Buddhism continued to flow into the Bidatsu dynasty (reigned AD 572-585), and within the imperial court,
Soga clan = Buddhism
Mononobe clan, Nakatomi clan = Belief in Shintoism, promotion of banishing Buddhism
Divided into positions, intense political leadership struggles were repeated through religion.
The Mononobe and Nakatomi clan felt a strong sense of crisis that they would be driven out of the center of the political world due to the growth of the Soga clan. It is believed that deep inside he had a feeling of displeasure towards the Soga clan.
In other words, Emperor Bidatsu, the Mononobe clan, and the Nakatomi clan were completely in agreement in terms of 'anti-Soga.'
At that time, smallpox epidemics were repeated and many people died, and both the Buddhist sect and the anti-Buddhist sect were blaming each other, saying, "It's all your fault."
Umako independently promoted the collection of Buddhist statues from Kudara, the construction of Buddhist temples, and the construction of pagodas, and strengthened his activities to worship Buddhism in an effort to expand the power of the Soga clan (these activities are currently in it is said to have happened in the vicinity of Wada-cho and Ishikawa-cho, Kashihara City).
Mononobe no Moriya and Nakatomi Katsumi could not overlook these moves that led to the usurpation of central power within the Imperial Court, and fiercely resisted by burning Buddhist statues and Buddhist temples and cutting down towers, pushing through with their claim to abolish Buddhism. Umako did not rebel and endured the use of force. It was clear that Emperor Bidatsu was behind Moriya and Katsumi.
I believe that one aspect of the Bidatsu dynasty was that Emperor Bidatsu and Soga no Umako maintained their relationship of being the emperor and senior vassal while repeatedly fighting behind the scenes for political leadership.
These two scabbards come to an end in an unexpected way.
In the 14th year of Bidatsu (AD 585), there was a large outbreak of smallpox, and in the second month of spring (February 24 AD 585), Umako became ill. Around March or April, Emperor Bidatsu and Mononobe no Moriya contracted the disease, so it is possible that Umako brought the disease into the Imperial Court.
In the midst of this epidemic, Emperor Bidatsu finally passed away in the August of the 14 year of Bidatsu (August 15, 585). Umako somehow recovered and survived. At this time, Emperor Bidatsu was 47 years old and Umako was about 35 years old.
Umako was blessed as a politician in terms of political environment and rhetoric, but he was also a lucky man. Umako would wield power at the core of the Imperial Court for more than 40 years, until the 34th year of Suiko (AD 626).
Real political power fell into Umako's hands.
(The photo shows a bus stop in Wada-cho, Kashihara City. It is said that Moriya and Katsumi burned the Buddha statues and Buddhist temples in this area. Mononobe no Moriya is said to have visited the site and conducted while sitting on the folding stool.)
Kashihara Wada Bus Stop: 15 minutes walk west from Kashihara Jingumae Station. Taken on November 30, 2020
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