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''Ikki'' were often united by a document listing the terms and agreements of their pact, and the names of those entering into the pact; often, the names were listed in a circular manner, to emphasize their equal (non-hierarchical) status within the league. Sometimes, the pact would be sealed by burning the signed agreement and mixing the ashes with water from which each member would then drink, in a ritual called ''ichimi shinsui'' ("one sip of the gods' water").<ref>[[Eiko Ikegami]], ''Bonds of Civility'', Cambridge University Press (2005), 114-115.</ref>

''Ikki'' were often united by a document listing the terms and agreements of their pact, and the names of those entering into the pact; often, the names were listed in a circular manner, to emphasize their equal (non-hierarchical) status within the league. Sometimes, the pact would be sealed by burning the signed agreement and mixing the ashes with water from which each member would then drink, in a ritual called ''ichimi shinsui'' ("one sip of the gods' water").<ref>[[Eiko Ikegami]], ''Bonds of Civility'', Cambridge University Press (2005), 114-115.</ref>

Some of these sects were religiously based, usually formed around a [[Jodo Shinshu|Jôdô]] sect, and came to be called ''[[ikko-ikki|Ikkô-ikki]]''. Some of these leagues, especially the ''Ikkô-ikki'' - some sources refer to them as mobs - challenged the authority of the local ''[[daimyo|daimyô]]'', often resulting in armed conflict. One of the most famous examples of this took place in [[Kaga province]], where the local ''ikki'' managed to overthrow and kick out the [[Togashi clan]] ''[[shugo]]'' of the province, making it for a considerable length of time the only province under commoner/peasant control. The ''Ikkô-ikki'' of the [[Ishiyama Honganji]], based in [[Osaka]], are also famous for successfully withstanding [[siege of Ishiyama Honganji|siege]] by [[Oda Nobunaga]] for as long as ten years before succumbing.

Some of these sects were religiously based, usually formed around a [[Jodo Shinshu|Jôdo]] sect, and came to be called ''[[ikko-ikki|Ikkô-ikki]]''. The ''Ikkô-ikki'' of the [[Ishiyama Honganji]], based in [[Osaka]], are also famous for successfully withstanding [[siege of Ishiyama Honganji|siege]] by [[Oda Nobunaga]] for as long as ten years before succumbing.

 

Not all ''ikki'' were linked by religious affiliation, however. Some, called ''kuni ikki'', were driven by more secular concerns, to challenge the authority of the local ''[[daimyo|daimyô]]'' and seize power for the people. One of the most famous examples of this took place in [[Kaga province]], where the local ''ikki'' managed to overthrow and kick out the [[Togashi clan]] ''[[shugo]]'' of the province, making it for a considerable length of time the only province under commoner/peasant control. Another form of ''ikki'' were known as ''tokusei ikki'', as they demanded debt cancellation (''tokusei'', lit. "virtuous governance") from the shogunate or ''daimyô''.<ref>Gallery labels, National Museum of Japanese History.[https://www.flickr.com/photos/toranosuke/11737450065/sizes/h/]</ref>

From the earliest years of the [[Edo period]], the non-religious, non-militarized ''ikki'' - those that were simple associations formed by pacts of ''ichimi shinsui'' - were designated ''totô'' (徒党, political conspirators, faction, cabal, or clique) by the authorities, and were banned.<ref>Ikegami, 129.</ref>

From the earliest years of the [[Edo period]], the non-religious, non-militarized ''ikki'' - those that were simple associations formed by pacts of ''ichimi shinsui'' - were designated ''totô'' (徒党, political conspirators, faction, cabal, or clique) by the authorities, and were banned.<ref>Ikegami, 129.</ref>