Takamatsu Castle (Bitchū): Difference between revisions
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| caption=Honmaru Base and Moat of Takamatsu Castle |
| caption=Honmaru Base and Moat of Takamatsu Castle |
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| type=[[Japanese castle|Azuchi-Momoyama castle]] |
| type=[[Japanese castle|Azuchi-Momoyama castle]] |
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| map_type = Japan Okayama Prefecture#Japan |
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| map_alt = Location in Japan |
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| map_relief = 1 |
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| map_caption = Takamatsu Castle |
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| map_size = 270px |
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| height= |
| height= |
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| ownership= |
| ownership= |
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| controlledby=[[Ishikawa clan]] (until 1575), [[Mōri clan]] (1575–1582), [[Toyotomi Hideyoshi]] (1582–1598), [[Hanabusa clan]] (c. 1598 – mid-17th century) |
| controlledby=[[Ishikawa clan]] (until 1575), [[Mōri clan]] (1575–1582), [[Toyotomi Hideyoshi]] (1582–1598), [[Hanabusa clan]] (c. 1598 – mid-17th century) |
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| condition=ruins |
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| condition=Archaeological site and designated national historical site; signs of Hideyoshi's siege equipment and dikes remain, but remnants of the castle do not. |
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| built=late 16th century |
| built=late 16th century |
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| builder=[[Mimura clan]] |
| builder=[[Mimura clan]] |
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| battles=[[Siege of Takamatsu]] (1582) |
| battles=[[Siege of Takamatsu]] (1582) |
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| events= |
| events= |
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| past_commanders=[[Shimizu Muneharu]] (c. 1575–1582) |
| past_commanders=[[Shimizu Muneharu]] (c. 1575–1582)<br>[[Hanabusa Masanari]] |
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| garrison= |
| garrison= |
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| occupants= |
| occupants= |
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|footnotes = {{box|background=white|align=center|wide=yes|border size=3px|border color=brown|text align=center|[[Monuments of Japan|National Historic Site of Japan]]}} |
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}} |
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{{nihongo|'''Takamatsu Castle'''|高松城|Takamatsu-jō}} of [[Bitchū Province]] was a [[Japanese castle]] in what is today the |
{{nihongo|'''Takamatsu Castle'''|高松城|Takamatsu-jō}} of [[Bitchū Province]] was a [[Sengoku period]] [[Japanese castle]] located in what is today the Kayo neighborhood of [[Kita-ku, Okayama]] in [[Okayama Prefecture]].<ref>{{cite web|URL=https://kotobank.jp/word/%E5%82%99%E4%B8%AD%E9%AB%98%E6%9D%BE%E5%9F%8E-180261|title= |
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備中高松城（読み）びっちゅうたかまつじょう百科事典マイペディア「備中高松城」の解説|publisher=kotobank|access-date=15 October 2021}}</ref> |
備中高松城（読み）びっちゅうたかまつじょう百科事典マイペディア「備中高松城」の解説|publisher=kotobank|access-date=15 October 2021}}</ref> The style of the castle was a ''hirajō'' (flatland castle) with no stone walls, but only earthen walls. The castle was surrounded by marshes, which formed a natural moat. Its ruins have been protected by the central government as a [[Historic Sites of Japan|National Historic Site]] since 1902.<ref name= "Bunka">{{cite web|url=https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/401/2260|title=高松城跡 附 水攻築提跡 |work=Cultural Heritage Online|publisher=Agency for Cultural Affairs|language=Japanese|accessdate=25 December 2016}}</ref> |
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==History== |
==History== |
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It is not clear when a castle was built at this location, which is located between central Okayama city and the Takahashi River. Historically this area had been a granary area and the main base of ancient [[Kingdom of Kibi]]. The route of the [[San'yōdō]] highway which connected [[Kyoto]] with [[Shimonoseki]] passed through natural levee just at south of the castle. During the early Sengoku period, the Mimura clan ruled the entire Bitchu region from Bitchu-Matsuyama Castle, and the Mimura ordered their vassals, the Ishikawa clan, to build a fortification at this site. The Ishikawa and Mimura were destroyed by the [[Mōri clan]] in 1575, and the castle was awarded to [[Shimizu Muneharu]], a senior vassal of the Ishikawa who had defected to the Mōri. In 1582, [[Toyotomi Hideyoshi|Hashiba Hideyoshi]] was ordered to conquer western Japan by [[Oda Nobunaga]] and laid [[Siege of Takamatsu|siege to Takamatsu Castle]]. As Takamatsu Castle was surrounded by marshes, it was considered impregnable to a normal assault and was expected to be able to withstand a prolonged siege. However, Hideyoshi adopted an innovative approach at the suggestion of his strategist [[Kuroda Kanbei]]. By paying extravagant amounts of money for round-the-clock efforts, he completed a three-kilometer long dike, damming the outlets to the marshes within 11 days. Aided by the arrival of the [[East Asian rainy season|rainy season]], the castle was soon flooded. Shimizu Muneharu was forced to surrender, committing [[seppuku]] in exchange for the lives of his troops. |
