立地と歴史～Location and History – ページ 35 – 日本200名城バイリンガル (Japan's top 200 castles and ruins)

75.Hagi Castle Part1

The home base of the Choshu Domain for 270 years

Location and History

Terumoto Mori builds Castle after Lost of Sekigahara

Hagi City is well known for its old town atmosphere. Tourists often plan to visit the set of both Hagi and Tsuwano Town nearby. The city is also popular among history fans as an area which provided many meritorious retainers during the Meiji Restoration, such as Shoin Yoshida, Shinsaku Takasugi, Takayoshi Kido, and Hirobumi Ito who became the first Prime Minister of Japan. That’s because Hagi had been the homebase of the Choshu Domain for 270 years since Hagi Castle was built in 1604.

The range of Hagi City and the location of the castle

Terumoto Mori, who built the castle, originally lived in Hiroshima Castle, governing most of the Chugoku Rerion with an earning of 1.2 million koku of rice. However, he got defeated by Ieyasu Tokugawa who would be the founder of the Tokugawa Shogunate in the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600. As a result, Ieyasu ordered Terumoto to reduce his territory to only two provinces of Nagato and Suo with 370 thousand koku, which are the current Yamaguchi Prefecture. Terumoto needed to look for his new homebase, which was chosen from the three options.

The portrait of Terumoto Mori, owned by the Mori Museum (licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons)

One was Kuwayama beside Seto Inland Sea, another was Hagi beside the Japan Sea, and the rest was Yamaguchi, the current prefectural capital, between the former ones. The result was Hagi. The reason for it was said that the shogunate designated it because they wanted to contain the Mori Clan in the innermost place so that the clan would not rebel against the shogunate. However, some historians recently speculate that Terumoto actively chose Hagi after the discussion with the shogunate as the place was the most defensive. It was also on a delta like his former homebase, Hiroshima Castle.

The range of the Choshu Domain and the location of the castle

The illustration of Hiroshima Castle in Aki Province, in the Edo Period, exhibited by the National Archives of Japan

Castle is located on Delta

The delta was sandwiched by Matsumoto and Hashimoto Rivers, facing the sea in the north. The northern part of it was a sand dune, moreover, its northernmost beside the sea was Shizuki Mountain with its height at 143m. The Main Enclosure of the castle was built in front of the mountain, surrounded by stone walls and the Inner Moat. It had the five level Main Tower and the Main Hall for the lord as the center. The Second Enclosure was the south of the Main Enclosure, surrounded by the Middle Moat. It had two defensive gates and its stone walls covered even the seashore. The Third Enclosure was the south of the former ones, used as the senior vassals’ houses. It was separated by the Outer Moat from the castle town. Shizuki Mountain was also used as a final castle. Terumoto built its own Main and Second Enclosures on the top. There were no buildings inside of them, however, it was surrounded by some turrets and stone walls. It was basically for emergency like a battle while usually used as a lookout as well.

Hagi Castle[/leaflet-marker]

The illustration of Hagi Castle and Town in 1652, from the signboard at the site

An old photo of Hagi Castle, from the signboard at the site

Heros come from Castle Town

As for the castle town, its area was first waterlogged because it was lower than the sand dune in the northern part of the delta. People in Hagi built canals to drain water, which make them possible to build the town. In fact, the heroes of the domain towards the Meiji Restoration came from this town. An interesting thing about them is that the higher class of them like Takasugi and Kido lived near the castle while the lower class like Shoin and Ito lived far from it. That was a common rule for warriors to live at that time.

The relief map around Hagi City, the former castle town is still lower

The birthplaces or ole houses of the four heros

The photo of Shinsaku Takasugi, published in 1933 or 1934 (licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons)

The photo of Takayoshi Kido when he was named Kogoro Katsura in 1869 (licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons)

The illustration of Shoin Yoshida, owned by Yamaguchi Prefectural Archives *(licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons)*

A photo of Hirobumi Ito, by 1909 (licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons)

Choshu Domain moves its homebase to Yamaguchi

It is said that another interesting ceremony was held in the Main Hall of the castle every new year. In the event, a senior vassal asked the lord “Should we fight the Shogunate this year?”, then he answered “It’s too early”. However, the situation changed and made it possible to defeat the Shogun. The domain was really against the shogunate at the end of the Edo Period. The situation surrounding the castle also changed. Being beside the sea had been defensive when the castle was built but became dangerous because it could be shot by guns from battle ships. In addition, they wanted to communicate with other domains very much, so they thought Yamaguchi would be the best for their homebase. As a result, they eventually left Hagi to Yamaguchi Castle without the shogunate’s permission. The castle was officially abandoned in 1874.

