In the fourth year of Wanli, Oda Nobunaga built an unprecedentedly huge main city - Azuchi Castle. However, more than ten days after the "Honnoji Incident" occurred, Azuchi Castle, the greatest symbol of Oda Nobunaga's lifelong hegemony, was reduced to ruins in the fire.

In the fourth year of Wanli (1576), Oda Nobunaga built an unprecedentedly huge main city- Azuchi Castle . Azuchi Castle has since become the biggest symbol of Oda Nobunaga's hegemony, so that later generations will call the era when Oda Nobunaga dominated Japan the "Azuchi Era". However, more than ten days after the " Honnoji Incident " occurred, Azuchi Castle, the greatest symbol of Oda Nobunaga's lifelong hegemony, was reduced to ruins in the fire.

On June 2, the tenth year of Tensho ( 582 ), Oda Nobunaga died in the "Honnoji Incident". On June 3, Kenhide Kamao, who stayed behind at Azuchi Castle, protected Oda Nobunaga's family and the hostages of various major figures from evacuating Azuchi Castle. On June 5, Akechi Mitsuhide occupied Azuchi Castle. On June 7, after Akechi Mitsuhide announced the opening of Azuchi Castle, he left his son-in-law Akechi Hidemitsu to guard Azuchi Castle and returned to Sakamoto Castle .

On June 10, Akechi Mitsuhide led his army to leave Sakamoto Castle to meet Toyotomi (Hashiba) Hideyoshi. From June 12th to June 13th, Akechi Mitsuhide lost the battle of Yamazaki and Tennoyama and was killed by "Rakumushagari" on his way to escape. On June 15, Azuchi Castle suddenly caught fire, burning the entire castle into ruins. As for the cause of the fire at Azuchi Castle, there are currently three main theories on the market:

The first is the theory that Akechi Hideman set the fire. Akechi Hidemitsu abandoned Azuchi Castle and retreated to Sakamoto Castle after learning that Akechi Mitsuhide was defeated. Some believe that Akechi Hidemitsu set fire to Azuchi Castle before evacuating. However, according to more reliable historical records, Akechi Hidemitsu evacuated Azuchi Castle in the early morning of June 14, while the fire at Azuchi Castle occurred during the day on June 15, which is the wrong time.

In addition, Akechi Hidemitsu was besieged by the Hashiba Army after retreating to Sakamoto Castle. Knowing that there is no way out. Akechi Hidemitsu properly packaged all the treasures of Sakamoto Castle and gave them to the Hashiba Army outside the city before choosing to commit seppuku. Akechi Hidemitsu still cares so much about the treasures of Sakamoto Castle. Azuchi Castle contains far more treasures than Sakamoto Castle. There is a high probability that Akechi Hidemitsu will not burn them down.

The second is the wildfire theory, that is, Azuchi Castle was left unattended for a period of time after Akechi Hidemitsu withdrew, allowing wildfires outside the city to spread into the city and burn down Azuchi Castle. However, Azuchi Castle is a water fortress with lakes on three sides and a canal on one side. It is almost impossible for wildfires to spread into the city. Moreover, it was the humid plum rains season, so even if a wildfire entered the city, it would not spread to the extent of burning down the entire Azuchi Castle.

The third one is Oda Nobuo arson theory. After Akechi Hidemitsu withdrew from Azuchi Castle in the early morning of June 14, Oda Nobunaga's second son, Oda Nobuo, may lead an army to occupy Azuchi Castle on the night of June 14. Azuchi Castle burned down during the day on June 15th, and Nobuo Oda was undoubtedly the biggest suspect. The "History of Japan " written by Western missionaries believed that Azuchi Castle was burned down under the order of Oda Nobuo.

But the problem is that the Azuchi Castle occupied by Oda Nobuo is both an empty city and a symbol of his father's main city and hegemony. The complete recovery of Azuchi Castle can greatly enhance Oda Nobuo's prestige and improve his voice in the subsequent distribution of Oda Nobunaga's inheritance. He had no motive to proactively order the burning of Azuchi Castle. But according to archaeological discoveries, the fire at Azuchi Castle did start from the main castle.

I personally think that from the time Hidemitsu Akechi withdrew to the entry of Nobuo Oda, Azuchi Castle was unmanaged during the day, and bandits who set fire to and robbed it should have appeared. After Oda Nobuo entered the city, his soldiers probably also looted Azuchi Castle. Nobuo Oda, who was very incompetent, was unable to restrain his subordinates or eliminate the bandits in the city, and watched Azuchi Castle fall into chaos.

So bandits or rebels probably set fire to the main castle of Azuchi Castle in the chaos. Nobuo Oda, who was unable to restore even the basic order of Azuchi Castle, was even more unable to put out the fire and could only sit back and watch Azuchi Castle burn down. However, there are also historical records saying that Nobuo Oda entered Azuchi Castle after it caught fire. In any case, the person most responsible for the burning of Azuchi Castle was indeed Nobuo Oda.