Name: Mongaku (文覚) / Endo Morito (遠藤 盛遠)
Birth/ Death: (1139-1203)
Appearance: Book 5 Episode 8-10; Book 12 Episode 2, 7-9
Bio:
A particularly austere monk, Mongaku convinced Minamoto no Yoritomo to leave his exile, and rise up against the Taira clan. He also convinced Go-Shirakawa to pardon Yoritomo. He was both a historical figure, and a character within the Tale of the Heike.
Mongaku caused trouble for himself after disturbing Go-Shirakawa's music session and fighting with members of the court. He was briefly throw in jail, released, and then exiled after becoming a doomsayer who prophesied the end of the world. This is important to the story, because he is exiled to the province of Izu where he meets up with Minamoto no Yoritomo. After convincing Yoritomo to start his rebellion, he returns to the then-capital of Fukuhara to obtain Yoritomo's pardon. This pardon, granted by Go-Shirakawa, gives Yoritomo's rebellion validity as a fight against the corruption that the Taira have fostered.
When Mongaku (previously known as Morito) was younger, he fell in love with the wife of a samurai, Kesa. One night, Kesa let Mongaku in, and told him where he could find her husband sleeping so he could murder him. Unfortunately, Kesa put herself in her husband's place to save her honor. This caused Mongaku to repent his evil ways and become a monk. He gave himself the harsh penance of sitting under the Nachi waterfall for 21 days.