami class is rooted in Shinto. The belief that they are revered as a living god is itself the source of power.
• Wildlander (Emishi) kamuy faith is a prototype of Shinto. Are "Ainu kamuy" and "Yamato kami" the same or different? This can be a campaign theme.
• Sacred ground = manifestation of a kami. Fear immunity and prevention of Cohesion collapse within the zone. The kami protects that land.
• Kegare: Spiritual Taint is interpreted in Shinto as "impurity." Harae (purification) is the Shinto expression of exorcism.

#Representative Kami and Impact

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#3. Buddhism (佛教) — Path of Liberation and Exorcism

#Scent

Buddhism in the Sengoku period is not a religion of pure meditation. Warrior monks of Mount Hiei take up naginata and cut down yoma. Farmers of the Ikko-ikki shout "Namu Amida Butsu" and take up blades. Esoteric Buddhist monks seal yoma with mantras and mudra (印), while Pure Land monks raise squad morale through the power of sutras.

Buddhism is also a political power of the Sengoku period. Hiei League is a religious power with military force, and the Ikko-ikki is a fanatical popular uprising of Jodo Shinshu.

#Sects and Game Impact

#Core Buddhist Concepts

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#4. Onmyodo (陰陽道) — The Principles of All Things

#Scent

Onmyodo is an independent system combining Chinese Daoism, yin-yang five-phase theory, and Japanese native magic. Onmyoji command shikigami, read the stars, cast curses, and create barriers. Descendants of Abe no Seimei divine the fate of the state beside the emperor, and the Tsuchimikado house observes the heavens to predict yoma appearances.

Onmyodo is closer to technology than "religion." Not faith, but principle (理法): a discipline for understanding and manipulating how the world works. An onmyoji can therefore "use it without believing." Yet when they reach the end of those principles, when they touch the world's secrets, the boundary between "god" and "human" blurs.

#Five Phases and the Game

Optional Rule — Five-Phase Compatibility: If the GM wants, when a yoma's element (five phases) and an attack's element are in an overcoming relation, apply +2; when in a generating relation, apply -2. Example: attacking metal (metal yoma) with fire (goma) gives +2.

#Core Onmyodo Concepts

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#5. Confucianism (儒教) — Human Principle

#Scent

Confucianism is an ethical system more than a "religion." No kami, no buddhas; only the principle (道理) between humans. Loyalty (忠), filial piety (孝), benevolence (仁), righteousness (義), rites (禮). A samurai's blade is governed by Confucian ethics.

In the Sengoku period, Confucianism lives as bushido (武士道). Loyalty to one's lord, filial duty to one's house, righteousness toward enemies, benevolence toward the weak. These four pillars make a samurai a samurai.

But Sengoku chaos shakes the order of Confucianism. "What if the lord is foolish?" "What if the enemy is righteous?" "What if loyalty and benevolence collide?" These questions shake the Way of Rites (禮道) between Loyalty and Hegemony.

#The 7 Virtues of Bushido and the Game

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#6. Kirishitan (吉利支丹) — The God Across the Sea

#Scent

In 1549, Francisco Xavier arrived in Satsuma. What he brought was not only teppo (鐵砲), but the word of Deus (天主).

Kirishitan (切支丹): Christianity. A foreign religion first brought to Sengoku Japan. The idea of "one God" was revolutionary in a land where eight million kami and countless buddhas coexist. "Kami and buddhas are false. There is only one true God." Some were moved by this declaration, and some were enraged.

Some daimyo in Kyushu (九州) converted. Kirishitan daimyo. In their domains, temples were burned and crosses were raised. Hiei League warned that this was "heresy among heresies," while Enryokan saw it as "one more subject for coexistence."

In Konsei Reiyotan, Kirishitan occupy a special position. Does prayer to Deus repel yoma? It does. Just as sutras work on yoma, prayer works as well. Does this mean "all faiths have equal power," or does it mean "there is one true God and all else is illusion"?

#Law — Kirishitan Rules

Kirishitan Faith: characters with the foreigner class or a Kirishitan background may choose this.

