Honnō-ji

Honnō-ji (本能寺) is a temple of the Nichiren branch of Buddhism located in Kyoto, Japan. Its honzon is mandara-honzon (曼荼羅本尊) from Namu Myōhō Renge Kyō.

Honnō-ji main gate
Honnō-ji main hall

Honnō-ji incident

Honnō-ji is most famous for the Honnō-ji incident – the assassination of Oda Nobunaga – that occurred there on 21 June 1582. Nobunaga lodged at the temple with little protection before his invasion of the west, but was betrayed by his general Akechi Mitsuhide, whose forces surrounded the temple and set it on fire. Knowing there was no way out for him, Nobunaga committed seppuku along with his attendant Mori Ranmaru.[1] Ranmaru's brothers also perished at Honnō-ji.

In 1591, Nobunaga's successor Toyotomi Hideyoshi ordered the reconstruction of Honnō-ji, but on a different site due to the tragic circumstances. Honnō-ji was rebuilt on its current location in present-day Nakagyō Ward near Kyoto Shiyakusho-mae Station.

See also

References
  1. Sato, Hiroaki (1995). Legends of the Samurai. New York: Overlook Duckworth. pp. 243–244. ISBN 9781590207307.


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