Shitennoji Temple is one of the oldest temple in Japan.

It was said to have been built in 593 ( 1st of Suiko period ), at the same period of "Horyuji Temple ".They say Prince Shotoku build Shitennoji Temple after taking an oath of constructing a temple by shifting a smaller temple built in Tamatsukuri in 587, and changed it into a bigger temple in 593, at the site where it is now.

In Osaka we call everything by adding " -san " with familiarity, and it is called " Tennoji-san".

Horyuji Temple was built in 607 ( 15th of Suiko period ) to carry out the intention of Prince Shotoku and former Emperor Yomei, which is famous as the oldest wooden building in the world, and was registered with the world heritage in 1993.

"Shitennoji Temple " was built by Prince Shotoku to keep his oath during his participation in the war between 2 grand baronial families : Mononobe ( anti-buddhism ) and Soga ( pro-buddhism ). After praying very hard he won this bitter fight, and return for Buddha's gratitude he determinded to build a temple of Shitenno (4 Gods; Masunaga (south), Tamon( Bishamon-ten, north), Jokoku(east) and HiromeWest) ).

At that time " Naniwa Harbor " was an important point for trade and transport with the Asian continent, and they decided to build a large cathedral on the plateau facing the sea on the west side to enhance the national prestige.
This place was probably chosen to observe the setting sun on the sea, which couldn't be done at Nara.
The thought of 'the Pure Land in the West ' was not brought in yet, but by looking at the sun set on the west sea they developed into the religious faith of ' solemn meditation ' for the sun.

On January 14th every year, a festival is held at Shitennoji Temple called " Shitennoji Temple Doya-Doya ". On this day at 3 p.m., you can watch a lively and grand sight of dozens of middle- and high-school students with red loin clothes and red headbands on one side and those with white ones on the other, which is held for the realization of the prayer on the revision of Rokuji-do Temple (in Shitnniji Temple). At this festival the young men complete against each other to grasp an amulet with the seal of " Gooh-hou-in " called " Gooh-Zue ( Gooh Stick ) " which is clipped on to a a wooden stick.