Founded in the late VI century, the temple Shitennoji, was completely or partially destroyed seven times: three times burned, twice it was struck by lightning, one was in the path of the Typhoon and during the Second world war, was bombed. In 60-ies of the last century; it was rebuilt in reinforced concrete, and as such it remains to the present time.

The temple Shitennoji is located in the Tennoji area. It was founded in 593 year the Prince Regent Shotoku, a former ardent supporter of Buddhism and Chinese culture. The spread of Buddhism in Japan in the sixth century was accompanied including armed clashes with the followers of Shinto. The troops of Prince Shotoku defeated an army of Shinto, the Prince saw in the victory of the patronage of the Shitenno (four Heavenly Emperors, Buddhist gods, and ordered to build in their honor, the temple, inviting Korean carpenters from the Kingdom Pacca.

In the Central part of the temple grounds were walled Playground Garan, on which were erected five-tiered pagoda, pavilions Kondo (main hall), Kodo (lecture hall). Behind the wall were four small temples, symbolizing the four areas in which the Prince had intended to achieve outstanding success for Japan. One of these temples symbolized religion and education, the second wealth, the third is charity, and the fourth medicine. In these temples need can expect to receive financial and medical assistance.

The first time the Church burned down from a lightning strike in 836 year, later in the year 960 the fire occurred, which destroyed almost all the buildings of the temple complex. At the end of XVI – early XVII centuries the temple was burned twice: first during the war of ODA Nobunaga with the rebellious monks of the monastery of the Ishiyama Hongan-JI temple in 1576, the second in 1614, during the confrontation between Ieyasu Tokugawa and supporters of Toyotomi Higaeri. Each time the temple was rebuilt after the reconstruction carried out by Ieyasu Tokugawa, Shitennoji remained unharmed almost two centuries, and then a series of misfortunes and destruction continued. In 1801, the temple was again struck by lightning. In the first half of the twentieth century, the Typhoon in 1934 destroyed the five-tiered pagoda and the middle gate, which was restored before the Second World war. In 1945 Shitennoji was again destroyed during the bombing of the U.S. air force.

In the Heian period in the temple were trained famous preachers, later founders of their own schools of Buddhism – such as the Website, Kukai, Shinran and Ippen. The temple Shitennoji until the mid XX century belonged to the Tendai school, but in 1946, around the temple there was a new doctrine – school Vasya.

On the temple grounds is the garden of Gokurakuji, which was established in accordance with the concept of a Pure Land of the Buddha Amida. The garden is also a Treasury which exhibits and rare artifacts of religious significance.