#Kirishitan NPCs

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#7. Heresies and Minority Sects — Forbidden Teachings

#Scent

Teachings that depart from orthodox doctrine: dark Buddhism, cults (邪教), forbidden Onmyodo. These are not "formal schools," but "teachings whispered underground." Hiei League suppresses them, Kagura Domain forbids them, and the court declares them heretical.

Yet heretical teachings are sometimes stronger than orthodoxy. The forbidden is forbidden for a reason, and often that reason is "too dangerous."

#Law — Heretical Traits (Variant Traits)

Heretical/minority sect traits replace traits from an existing class. The acquisition cost is the same (1 trait slot). However, there is a social cost.

Common Rule for Heretical Traits: If use of a heretical trait is discovered, Fame with that faction -3. In Hiei League/Ikko-ikki territory, the character is subject to arrest/execution.

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#Esoteric Monk Heresy: Outer Path Esoterica (外道密教)

Orthodox esoteric Buddhism teaches "exorcism for the sake of compassion." Outer Path Esoterica teaches "exorcism that uses the power of yoma." It does not seal yoma; it absorbs yoma energy to strengthen the user.

Three Ways and Six Hearts: learning Outer Path Esoterica pulls the character from the Way of Emptiness (空道) toward the Way of Mystery (玄道). They move closer to Demon.

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#Pure Land Monk Heresy: Akunin Shoki (惡人正機)

Orthodox Pure Land teaching interprets "if good people attain rebirth, evil people do even more so" as compassion. The heretical Akunin Shoki sect interprets it in the extreme as "evil deeds are also part of salvation." "Amida Buddha made vows for evil people, so evil itself becomes prayer."

Three Ways and Six Hearts: the extreme of the Way of Emptiness. Danger of crossing from Compassion into Void. "If all things are equal, is there a reason to fight?"

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#Onmyoji Heresy: Kido (鬼道)

The dark branch of Onmyodo. Forbidden magic that goes beyond commanding shikigami and manipulates human souls. Recorded in "forbidden books (禁書)" sealed by the Tsuchimikado house.

Three Ways and Six Hearts: learning Kido locks the character in the Demon Heart. They cannot shift to another Heart without a release event.

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#Arahitogami Heresy: Yomotsu-gami (黃泉神)

Orthodox arahitogami teach that "aramitama is also part of kami." The Yomotsu-gami variant worships kami of Yomi (黃泉, the world of death). Children of Izanami. It borrows the power of kami that rule death.

Three Ways and Six Hearts: Yomotsu-gami is the extreme of the Way of Mystery. The shift from Truth (眞) to Demon (魔) is natural. "Death too is part of nature."

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#8. Cult Rules (邪教/Cult Rules)

#Scent

In Sengoku chaos, cults (邪教) grow beneath the shadow of orthodox religions: fanatics who worship yoma as gods, apocalyptic believers trying to open the Gate to the Spirit Realm, alchemists trying to transform humans into yoma. A cult can be used as an NPC faction or as a corrupted path for players.

#Law — Cult Structure

4 Elements of a Cult:

#Special Rules for Cult Squads

#3 Representative Cults

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#Cult 1: Hannyakai (般若會)

"Only by becoming an oni can you defeat oni."

An extreme ideology that humans should transform themselves into yoma to fight yoma. A radical faction of Hannya Altar.

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#Cult 2: Spirit Gate Sect (靈門敎)

"If we open the Gate to the Spirit Realm, the dead will return."

An apocalyptic cult that intentionally opens the Gate to the Spirit Realm to call the dead (souls) back to the present world.

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#Cult 3: Heavenly Lord Mad Order (天主狂團)

"Deus alone is the true God. Kami and buddhas are all devils."

A radical Kirishitan faction. Unlike ordinary Kirishitan, who seek "coexistence," the Heavenly Lord Mad Order denies and tries to destroy every other faith. They burn temples, break shrines, and execute monks.

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#9. Crossing Faith and the Three Ways and Six Hearts

#Moments When Faith Changes the Heart

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Is god (神) one, or eight million? The answer depends on the heart of the one who takes up the blade.