私の感想～My Impression – ページ 31 – 日本200名城バイリンガル (Japan's top 200 castles and ruins)

72.Yoshida-Koriyama Castle Part3

Motonari might have been a great lord as well as a prophet.

Features

Main Portion of Castle

The Third and Second Enclosures had each alternative entrance called Koguchi to avoid enemies from entering easily. You can still see their traces today. The Third Enclosure is the largest one in the castle.

The map around the main portion of the castle

The entrance ruins of the Third Enclosure

Looking down the stone walls of the Third Enclosure

The Second Enclosure also had stone walls, but it was said that their stones were partially taken to use for Motonari’s grave during the Meiji Era as well.

The Main Enclosure is highest in the castle. It was thought that it had Motonari’s residence and a lookout tower. Unfortunately, the view from there today is not clear because it is covered by trees.

Going to Main Castle though Ozaki-maru Enclosure

The tour route will eventually lead you to Ozaki-maru Enclosure where Motonari’s son, Takamoto lived by climbing down along another ridge. This enclosure is still separated by an artificial ditch from the others. Others were said to have been divided by each other in the same way. A viewing spot is nearby to see the area around the mountain.

The map around the castle

Climbing down towards the edge of another ridge

The remaining ditch beside Ozaki-maru Enclosure

The viewing spot which could have been an enclosure

Finally, you will be at the intersection to the starting point or the Main Castle where Motonari and Takamoto originally lived in. I recommend visiting the Main Castle if you have time. This is the only route to it, so you will have to continue to climb down on the steep ridge to the edge of it. You will also see several ditches to avoid enemies from attacking from the back. You will eventually arrive at the Main Castle which is much lower and smaller than so many other enclosures on the top. Its name originates from the original main portion of the castle. You will realize what the Mori Clan was developing with this castle. To return to the starting point, you will need to climb up the same steep ridge. You will also realize why Takamoto wanted to move near the top from there.

Looking down the edge of the ditch from the enclosure

My Impression

Perhaps I shouldn’t say this, but I honestly felt that it was incredible that such a great warlord came from such a local location when visiting the Yoshida town of Aki-Takada City which owns the ruins of Yoshida-Koriyama Castle. That probably proves why Motonari Mori was an outstanding leader. In addition, Motonari also managed to persuade his children not to get more territory than him. However, his grandchild, Terumoto wanted to be the ruler of Japan in the Battle of Sekigahara but failed. That’s why he had to leave Aki Province where he was originally from. Motonari might have also been a great prophet.

The remaining earthen walls of the Warehouses Ruins

How to get There

I recommend using a car when you visit the castle ruins because there are only a few trains and buses available. It is about a 20-minute drive away from Takada IC on the Chugoku Expressway. There is a parking lots at the foot of the mountain.

That’s all. Thank you.
Back to “Yoshida-Koriyama Castle Part1”
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72.吉田郡山城　その３

元就は、偉大な戦国大名であり、預言者であったかもしれません。

特徴、見どころ

城の中心部分

三の丸と二の丸の入口は虎口と呼ばれる食い違いの構造となっていて、敵が簡単に侵入できないようになっていました。今日ではその痕跡を目にすることができます。三の丸は城では最大の曲輪です。

城中心部分の地図

二の丸にも石垣が残っていますが、その一部は明治時代に元就の墓所を整備するために持ち出されたと言われています。

本丸は城の最高地点にあります。そこには元就の居館や物見櫓があったと言われています。残念ながら、見晴らしは木々に覆われているためあまりよくありません。

尾崎丸を通って本城へ

城址巡りのルートは峰沿いに下っていき、やがて尾崎丸に至ります。ここは、元就の息子、隆元が住んでいた場所です。この曲輪は今でも、となりの曲輪と人工的な堀切で隔てられているのがわかります。他の曲輪も同様の方法で分けられていたと言われています。山の周辺の地域を見渡すための展望スポットが近くにあります。

城周辺の地図

ルートの最後の方で、スタート地点に戻るか、元就と隆元がもともと住んでいた本城の方に行くかの分かれ道があります。もしお時間があるようでしたら、本城の方に行ってみてください。本城に行くにはこの道しかなく、峰上の急坂を端の方にある本城に向かって下っていきます。その途中では、背後からの敵の攻撃を防ぐための堀切がいくつか見られるでしょう。そうするうちに本城に着きますが、ここは山頂部で見られた曲輪群より、ずっと低い位置にあり、またずっと規模も小さいことがわかると思います。この「本城」という名前は、もともとあった城の主要部分だったことを表しています。この城は、毛利氏とともに発展していったのです。スタート地点に戻るためには、先ほど来た峰上のルートを登って戻っていくしかありません。こうして登り下りしてみると、なぜ隆元が山頂の方に移住したいと思ったのかわかった気がします。

