The History of
Toyotomi's Osaka Castle
A Temple During the Age of Civil Wars!
front of Ishiyama Hongan-ji Temple During the Age of Civil Wars, Hongan-ji Temple (Ishiyama Hongan-ji Temple) was located where Osaka Castle stands now. It was the head temple of the Jodo Shinshu Hongan-ji sect, and was previously located in Yamashina, near Kyoto. However, it was burned down by the Rokkaku clan, who were daimyo (feudal lords), as well as followers of the Nichiren sect, and it was moved to Osaka in 1533.
Hongan-ji Temple, which had been fortified with turrets, earthen walls, and water-filled moats, was praised as the most famous castle in Settsu Province and was also known as Osaka Castle. Within its compound, merchants and craftsmen gathered. Hongan-ji Temple was so prosperous that it was said to possess the majority of Japan's wealth.
Picture scroll illustrating scenes from the Ishiyama War It also had an alliance with daimyo such as Takeda Shingen and Mori Terumoto, and was involved in a conflict with Oda Nobunaga that lasted eleven years. In 1580, the Battle of Ishiyama ended with a peace agreement requiring Hongan-ji Temple to leave Osaka, but shortly after surrender, a fire broke out, and the temple buildings and its compound completely burned down.
(The Illustrated Account of the Life of Oda Nobunaga) Nobunaga developed the site, and placed it under his own management. Details regarding Osaka Castle during Nobunaga's time are unknown, but in 1583, Toyotomi Hideyoshi completely renovated the remains of the castle, beginning construction of his own Osaka Castle.