The remaining front gate of the Yamaguchi government office in the Yamaguchi Castle period

To be continued in “Hagi Castle Part2”

75.萩城　その１

２７０年間に渡る長州藩の本拠地

立地と歴史

毛利輝元が関ヶ原敗戦後に築城

萩市は、古い町並みでよく知られています。近くの津和野町とセットでよくツアーが設定されています。萩市はまた、明治維新で活躍した志士たちを多く輩出した地域たということも歴史ファンの間では有名です。吉田松陰、高杉晋作、木戸孝允、そして日本の初代総理大臣となった伊藤博文などです。それは萩が、1604年の萩城築城以来、２７０年もの間長州藩の本拠地であったからなのです。

萩市の範囲と城の位置

この城を築いた毛利輝元は、もともと広島城を居城として、中国地方のほとんど、石高１２０万石の領地を治める大大名でした。ところが、1600年の関ヶ原の戦いにおいて、徳川幕府の創始者となる徳川家康に敗れてしまいました。その結果、家康は輝元の領地を、現在の山口県にあたる長門国と周防国のわずか２ヶ国、３７万石に削減しました。輝元は新しい本拠地を定める必要となり、その候補地として３ケ所が挙げられました。

毛利輝元肖像画、毛利博物館蔵 (licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons)

一つ目は瀬戸内海に臨んだ桑山、二つ目は日本海に面した萩、三つ目は前者の中間に位置し、現在の県庁所在地である山口でした。結果的には萩となりました。その理由としては、幕府が毛利氏が二度と幕府に反抗しないよう、奥まった場所に毛利氏を閉じ込めたためと言われてきました。しかし、最近歴史家の中には輝元が幕府との議論の末に、最も防御力が高い場所として積極的に萩を選んだのではないかと推測している人もいます。萩は、輝元の以前の本拠地であった広島城のごとく、デルタ地帯の上にあったのです。

長州藩（現山口県）の範囲と城の位置

デルタ地帯に立地

萩のデルタ地帯は、松本川と橋本川に挟まれていて、北側が海に面していました。そして、デルタの北側は砂丘となっていました。その上、最北端の部分には標高１４３ｍの指月（しづき）山が海沿いにあったのです。城の本丸は山の手前にあり、石垣と内堀に囲まれていました。本丸には城の中心として、５層の天守と藩主の御殿がありました。二の丸は本丸の南側にあり、中堀に囲まれていました。二の丸には２つの虎口があり、その石垣は海外部分までにまで及んでいました。三の丸は前述の曲輪群の更に南側にあって、重臣たちの屋敷地として使われていました。城下町とは外堀によって隔てられていました。指月山もまた、詰めの城として使われていました。輝元は、ここにも頂上に独自の本丸と二の丸を築いたのです。その内部には最初から建物はありませんでしたが、周りを櫓群と石垣によって囲まれていました。基本的にこの場所は戦のような緊急事態に備えたものでしたが、平時には物見台として使われていました。

萩市周辺の地図、今でもデルタ地帯上にあります

城下町から明治維新の志士を輩出

城下町については、この区域はデルタ地帯の北側の砂丘部分より低い位置にあったので、最初は湿地帯でした。萩の人たちは排水のために運河を掘り、これによって城下町の建設が可能となりました。実際、明治維新で活躍したヒーローたちはこの城下町出身です。興味深い話としては、高杉や木戸のような階級が高い武士は城に近い方に住み、松陰や伊藤のような階級が低い武士は城からずっと離れた所に住んでいました。当時の武士たちにとってこれは一般的なことでした。

