Database: Honno-ji

Honnō-ji is a temple in Kyoto associated with the Lotus School (Hokke School), which claimed to follow Nichiren Buddhist teachings. Built in the 15th century, it received support from the Ashikaga shoguns and then, in the early 16th century, became one of the main strongholds of the city's bourgeoisie, the machishu. The machishu assumed power in 1532 in the name of the Lotus School. In 1536, the warrior monks of Mount Hiei retaliated. The temple was burned while the followers of the Lotus sect were expelled. In the mid-16th century, the temple was rebuilt.

Famously, Nobunaga was known to stay at the temple when he was in Kyoto, and it was where he was forced to commit suicide in 1582. On the 2nd day of the 6th month (June 21), Nobunaga's vassal, Akechi Mitsuhide, betrayed him. Akechi surrounded the temple and set it on fire. The attack was sudden, and Nobunaga took his own life in the burning temple. His heir, Nobutada, also had to commit suicide at Nijo Palace.

Hideyoshi returned from the western provinces where he was fighting Mōri Terumoto and made peace urgently. A few days later, while leading his troops Hideyoshi clashed with Mitsuhide at the Battle of Yamazaki. Mitsuhide was defeated and died shortly after. The victorious Hideyoshi managed to sideline Nobunaga's other sons and seized power, which he held until his death in 1598. The reasons for Mitsuhide's treachery are unclear. Nobunaga's armies were busy warring, and Mitsuhide certainly had a free hand in Kyoto. But, in the days following the Honno-ji incident, no significant lord joined his cause, and under these conditions, his final defeat was inevitable.