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The castle, of the ''hirajō'' (plains castle) type, was built very close to sea level, on marshy ground that formed something of a natural [[moat]]. This distinguishes it from the more stereotypical image of a ''yamashiro'' (mountain castle), built atop a hill. |
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| ⚫ | Following this siege, and the rise of Toyotomi Hideyoshi to power after the assassination of Oda Nobunaga, the castle became part of the territory of [[Ukita Hideie]], who assigned it to his ''[[karō]]'', [[Hanabusa Masashige]]. Following the [[Battle of Sekigahara]] in 1600, the Ukita clan sided with the losing Western army; however, the [[Hanabusa clan]] fought alongside the Eastern Army of [[Tokugawa Ieyasu]], and were awarded ''[[hatamoto]]'' status as direct retainers of the [[Tokugawa shogunate]]. Some years later the Hanabusa relocated from Takamatsu to Abe, in what is today [[Sōja]] city and the castle was abandoned. |
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It was originally built by the [[Mimura family]] and controlled by their vassals, the [[Ishikawa family]]. Both families were eliminated as significant powers by the [[Mōri clan]], who seized Takamatsu, and all of Bitchu province, in 1575. The Mōri entrusted the castle to their vassal [[Shimizu Muneharu]]. |
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| ⚫ | Today, only a portion of the dam built by Hideyoshi and a small part of the castle's masonry has survived, and almost no trace of the castle remains. The ruins include the alleged burial mounds for Shimizu Muneharu's head, and for his body. The site has been maintained as the {{nihongo|'''Takamatsu Castle Siege Historic Site Park'''|高松城水攻め史跡公園|Takamatsu-jō mizuzeme shiseki kōen}}, with markers, such as wooden posts, show the area where the castle, dikes, and siege equipment were once located and where Shimizu Muneharu committed suicide. |
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Shimizu was closely related to the Ishikawa family. It's possible that he was already lord of Takamatsu shortly before the Mōri attacked, turning to their side upon the defeat of the Ishikawa, to maintain his prestige and power, along with the castle. |
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| ⚫ | On April 6, 2017 Bitchu Takamatsu Castle was designated by the Japanese Castle Foundation as Okayama Prefecture's only entry on the [[Continued Top 100 Japanese Castles]] (続日本100名城). The list adds to the original Top 100 list totaling 200 castles. Bitchu Takamatsu Castle is listed as #171.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://jokaku.jp/japan-top-100-castles/best-100-castles-of-japan-2nd-selection/ |title=続日本100名城 |publisher=日本城郭協会|language=Japanese|accessdate=25 July 2019}}</ref> The castle ruins are a ten minutes walk from [[JR West]] [[Kibi Line]] [[Bitchu-Takamatsu Station]]. |
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In 1582, the castle was [[Siege of Takamatsu|besieged]] by [[Toyotomi Hideyoshi]]. After a month or two of siege, Hideyoshi built dikes to divert a nearby river, at the suggestion of his strategist [[Kuroda Kanbei]], and flooded the castle, leading to a quick surrender on the part of Shimizu. The ease with which this was accomplished was brought about in great part due to the marshy condition of the area and the timing of the siege: the rainy season (''[[East Asian rainy season|tsuyu]]'') exacerbated the flooding to such an extent that it is easy to imagine the fortress truly being flooded and surrender becoming inevitable. |
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| ⚫ | Following this siege, and the rise |
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==See also== |
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| ⚫ | Today, |
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*[[List of Historic Sites of Japan (Okayama)]] |
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== Literature == |
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| ⚫ | On April 6, 2017 Bitchu Takamatsu Castle |
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*{{cite book |title=An Encyclopedia of Japanese Castles | last=De Lange |first=William |year=2021 |pages=600 pages|publisher=Toyo Press |location=Groningen |isbn=978-9492722300}} |
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== References == |
== References == |
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{{Reflist}} |
{{Reflist}} |
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==External links== |
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* ''Much of the content here is derived from that on the corresponding article on the Japanese Wikipedia.'' |
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*[https://www.pref.okayama.jp/site/kodai/628728.html Okayama Ancient Kibi Cultural Properties Center] |
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{{Continued Top 100 Japanese Castles}} |
{{Continued Top 100 Japanese Castles}} |
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[[Category:Former castles in Japan|Takamatsu castle (Bitchu)]] |
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[[Category:Castles in Okayama Prefecture]] |
[[Category:Castles in Okayama Prefecture]] |
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[[Category:Historic Sites of Japan]] |
[[Category:Historic Sites of Japan]] |
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[[Category:Mōri clan]] |
