The Ninna-ji Temple is the head temple for the Omura School of the Shingon Sect of Buddhism. It was first founded in 888 and reconstructed in the 17th century. Emperor Kōkō 光孝天皇 ordered the construction of the temple in 886 to bless the nation and propogate Buddhist teachings. His successor, Emperor Uda, saw the construction to its completion. From 888 to 1869, it was traditional for the reigning emperors to send a son to the temple to take over as head priest when a vacancy arose. Uda retired from the throne and became the first Monzeki 門跡, or aristocratic priest, of Ninna-ji. The last Monzeki was Junnin Hosshinno, the 30th chief of the temple.
The temple was destroyed by fire and fighting in the Ōnin War 応仁の乱, a civil war from 1467 to 1477. It was a dispute between Hosokawa Katsumoto 細川 勝元, a high official, and Yamana
Sōzen 山名 宗全, a regional lord. It led to a nationwide civil war involving the Ashikaga shogunate 足利幕府, and a number of daimyō大名, or regional lords. Kosokawa evenutally went on to win, but both sides were militarily exhausted, Kyoto was largely destroyed, and there was a disintegration of the power of the shogunate.
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