Ishiyama Hongan-ji Temple Toyotomi Period Reconstruction by the Tokugawa Shogunate Edo Period Showa Heisei






    The Period of Ishiyama Hongan-ji Temple

    It is said that Hideyoshi Toyotomi remodeled an old exisitng castle into Osaka Castle.
    Who then possessed the old castle ? What did it look like ?
    Prosperity of Ishiyama Hongan-ji Temple

    In 1496, the 8th priest of Hongan-ji Temple Rennyo built monk's quarter (Osaka Gobo), which grew into a big temple called Ishiyama Hongan-ji (completed in 1533). "Gobunsho" (selection of Rennyo's letters), which records the history of the temple, is known for the name of the place "Osaka", appearing in a historical document for the first time. Thereafter, Ishiyama Hongan-ji Temple functioned as an impregnable fort to defense against the attack of war lords. A temple town developed and grew into a self-governing body. At the time of the 11th head priest Kennyo, Hongan-ji Temple reached the peak of its prosperity.

    Rennyo

    Rennyo

    Gobunsho

    Rennyo's "Gobunsho" - From which the name of Osaka can be read.

    		 　
    Illustration

    Illustration of Prosperity of the Temple Town of Ishiyama Hongan-ji
    The Ishiyama War

    Ishiyama Hongan-ji Temple and its believers offered stubborn resistance to Nobunaga Oda who was attempting to unify the entire nation. After the long draw-out war for 11 years from 1570, Nobunaga succeeded in ordering the head priest Kennyo to leave from Hongan-ji Temple in 1580. The whole structures of the temple, however, were destroyed by fire. The description of "Shincho-ki-" (The Account of the Life of Nobunaga Oda) confirms that Nobunaga planned to build his own castle at the site of Hongan-ji Temple.
    		 　


    Ishiyama War

    Chart describing the Deployment of Forces for the Ishiyama War
    The left of the chart indicates north. A fenced-in section of the upper part shows the temple's territory.