119.杉山城 その3

縄張り研究者たちは杉山城に注目しています。

特徴、見どころ

城の中心、本郭

本郭は、この城ではもっとも大きく、かつ高い位置にある曲輪です。ここには南北と東側の三つの入口(虎口)があります。南側でシミュレートしてみたように、北側と東側の虎口もまた、曲輪群と空堀により固く守られていました。この城の城主は、全ての方角の状況を把握し、的確な判断を下せたことでしょう。

本郭
本郭と、北側及び東側の曲輪群の位置
本郭の北虎口
本郭の東虎口
本郭から見た東側の曲輪群

更には、この城にはバイパスルートも設定されていますが、その内のいくつかは袋小路になっています。この城の縄張りを見ると、迷路のようだと思われるかもしれません。城を攻める敵にとってはその通りでしょう。しかし、守る方にとっては非常によく設計された要塞なのです。

袋小路と思われる場所の位置
南二の郭の袋小路
井戸郭の先の袋小路

その後

杉山城跡は、1980年代頃までは一般には知られていませんでした。縄張り研究者たちのみがこの城に関心を持っていたのです。彼らは1987年以来、城の縄張り図を掲載した事典や雑誌を刊行してきました(「中世城郭研究」など)。これらの書籍では、杉山城の縄張り図が最も多く掲載されているものの一つでした。これにより、この城は少しずつ知れ渡ってきたのです。2002年から2007年に発掘が行われた後、この城跡は2008年に「比企城館跡群」の一つとして国の史跡に指定されました。

この現地案内図も立派な縄張り図です

私の感想

もし杉山城がもっと大きくて、櫓、門、石垣などを備えていたとしたら、姫路城のような、ずっと後に作られた見事な城のように見えるのではないでしょうか。杉山城は、先進的な城の設計を先取りしていたことになります。しかし個人的には、この城の歴史的価値よりも、それを築いた努力に敬意を表します。この城の知られざる築城者は、少ない予算、資材、作業者しか確保できなかったに違いありません。この城の目的は限られていたからです。その築城者は、困難な状況下でもどうやって優れた仕事ができるか懸命に考えたことでしょう。もし十分な予算があれば、すごい城を作るのは容易だったかもしれません。杉山城は、現代の私たちにとっても、限られた資源でどうやっていい仕事をするのかを示すよい教材だと思うのです。

姫路城
杉山城跡

ここに行くには

ここに行くには、車を使われることをお勧めします。
関越自動車道の嵐山小川ICから約15分の所です。
城跡に駐車場があります。
公共交通機関を使う場合は、東武東上線の武蔵嵐山駅からせせらぎセンター行きのときがわ町路線バスに乗り、田黒バス停で降りてください。
バス停から歩いて約20分かかります。

城跡の駐車場

リンク、参考情報

国指定史跡 杉山城跡公式ホームページ
・「杉山城の時代/西股総生著」角川選書
・「歴史群像61号、戦国の堅城 武蔵杉山城」学研

これで終わります。ありがとうございました。
「杉山城その1」に戻ります。
「杉山城その2」に戻ります。

125.Kozukue Castle Part3

The ruins have become popular since the construction of the road.

Features

Parted Barbican

In fact, the ruins were partly destroyed and divided by the Daisan-Keihin Road. You can look at one of the barbicans over the road from the entrance of the Western Enclosure. You will have to go through the tunnel under the road to get there. The top of it is one of Fujizuka Mounds, called Fuji-sengen, made for worshiping Mt. Fuji since the Edo Period. It might had been a turret base before that. When you walk out of the ruins, you will get back to the city area right away.

MarkerMarkerMarkerMarkerMarkerMarker
Barbican
Leaflet, © OpenStreetMap contributors
The map around the castle

The Daisan-Keihin Road parting the ruins
Climbing the stairways after the tunnel
The Fujizuka Mounds on the barbican
you will soon get back to the city area

Later History

After Kozukue Castle was abandoned, the local people have called the ruins Shiroyama or the Castle Mountain. The studies about the castle started as early as in the Edo Period. However, the ruins ironically became popular as a historic site since they were partly destroyed by the construction of the Daisan-keihin Road in 1963. Through that, Yokohama City launched the Kozukue Castle Ruins Forest to preserve them in 1977. People are now interested in what the castle was like in the past.