私の感想

吉田郡山城跡がある安芸高田市の吉田町を訪れてみて、失礼ながら正直言って、なぜこのような田舎の町から元就のような偉大な戦国大名が出現したのだろうと思ってしまいました。それはかえって、毛利元就がそれだけ傑出したリーダーだったことを示していると思うのです。また、元就は彼の息子たちにこれ以上の領土獲得を望むなと説いていました。ところが、孫の輝元は関ヶ原の戦いにおいて天下人になろうとして失敗しました。そのために輝元は出身地である安芸国を追われることになってしまったのです。元就は、偉大な預言者でもあったのかもしれません。

ここに行くには

この城跡に行くには車を使われることをお勧めします。周辺の電車やバスの本数が少ないからです。中国自動車道の高田ICから約２０分のところです。城跡の山麓に駐車場があります。

リンク、参考情報

・毛利元就　郡山城入城５００年記念事業、安芸高田市三矢の訓連携協議会
・「ガイドブック郡山城　毛利氏城跡・日本百名城」郡山城史跡ガイド協会
・「毛利元就　知将の戦略・戦術／小和田哲男著」知的生きかた文庫
・YouTube 毛利家歴史チャンネル

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

74.Iwakuni Castle Part3

The attractions of the Northern Enclosure few people visit

Features

Northern Enclosure remains destroyed

The real highlight of the original Iwakuni Castle is, in fact, the Northern Enclosure which few people visit. You can exit the Main Enclosure through the path beside the stone wall base. Then, you can pass the route across the large dry moat between the Main and Northern Enclosures. This was built by the founder, Hiroie Kikkawa to protect the Main Enclosure from sudden attacks of enemies.

The map around the mountain part

The dry moat between the Main and Northern Enclosures

The inside of the Northern Enclosure is a square now, but if you climb down from it and walk around outside of it carefully, you may be surprised to see what you find. Lots of large stones collapsed and lie around the western side. On the other hand, its stone walls are still intact around the eastern side. This is because of how the Kikkawa Clan destroyed the mountain part of the castle. The clan at first destroy only the buildings of it, however, after the Shimabara Rebellion in 1638, the shogunate ordered the lords in western Japan to destroy unused castles completely. The clan had to do it by destroying part of the stone walls, but left the rest of them probably to protect the people living in that area.

Around the western side of the Northern Enclosure

Around the eastern side of the Northern Enclosure

Foot Area

The former residence at the foot is still surrounded by the Inner Moat, which is now the Kikko Park. Kikko Shine was moved into the park. The main buildings of the shrine are an Important Cultural Property. A Ema-do building (where votive picture tablets are hung) called Kinunkaku stands like a turret at a corner, which was built when the park was established.

The map around the foot area

Some original warriors’ houses remain around the area where you can enjoy walking, seeing, and relaxing.

The remaining Mekata Clan’s residence as an Important Cultural Property

My Impression

I think that Hiroie Kikkawa was a TrulyValiant who could make a decision of not fighting. Many of the Mori Clan at that time and some history fans today have complained that the clan could be a ruler if Hiroie fought in the Sekigahara Battle like I used to imagine. However, it must have been a gamble. The Mori Clan actually survives until today thanks to Hiroie’s decision. He was a far-sighted excellent leader. Iwakuni Castle also survives by practically responding to demands of society like Hiroie’s way of life. That’s why the castle site still prospers with Kintaikyo Bridge.

It may be better to use the wide path in the western part of the castle when you return

The stone walls in the western part seemed to be all demolished

The eastern part still has great stone walls like ones below the Main Enclosure in the photo above

How to get There

If you want to visit there by car, it is about 20 minutes from Iwakuni IC on the Sanyo Expressway. There are several parking lots around.
By public transportation, you can take a bus bound for Kintaikyo from Iwakuni Station or Shin-Iwakuni Station and get off at the Kintaikyo bus center.
From Tokyo or Osaka to Iwakuni Station: Take the Sanyo Shinkansen super express and transfer to the Sanyo Line at Hiroshima Station.
From Tokyo or Osaka to Shin-Iwakuni Station: Take the Sanyo Shinkansen super express.

Links and References

・Kintaikyo-Bridge, Iwakuni City Homepage

That’s all. Thank you.
Back to “Iwakuni Castle Part1”
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