Apr 29, 2025 (News On Japan) - Oda Nobunaga’s sealed letter, bearing his personal red seal, has been discovered at Hyakusaiji Temple in Higashiomi City, Shiga Prefecture, roughly 100 years after its whereabouts became unknown.
According to the city, the letter had been introduced in a local history book about a century ago but had since been missing. It was recently found stored inside a wooden box among about 1,000 ancient documents belonging to the temple.
The letter bears Nobunaga’s official title "Danjo no Chu" as well as his famous red seal inscribed with "Tenka Fubu" (Rule the Realm by Force). It is believed to have been addressed to Hyakusaiji Temple, a powerful local force at the time, shortly after Nobunaga captured the stronghold of the rival Rokkaku clan.
"I was both thrilled and surprised. It was truly a moment of 'we finally found it,'" said Kazufumi Ashita of the Higashiomi City Forest Culture Promotion Division.
City officials commented that the document is especially noteworthy not only because it guarantees the temple’s rights and property but also because it indicates Nobunaga’s special recognition of the temple as a site for prayers.
Oda Nobunaga was a powerful daimyo in 16th-century Japan who played a key role in the unification of the country during the late Sengoku period. Born in 1534 in Owari Province, he rose to prominence through a combination of military brilliance, strategic alliances, and ruthless ambition.
Nobunaga is best known for his efforts to dismantle the traditional feudal order, weakening the power of Buddhist monasteries and rival clans while introducing new methods of warfare, including the effective use of firearms.
His bold leadership led to the capture of Kyoto and the establishment of a central authority, laying the groundwork for future unification. Nobunaga's vision of "Tenka Fubu"—rule the realm by force—became his guiding principle. However, his rise was cut short when he was betrayed by one of his own generals, Akechi Mitsuhide, and forced to commit seppuku during the Incident at Honnoji in 1582.
Source: YOMIURI