The ruins of Kozukue Castle and Daisan-Keihin Road

My Impression

I think Kozukue Castle is a good example of how to protect a castle with few defenders. I guess if a battle happened at Kozukue Castle when Hideyoshi invaded, this castle could survive at least over one night unlike Yamanaka Castle and Hachioji Castle.

The large dry moat in front of the Western Enclosure

How to get There

I recommend using a train when you visit the ruins because the park has no parking lot.
It takes about 15 minutes on foot from JR Kozukue Station on the Yokohama Line.

Kozukue Station
The castle ruins seen from the platform of Kozukue Station

The Yokohama-Kamiasao Road (Kanagawa Prefectural Road 12) goes near the station, so turn right at the Kozukue Station Intersection and go along the street. Then, turn right at the Kozukuetsuji Intersection.

Turn right at the Kozukuetsuji Intersection

Go along the street again, cross the railway and turn left at the first intersection.

Cross the railway
Turn left right away

Go along the street in the residential area, and when you find the signpost for the ruins on the utility pole on the right, turn right. You will eventually arrive at the entrance of the ruins.

Turn right when you find the signpost on the utility pole (inside the red circle)
The entrance of the ruins

That’s all. Thank you.
Back to “Kozukue Castle Part1”
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84.Kochi Castle Part3

Why would Kochi Castle maintain so many original buildings?

Features

Interior of Main Tower

The first floor of the tower has some equipment for defense, such as machicolations and loopholes for guns. In addition, there are also iron spikes outside the floor to prevent enemies from climbing the tower, which is the only remaining example in Japan.

From the Main Hall to the Main Tower
The first floor of the Main Tower
One of the machicolations
One of the loopholes for guns
The iron spikes outside the first floor

On the second floor, you can see lot of exhibitions about the castle like a miniature model.

The second floor of the Main Tower

The third floor is basically the attic of the hip-and-gable roof, but it has windows and space inside the roof for defenders who could counter attackers.

The third floor of the Main Tower

On the fourth floor, you can see one of the bronze grampuses on the roof close by through the window.

The forth floor of the Main Tower
The bronze grampuses seen through the window

The fifth floor is a very dark attic, by contrast, the top floor is open and bright where you can enjoy a great view of the castle and city to all directions. You can also walk around the veranda (another steel handrail was added for safety and preservation) like the lord of the castle used to do.

The fifth floor of the Main Tower
The top floor of the Main Tower
The veranda of the top floor
A view from the top floor

Later History

After the Meiji Restoration, Kochi Castle was turned into Kochi Park. All the buildings in the Second and Third Enclosures were demolished while the buildings in the Main Enclosure and a few others remain. All the 15 remaining castle buildings have been designated as Important Cultural Properties since 1950. The castle also became a National Historic Site in 1959.

The Main Tower of Kochi Castle

My Impression

When I visited Kochi Castle for the first time many years ago, I misunderstood the reason for the small Main Hall in the Main Enclosure. I thought it was because Japanese people in the past were shorter and smaller than now. In my recent second visit, I understood its real reason. I guess if the hall was very large, it might have been demolished like the hall in the Second Enclosure when the castle once became the park. If it is true, fortune is unpredictable and changeable.

The interior of the Main Hall of the Main Enclsosure

How to get There

If you want to visit there by car:
It is about 15 minutes away from Kochi IC on Kochi Expressway.
There are several parking lots around the castle such as the Kochi Park Parking Lot.
By public transportation, take the Tosaden Bus from JR Kochi Station and get off at the Kochijo-mae bus stop.
If you go there from Tokyo or Osaka, I recommend traveling by plane or using an express bus.

Links and References

Kochi Castle Pamphlets

That’s all. Thank you.
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