The paper explores the economics behind two large-scale rebellions in Japan throughout 1532–1536 and 1570–1580, launched by a religious organization called Honganji. The paper argues that Honganji’s large-scale rebellions took off primarily due to religious reforms, particularly, the creation of an after-life pardon doctrine, which enabled the functioning of more potent incentives that fostered participation. First, the doctrine raised the costs of not joining a rebellion by excluding the non-participants and consigning them to hell. This resulted in immediate spiritual, social and economic penalties, as condemned individuals were considered religiously corrupt and were expelled from the sect’s temple towns and sect-dominated village communities. Second, the after-life pardon doctrine reduced the costs of rebellious participation by guaranteeing an instant rebirth in paradise after dying for the sect’s cause. As many individuals at the time saw the world through the lens of religion and spirituality, the guarantee of paradise was an especially potent incentive to join a rebellion.

本文探讨了 1532 年至 1536 年和 1570 年至 1580 年日本两次大规模叛乱背后的经济背景，这两次叛乱都是由一个名为“本愿寺”的宗教组织发起的。该论文认为，本愿寺大规模叛乱的爆发主要是由于宗教改革，特别是死后赦免教义的创立，这使得促进参与的更有效的激励措施发挥作用。首先，该学说将不参加叛乱的人排除在外，并将他们送入地狱，从而提高了不参加叛乱的成本。这导致了立即的精神、社会和经济惩罚，因为被谴责的人被认为宗教腐败，并被驱逐出该教派的寺庙城镇和该教派主导的村庄社区。第二，来世赦免教义保证为教派的事业而死后立即在天堂重生，从而降低了参与叛乱的成本。由于当时许多人通过宗教和灵性的视角看待世界，天堂的保证是加入叛乱的特别有力的动机。