萩市周辺の起伏地図、今でも旧城下町は低い位置にあります

４人の志士の誕生地または旧宅位置

高杉晋作写真、1933年か1934年に出版 *(licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons)*

木戸孝允（桂小五郎時代）、1869年 *(licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons)*

吉田松陰肖像画、山口県文書館蔵 *(licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons)*

伊藤博文写真、1909年以前 (licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons)

本拠地が山口に移転

それからもう一つ興味深い儀式が、城の御殿で毎年行われていたと言われています。この儀式では、家老が藩主に対して「今年は幕府を討つべきか」と聞き、藩主が「いや、時期尚早だ」と答えたというのです。ところが、状況が変わり、将軍を倒すことが可能になる時代がやってきました。長州藩は、幕末に本当に幕府に反抗したのです。そして萩城をとりまく状況も変化しました。城が築かれた当時は、海沿いに城を築くことは防御に有効でした。しかし、軍艦から砲撃される可能性が出てきた幕末には、その立地は逆に危険となってしまったのです。また、長州藩は他藩との連携を欲していて、本拠地としては山口が適切と考えるようになりました。その結果、藩主と藩士たちは幕府の許可なしに、萩を離れ、山口城に移っていきました。萩城が正式に廃城となったのは1874年のことです。

「萩城その２」に続きます。

174.Ouchi Clan Hall/Konomine Castle Part1

The land of the Ouchi Clan’s prosperity

Location and History

Ouchi Clan builds Town and Hall at Yamaguchi

Ouchi Clan Hall was the homebase of the clan which had great power in western Japan in the Middle Ages. Konomine Castle was a mountain castle near the hall, which the clan built during their last years. The Ouchi Clan was originally an official family of the local government in Suo Province which is modern day part of Yamaguchi Prefecture. The clan got power by supporting the Ashikaga Shogunate in the 14th Century. As a result, the clan became the governors of several provinces in western Japan, including Suo and Nagato as their core, which was equal to Yamaguchi Prefecture. They had a complex relationship with the Shogun. For example, Yoshihiro Ouchi, the lord of the clan in the late 14th Century was given 6 provinces by the Shogun, Yoshimitsu Ashikaga. However, he was beaten and killed by the shogunate in the Oei Rebellion in 1399. That’s because the shogunate wanted to rely on, but sometimes feared the power of the Ouchi Clan.

The range of Suo Province and the location of the castle

The relief map around the castle

The portrait of Yoshimitsu Ashikaga, owned by Rokuonji Temple *(licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons)*

Ouchi Clan Hall was first built by Yoshihiro’s father, Hiroyo after he set his homebase at Yamaguchi in 1560. Provincial governors often stayed in Kyoto at that time, so they brought the ways of life and cultures from Kyoto when they went back to their homebase. The hall was said to be a typical example of it, being on a square enclosure which was nearly 200m on one side, surrounded by earthen walls and water or dry moats. Not only did it have the Main Hall, but it also had at least three different gardens like a pond garden and a dry landscape or Karesansui, emulating the shogun’s palace. The hall was eventually developed as the clan gained more power, and even a villa was built called Tukiyama Hall in the north. The Yamaguchi town around the hall was also developed and was often called Western Kyoto.

the shogun’s palace drawn on the Folding Screens of Scenes in and around Kyoto (Uesugi Version), owned by Yonezawa City Uesugi Museum (licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons)

Part of the Old Map of Yamaguchi, the yellow block in the lower center is Ouchi Clan Hall, and another one above is Tukiyama Hall, exhibited by Yamaguchi City Museum of History and Folklore

The Ouchi Clan continued to grow in power every generation even after they lost the battle in 1399. Norihiro Ouchi, the lord in the middle 15th Century, added Chikuzen Province which had the international Hakata port to his territory. He started to trade with Ming dynasty in China on behalf of the shogun via the port. The Tsukiyama Hall villa was first built as his retreat. Norihiro’s son, Masahiro fought in Kyoto during the Onin War (1467 to 1477) as the main force of the Western Squad for about 10 years. He also stated his clan was a decedent of a prince of Paekche, making their diplomacy and trading smoother and their authority much stronger.

