Warrior monk

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:

• Sōhei, a type of Japanese warrior.
• Knights Templar, Knights Hospitallers and Teutonic Knights, warriors during the Crusades.
• Shaolin Monastery, a Chinese monastery renowned for monks who were experts in the martial arts.
• The description of the ideal soldier in the manual of the First Earth Battalion.
• Nagas, a type of shaivite monks once served under Moghul commanders.