Burning of Enryakuji Temple

Japanese: 延暦寺焼打 - えんりゃくじやきうち

On September 12, 1571 (Genki 2), Oda Nobunaga burned down all the temples and shrines of Enryakuji Temple on Mount Hiei, including the Konponchudo Hall and the Sanno Nijūichisha Shrine. In September of the previous year, part of the Azai and Asakura forces, which had marched into southern Omi in response to the Miyoshi Triumvirate and Honganji Kennyo, based themselves on Mount Hiei and opposed Nobunaga. The following year, Nobunaga attacked and burned down the entire mountain in one fell swoop. Most of the temple buildings, treasures, and ancient documents on Mount Hiei, which were widely believed to protect the royal palace, were reduced to ashes, and Nobunaga's actions attracted much surprise and criticism.

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

1571年(元亀2)9月12日，織田信長が比叡山延暦寺の根本中堂，山王二十一社をはじめとする諸堂社をことごとく焼き払った事件。前年9月，三好三人衆，本願寺顕如に呼応して南近江に兵を進めた浅井･朝倉軍の一部は叡山に拠って信長に対抗した。信長は，翌年，この敵対的行為の報復として全山を一気に攻撃，焼亡させた。このとき，王城の鎮護として広く信仰されていた叡山の堂宇以下寺宝･古文書類はほとんど灰燼（かいじん）に帰し，この信長の行為は多くの驚きと非難を集めた。

出典　株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典第２版について　情報

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