Ōmi Province, Historical province in central Honshu, Japan
Ōmi Province was an administrative unit on Honshū that spread around Lake Biwa and bordered eight neighboring provinces. Mountain passes and river valleys formed natural connections between this central area and the surrounding regions.
The area received its official administrative structure in 645 during the Taika Reforms and connected the eastern provinces with capital territories for centuries. From 1576 onwards, Oda Nobunaga moved his power center here when he built Azuchi Castle on the eastern shore of Lake Biwa.
The Enryaku-ji temple on Mount Hiei controlled numerous estate lands throughout the province, establishing strong religious influence in the region.
Three major barrier stations named Arachi, Fuwa, and Suzuka once regulated traffic on the main routes running through the area. Modern highways and rail lines along the lakeshore help trace the former connection routes today.
The Enryaku-ji temple on Mount Hiei owned extensive landholdings throughout the area and shaped the religious landscape for many centuries. Warrior monks from this temple complex intervened repeatedly in regional power struggles and influenced political decisions far beyond their religious duties.
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