A Fighting Monk, Military Costumes in Old Japan. (cropped), Sōhei, 1895 (Meiji 28)

Photo of a yamabushi. (description from the original photograph) "a fighting monk. The above represents a beligerent monk of the kamakura epoch. The buddhists of those days had quite an army of fighting priests to protect their rights, or maintain their ground against rival creeds. He wears his clerical robes over his armor, and his head is covered with the sacred kesa. " the weapon is a naginata. Date: 1895 (Meiji 28).