Zubuki

Zubuki [茅院 ずぶき] were Kiren warrior clergymen of feudal Kanton. At certain points in history, they held considerable power and were highly respected even above sai knights. 
The prominence of the zubuki rose in parallel with the ascendancy of the Sōhoku school's influence between the 13th and 15th centuries; this school promoted the idea of wielding spirituality as a weapon in battle, and encouraged martial training amongst young monks and priests. The zubuki protected land and temples; they could be hired as bodyguards, ritualists or even assassins. Due to certain vows they took, the fact that they committed the sin of murder was considered null. The zubuki were also the only group of clergymen who were permitted to have relations with women outside the temple order (horane).
The zubuki generally organised themselves into large battalions or mobs, with multiple temples often joining their forces. Some temples were famous for specialising in training zubuki.
== Weapons and dress ==
Zubuki were varied in their armament. The hokuraku (glaive-like spear) is the weapon most often associated with them, though in legend as well as historical records, many warrior monks have been known for their proficiency with bow and arrow, takkane (dagger), chikka (scythe-like blade), and the sataka. Many fought on horseback, wearing the traditional armour of the sai.
Zubuki, like most other Kiren monks of most sects, wore white or red robes; footwear consisted of kaga (wooden) or wahashi (straw) sandals. A traditional headscarf, known as komuri, often coloured white or black, would be worn beneath their helmets. Red mantles emblazoned with symbols or significant characters were also worn.