A warrior monk is a concept found in various cultures of a person who combines aspects of being a monk, such as deep religious devotion and an ascetic lifestyle, with being a warrior, trained to engage in violent conflict.
Examples include:
- Sant Sipahi is a Sikh ideology, inspired by the lives of Sikh gurus, of a saint soldier who would adhere one's life in strict discipline both in mind and body.
- Sōhei, a type of Japanese warrior.
- Righteous armies, Korean guerilla fighters, including monks
- Knights Templar, Knights Hospitaller and Teutonic Knights, warriors during the Crusades.
- Shaolin Monastery, a Chinese monastery renowned for monks who were experts in the martial arts.
- Naga Sadhus, a militaristic sect of arms-bearing Hindu sannyasi.
In fiction:
- The description of the ideal soldier in the manual of the First Earth Battalion.
- The Jedi Order, a fictional monastic organization in the Star Wars epic space opera franchise
- The Adeptus Astartes, Space Marines, are genetically altered super soldiers who serve the Imperium of Mankind in the Warhammer 40,000 universe[citation needed] alongside the Adepta Sororitas, Sisters of Battle, who are soldier-nuns serving directly under the command of the Imperium's church.
See also
- Martial arts § Spirituality
- Bhisma, Vows to be Celibate and Fight for Righteousness.
- Jim Mattis, US Marine and politician nicknamed "The Warrior Monk"