Database: Tenno-ji Temple

The Shitennō-ji, or Tennō-ji, temple has been a popular destination since ancient times, attracting emperors, aristocrats, high priests, and monks. Over time, a town grew around the temple, attracting many craftspeople and merchants. The guild of ramie merchants is renowned for its control over the distribution of raw hemp material that was manufactured in the central region.

The Tennō-ji has been completely burned down several times over the centuries, the most recent occurring during an American bombing campaign in March 1945. Its current incarnation was restored between 1957 and 1963 using modern materials like concrete, while respecting the original structure.

During the 16th century, Tennō-ji temple was comprised of several buildings able to serve as military headquarters and house troops, supported by a nearby town that could provide supplies. This is likely why, in 1570, Oda Nobunaga chose Tennō-ji as his base. From here, he launched an assault on the men of Miyoshi who were at the fortresses of Noda and Fukushima. It would also prove advantageous when war broke out with the Hongan-ji, as it was situated a few kilometers south of the Osaka Hongan-ji on the same plateau with a much smaller difference in altitude compared to the other three sides of Kennyo's headquarters. Nobunaga would return there in 1575 and 1576 to lead subsequent attacks on the Hongan-ji, and once more in 1578 to survey his position in the region and study the new battleships at Sakai.