Azuchi religious debate

• Date: 1579
• Japanese: 安土宗論 (Azuchi shuuron)

The Azuchi religious debate took place between monks of the Nichiren and Jôdo sects of Buddhism, at Oda Nobunaga's Azuchi Castle in 1579.

Nobunaga, who was the de facto ruler of Japan at the time, had a long history of low tolerance for violence or competition for power from religious groups. Following a number of disturbances caused by Nichiren followers intolerant of Jôdo thought or practices, Nobunaga sought to resolve the matter through a discussion.

In the end, he ordered the Nichiren supporters responsible for the disturbances to be executed, including the preacher Fuden Nichimon. The Nichren establishment apologized for its transgressions and promised to be more tolerant in the future, but a large indemnity was still imposed upon it.

References

• This article was written by User:LordAmeth and contributed to both S-A and Wikipedia; the author gives permission for his work to be used in this way.
• Frederic, Louis (2002). "Azuchi shūron." Japan Encyclopedia. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press.