A tea jar excavated at Ouchi Clan Hall Ruins, exhibited by Yamaguchi City Museum of History and Folklore

The whole view of Tukiyama Hall Ruins, exhibited by Yamaguchi City Museum of History and Folklore

Ouchi Clan helps Shogun as Great Warlord

During the Sengoku Period after the Onin War, the Ouchi Clan became one of the greatest warlords. The shogun’s power decreased however, and he could not survive without help from a great warlord. For example, the 10th Ashikaga Shogun Yoshitane was banished by the Hosokawa Clan from Kyoto. The banished shogun went to Yamaguchi in 1500, where Masahiro’s son, Yoshioki governed. Yoshioki invited Yoshitane to the Ouchi Clan Hall for dinner. It was called one of the greatest dinners in the Middle Ages, with 32 courses and over 110 dishes. Yoshitane spent 14 hours (from 2pm to 4am) enjoying the dinner that day. In 1508, Yoshioki went to Kyoto with Yoshitane with large troops so that Yoshitane came back to the shogun. The shogun rewarded Yoshioki by giving him Yamashiro Province including Kyoto and a Court noble rank.

The portrait of Yoshioki Ouchi, owned by Yamaguchi Museum (licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons)

The portrait of Yoshitane Ashikaga, owned by Tokyo National Museum (licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons)

Replicas of a dinner served at Ouchi Clan Hall, exhibited by Yamaguchi City Museum of History and Folklore

The power of the Ouchi Clan reached its peak when Yoshioki’s son, Yoshitaka became the lord. They managed to govern 4 provinces (Nagato, Suo, Chikuzen, and Buzen) and was invading 3 provinces at the same time (Iwami, Aki, and Bingo). Yamaguchi town prospered more while Kyoto continued to be devastated as the power of the shogunate continued to decrease. Many nobles, high priests, and intellectuals managed to escape from Kyoto and Yamaguchi accommodated them. Even, a famous missionary of the Society of Jesus, Francisco Xavier visited the town twice. He gave a tribute to Yoshitaka instead of the Emperor of Kyoto so that he would be allowed to take Christianity to Japan. He seemed to consider Yoshitaka as the king of the country.

The portrait of Yoshitaka Ouchi, owned by Ryufukuji Temple (licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons)

The portrait of Francisco Xavier, owned by Kobe City Museum *(licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons)*

Ouchi Clan builds Konomine Castle, but declines

However, a bad sign came to Yoshitaka in 1543. He failed to capture Gassan-Toda Castle, the homebase of the Amago Clan in Izumo Province. There were also internal conflicts between the senior vassals, officers and dependent people from the outside, which Yoshitaka didn’t notice. In 1551, a senior vassal, Takafusa Tou rebelled against Yoshitaka. Yoshitaka managed to escape from Ouchi Clan Hall, tried to board a ship, but failed, and finally he committed Harakiri.

After that, the situation changed significantly. Takafusa helped Yoshitaka’s relative, Yoshinaga being the new lord of the Ouchi Clan, but he was unfortunately defeated in 1555 by Motonari Mori, the lord of Yoshida Koriyama Castle in Aki Province. Yoshinaga built Konomine Castle on a mountain near the hall to protect themselves when he noticed that the Mori Clan could invade his territory. The clan actually did it in 1557, so Yoshinaga stayed in the castle. The castle was good defensively, but could not survive without reinforcement and supply. He managed to escape to another site, but could not do anything to counter, and finally he committed Harakiri like Yoshitaka, which meant the destruction of the Ouchi Clan. It was unknown when the Ouchi Clan Hall was burned down. Konomine Castle was used by the Mori Clan until it was abandoned in 1615 due to the One Castle per Province Law by the Tokugawa Shogunate.

The portrait of Motonari Mori, owned by Mori Museum (licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons)

The red solid model of Konomine Castle, exhibited by Yamaguchi City Museum of History and Folklore

To be continued in “Ouchi Clan Hall/Konomine Castle Part2”