Ishiyama Hongan-ji

The Ishiyama Hongan-ji (石山本願寺) was the primary fortress of the Ikkō-ikki, mobs of warrior monks and peasants who opposed samurai rule. It was established in 1496, at the mouth of the Yodo River, on the coast of the Seto Inland Sea. At the time, this was just outside of the remains of the ancient capital of Naniwa, in Settsu Province. In fact, recent archaeological research has determined that the temple was established atop the ruins of the old imperial palace. The city (now called Osaka) has since grown around the site, incorporating the Ishiyama (stone mountain).

For other uses, see Ishiyama (disambiguation).

The Ishiyama Hongan-ji (石山本願寺)was the primary fortress of the Ikkō-ikki, mobs of warrior monks and peasants who opposed samurai rule. It was established in 1496, at the mouth of the Yodo River, on the coast of the Seto Inland Sea. At the time, this was just outside of the remains of the ancient capital of Naniwa, in Settsu Province. In fact, recent archaeological research has determined that the temple was established atop the ruins of the old imperial palace. The city (now called Osaka) has since grown around the site, incorporating the Ishiyama (stone mountain). Rennyo, the great revivalist of Jodo Shinshu (Ikkō), retired to the area in 1496, initiating the series of events that would end in the formation of Japan's second-largest city. Contemporary documents describing his retirement site as being on a "long slope" (大坂, Ōzaka) are the first to call the area by that name, which has changed only slightly over time to Osaka(大阪), and become Japan's second largest city. Although Rennyo sought isolation in retiring to this quiet place, he very quickly attracted a great number of devotees and followers. The tiny temple Rennyo built for his own personal devotions was expanded, and many homes and other buildings were erected to accommodate the new residents. By the time of Rennyo's death, three years later, the general shape and size of the Ishiyama Hongan-ji was already in place. After the 1532 destruction of Yamashina Mido in Kyoto, the Ishiyama Hongan-ji acted as the primary cathedral for the Ikkō, from which the Ikkō-ikki had sprouted. Contributions from devotees were collected through a system of brokers, primarily those based in Sakai in nearby Izumi Province. The cathedral-fortress was considered impenetrable, due largely to its location and orientation. In addition, roughly a hundred monks were on patrol at any given time, and upwards of ten thousand could be summoned to battle simply by ringing a bell. The monks of the fortress came not only from Osaka and the surrounding areas, but also from the Ikko sect's home provinces of Kaga and Echizen. The monks also had many allies, including the Mōri clan, who supplied the fortress when it was under siege, and, ironically, both Uesugi Kenshin and Takeda Shingen, both of whom were rivals of Oda Nobunaga; simply by keeping Nobunaga and each other occupied, they did the Ikki a great service. The Hongan-ji came under siege from the forces of Oda Nobunaga in 1576, but, due in part to its position on the coast, managed to hold out for five years, making this the longest siege in Japanese history. In August 1580, the Abbot Kōsa (Kennyo) was persuaded to surrender, ending the 11-year-long siege. At the time of the surrender, the entire temple complex was set aflame. According to some sources, this was done from within, to deny Nobunaga any true material gains from having defeated the Ikki. Though some members of the group fled to Kaga Province to make a final stand, the destruction of the Ishiyama Hongan-ji was truly the killing blow which marked the destruction of the sect as a militant force. Three years later, Toyotomi Hideyoshi began the construction of Osaka Castleon the same site.

References

  • Sansom, George (1961). "A History of Japan: 1334-1615." Stanford: Stanford University Press.
  • Turnbull, Stephen (2003). 'Japanese Warrior Monks AD 949-1603'. Oxford: Osprey Publishing.

See also

  • Siege of Ishiyama Hongan-ji
  • Media related to at Wikimedia Commons
Ishiyama Hongan-ji
石山本願寺
Osaka, Japan

Osaka castle now stands atop the site of the Hongan-ji.
Type Fortified Buddhist temple
Built 1496
Built by Ikkō sect
Construction
materials
Wood, stone
In use 1532-1580
Demolished 1580, by Oda Nobunaga
Current
condition
Not extant
Controlled by Ikkō-ikki
Commanders Rennyo (founder), Kōsa (last abbot)
Battles/wars Siege of Ishiyama Hongan-ji (1576-1580)
Listed in the following categories:
Post a comment
Tips & Hints
Arrange By:
There are no tips nor hints for Ishiyama Hongan-ji yet. Maybe be you will be the first one to post useful information for fellow travellers? :)
4.5/10
136 people have been here
Map
0.2km from Japan, Osaka Prefecture, Osaka, Chuo Ward, Osakajo, 2−1 Get directions

石山本願寺推定地 on Foursquare

Ishiyama Hongan-ji on Facebook

Hotels nearby

See all hotels See all
Comfort self hotel Kitahama (Licensed)

starting $78

ANA Crowne Plaza Osaka

starting $122

The Rise Osaka Kitashinchi

starting $75

Hotel Keihan Yodoyabashi

starting $81

Center Hotel Osaka

starting $51

AZ Hostel

starting $22

Recommended sights nearby

See all See all
Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Osaka Castle

Osaka CastleШаблон:Nihongo is a Japanese castle in Chūō-ku, Osaka,

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Fujita Art Museum

The Fujita Art Museum (藤田美術館, Fujita Bijutsukan) is one of the large

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Dōtonbori

Dōtonbori or Dōtombori (道頓堀, pronounced ]) is one of the principa

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
道頓堀グリコサイン

道頓堀グリコサイン(どうとんぼりグリコサイン)は、大阪道頓堀の戎橋南西袂に江崎グリコが設置している看板(屋外広告)である。

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Osaka Science Museum

The Osaka Science Museum (大阪市立科学館, Ōsaka-shi Ritsu Kagakukan) is

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Tennōji Zoo

Tennōji Zoo is located at Tennōji Park in Tennōji-ku, Osaka, Japan, op

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Tsūtenkaku

Tsūtenkaku (通天閣, Tsūtenkaku), lit. 'Tower Reaching Heaven', owned b

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Festivalgate

Festivalgate was an amusement park in Osaka, Japan, just beside the

Similar tourist attractions

See all See all
Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Wat Rai Khing

Wat Rai Khing (Thai: วัดไร่ขิง; lit: temple on ginger farm) is a

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Kaba Aye Pagoda

Kaba Aye Pagoda (Burmese: ကမ္ဘာအေးစေတီ; pronounced ]; also spel

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Wat Pho

Wat Pho (ไทย. วัดโพธิ์), also known as Wat Phra Chetuphon วัดพระเชตุพ

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Hase-dera (Kamakura)

Hase-dera (海光山慈照院長谷寺, Kaikō-zan Jishō-in Hase-dera), commonl

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Wat Phra Kaew

The Wat Phra Kaew (English Temple of the Emerald Buddha, Thai:

See all similar places