[[Category:Mōri clan]] |
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[[Category:Ruined castles in Japan]] |
[[Category:Ruined castles in Japan]] |
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[[Category:Buildings and structures in Okayama]] |
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[[Category:Bitchū Province]] |
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Latest revision as of 19:34, 13 May 2024
| Takamatsu Castle | |
|---|---|
高松城 | |
| Okayama, Okayama Prefecture, Japan | |
 Honmaru Base and Moat of Takamatsu Castle | |
  Takamatsu Castle  Takamatsu Castle | |
| Coordinates | 34°41′34.8″N 133°49′19.36″E / 34.693000°N 133.8220444°E |
| Type | Azuchi-Momoyama castle |
| Site information | |
| Controlled by | Ishikawa clan (until 1575), Mōri clan (1575–1582), Toyotomi Hideyoshi (1582–1598), Hanabusa clan (c. 1598 – mid-17th century) |
| Condition | ruins |
| Site history | |
| Built | late 16th century |
| Built by | Mimura clan |
| In use | late 16th to mid-17th centuries |
| Materials | Wood, stone, plaster |
| Battles/wars | Siege of Takamatsu (1582) |
| Garrison information | |
| Past commanders | Shimizu Muneharu (c. 1575–1582) Hanabusa Masanari |
Takamatsu Castle (高松城, Takamatsu-jō) of Bitchū Province was a Sengoku period Japanese castle located in what is today the Kayo neighborhood of Kita-ku, Okayama in Okayama Prefecture.[1] The style of the castle was a hirajō (flatland castle) with no stone walls, but only earthen walls. The castle was surrounded by marshes, which formed a natural moat. Its ruins have been protected by the central government as a National Historic Site since 1902.[2]
History
[edit]It is not clear when a castle was built at this location, which is located between central Okayama city and the Takahashi River. Historically this area had been a granary area and the main base of ancient Kingdom of Kibi. The route of the San'yōdō highway which connected Kyoto with Shimonoseki passed through natural levee just at south of the castle. During the early Sengoku period, the Mimura clan ruled the entire Bitchu region from Bitchu-Matsuyama Castle, and the Mimura ordered their vassals, the Ishikawa clan, to build a fortification at this site. The Ishikawa and Mimura were destroyed by the Mōri clan in 1575, and the castle was awarded to Shimizu Muneharu, a senior vassal of the Ishikawa who had defected to the Mōri. In 1582, Hashiba Hideyoshi was ordered to conquer western Japan by Oda Nobunaga and laid siege to Takamatsu Castle. As Takamatsu Castle was surrounded by marshes, it was considered impregnable to a normal assault and was expected to be able to withstand a prolonged siege. However, Hideyoshi adopted an innovative approach at the suggestion of his strategist Kuroda Kanbei. By paying extravagant amounts of money for round-the-clock efforts, he completed a three-kilometer long dike, damming the outlets to the marshes within 11 days. Aided by the arrival of the rainy season, the castle was soon flooded. Shimizu Muneharu was forced to surrender, committing seppuku in exchange for the lives of his troops.
Following this siege, and the rise of Toyotomi Hideyoshi to power after the assassination of Oda Nobunaga, the castle became part of the territory of Ukita Hideie, who assigned it to his karō, Hanabusa Masashige. Following the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600, the Ukita clan sided with the losing Western army; however, the Hanabusa clan fought alongside the Eastern Army of Tokugawa Ieyasu, and were awarded hatamoto status as direct retainers of the Tokugawa shogunate. Some years later the Hanabusa relocated from Takamatsu to Abe, in what is today Sōja city and the castle was abandoned.
Today, only a portion of the dam built by Hideyoshi and a small part of the castle's masonry has survived, and almost no trace of the castle remains. The ruins include the alleged burial mounds for Shimizu Muneharu's head, and for his body. The site has been maintained as the Takamatsu Castle Siege Historic Site Park (高松城水攻め史跡公園, Takamatsu-jō mizuzeme shiseki kōen), with markers, such as wooden posts, show the area where the castle, dikes, and siege equipment were once located and where Shimizu Muneharu committed suicide.
On April 6, 2017 Bitchu Takamatsu Castle was designated by the Japanese Castle Foundation as Okayama Prefecture's only entry on the Continued Top 100 Japanese Castles (続日本100名城). The list adds to the original Top 100 list totaling 200 castles. Bitchu Takamatsu Castle is listed as #171.[3] The castle ruins are a ten minutes walk from JR West Kibi Line Bitchu-Takamatsu Station.
In popular culture
[edit]Takamatsu Castle was featured in the video game Soulcalibur by Namco, used as the fighting stage for the character Heishiro Mitsurugi. The game contains two versions of the stage, one set during the siege and the other set in the winter following it.
See also
[edit]Literature
[edit]- De Lange, William (2021). An Encyclopedia of Japanese Castles. Groningen: Toyo Press. pp. 600 pages. ISBN 978-9492722300.
- Sansom, George (1961). A History of Japan: 1334–1615. Stanford, California: Stanford University Press
- Turnbull, Stephen (1998). The Samurai Sourcebook. London: Cassell & Co.
References
[edit]- ^ "備中高松城（読み）びっちゅうたかまつじょう百科事典マイペディア「備中高松城」の解説". kotobank. Retrieved 15 October 2021.
- ^ "高松城跡 附 水攻築提跡". Cultural Heritage Online (in Japanese). Agency for Cultural Affairs. Retrieved 25 December 2016.
- ^ "続日本100名城" (in Japanese). 日本城郭協会. Retrieved 25 July 2019.
External links
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