Oda Nobunaga’s relationship with Buddhism offers fascinating insights into his governance style and his innovative approach during the Sengoku period. Nobunaga intervened in Buddhist affairs, sometimes clashing with Buddhist institutions and at other times cooperating with them, all in his quest to consolidate power. In this article, I’ll explore this relationship with specific examples and present an independent perspective on Nobunaga’s interaction with Buddhism. It should be noted where historical certainty is lacking, and I will make this clear.
The Burning of Mt. Hiei: Challenging Religious Authority
One of the most infamous incidents involving Nobunaga and Buddhism is the 1571 burning of Mt. Hiei (Hieizan). Enryaku-ji Temple, located on Mt. Hiei, had been a major center of Buddhist power since the Heian period, with considerable political and military influence. The temple even maintained a force of warrior monks, solidifying its status as a religious power with political clout.
Nobunaga’s decision to attack and burn the temple can be interpreted not only as a strategic move but also as a reflection of his unique attitude toward religion. Nobunaga often displayed a confrontational stance toward traditional authorities, and it is plausible that he held deep-seated resentment toward the Buddhist establishment’s political interference. Furthermore, Nobunaga’s actions may have been rooted in a pragmatic worldview, where religious authority was subject to his own political aims.
However, it is important to note that there is no definitive historical evidence that Nobunaga’s attack on Enryaku-ji was driven purely by religious motives. The temple had allied itself with his enemies, such as Asai Nagamasa and Asakura Yoshikage, and it actively resisted his rule through military force. Thus, the attack can be more reliably explained as a strategic decision in the context of ongoing warfare.
Conflict with the Ikko-Ikki: Beyond Religious Tensions to Social Change
Nobunaga also famously clashed with the Ikko-Ikki, a militant group of followers of the Jodo Shinshu (True Pure Land) sect. The Ikko-Ikki, particularly those based at the Ishiyama Hongan-ji temple in Osaka, posed a significant threat to Nobunaga’s power. However, this conflict was more than just a religious struggle; it was also a social movement, as the Ikko-Ikki were composed of armed peasants and townspeople resisting feudal lords.
The Ikko-Ikki became Nobunaga’s most formidable opponents, challenging his authority and destabilizing his rule. Nobunaga viewed this resistance not merely as a religious issue but as a direct rebellion against his governance. Consequently, he sought to suppress the movement with military force. In this context, Nobunaga’s hostility was not directed at Buddhism per se, but rather at the challenge to the social and political order posed by the Ikko-Ikki.
An intriguing aspect of Nobunaga’s relationship with Buddhism is that, despite his brutal suppression of some religious groups, he also protected certain temples in Kyoto. This indicates that Nobunaga did not oppose religion outright but instead viewed it as a tool to be managed according to his political needs. His approach to Buddhism was flexible and pragmatic, adapting to the political and social circumstances of the time.
Nobunaga’s View of Religion: Between Belief and Pragmatism
A key question in understanding Nobunaga’s religious stance is whether he was an atheist or merely skeptical of traditional religious authority. While his actions often suggest a rejection of conventional religious norms, Nobunaga also supported Christian missionaries and allowed the spread of Christianity, particularly through his engagement in trade with Western nations. This suggests that he may have valued religion when it served his political or economic interests.
Furthermore, Nobunaga occasionally engaged in self-deification, calling himself the Demon King of the Sixth Heaven(Dairokuten Maō), a reference to a malevolent figure in Buddhist cosmology. Some interpret this as a sign of his anti-religious stance, while others view it as a mere performance aimed at intimidating his enemies. It remains unclear whether this was driven by any genuine religious belief or simply part of his political theater.
How Should We Understand Nobunaga’s Relationship with Buddhism?
Oda Nobunaga’s relationship with Buddhism is multi-faceted and cannot be reduced to a simple narrative. He saw religion not merely as a matter of personal faith but as an essential element of political power. This is evident in his harsh treatment of certain Buddhist institutions, while simultaneously aligning with others when it suited his interests.
Nobunaga’s religious policies were highly innovative for his time, reflecting his pragmatic political philosophy. Religion, for him, was often a "tool of governance" rather than a matter of personal devotion. In this way, Nobunaga aimed to subdue the overwhelming influence of the Buddhist establishment and establish his own authority. This aspect of Nobunaga’s rule highlights his role as more than just a military general—he was a true "innovator of his era," challenging the existing religious and social orders to build a new kind of political system.
Lastly, it is worth noting that there is no conclusive evidence about Nobunaga’s personal beliefs regarding religion. While much of his actions seem driven by practical considerations, the possibility that he held some unique views on religious symbols and rituals remains open for debate.
