立地と歴史～Location and History – ページ 51 – 日本200名城バイリンガル (Japan's top 200 castles and ruins)

144.Ogaki Castle Part1

A castle which might have been a crucial battle field

Location and History

Battlefield of Crucial Event

The Battle of Sekigahara have been one of the most crucial events in the Japanese History. The East squad led by Ieyasu Tokugawa and the West squad led by Mitsunari Ishida battled each other at Sekigahara Field in 1600 before the Tokugawa Shogunate was established. Most Japanese people know about Skigahara, but what about Ogaki Castle? In fact, the castle might have become the battle field of the crucial event if the situation changed (if Mitsunari decided to stay in that castle).

The Portrait of Ieyasu Tokugawa, attributed to Tanyu Kano, owned by Osaka Castle Museum (licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons)

The portrait of Mitsunari Ishida､ owned by Hajime Sugiyama (licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons)

Ogaki Castle as Important Point

Ogaki Castle was located in the western part of Mino Province (now Gifu Prefecture) connecting to western Japan trough Sekigahara. It is uncertain when the castle was first built, but it became important as the country had been unified in the late 16th Century during the Sengoku Period. The ruler, Hideyoshi Toyotomi said “Ogaki Castle is an important point” and actually sent his relatives to the castle as its lords. The castle was built on a plain land, but surrounded by several moats and rivers, which looked like a Water Castle.

The location of the castle

After Hideyoshi died in 1598, a political conflict began between Ieyasu Tokugawa and Mitsunari Ishida. Mitsunari doubted Ieyasu would take over the power of Hideyoshi’s young son, Hideyori who was still the ruler of Japan. Ieyasu went to eastern Japan to conquer the Uesugi Clan who were against Ieyasu in June 1600. Mitsunari raised an army to defeat Ieyasu in July in western Japan. The East and West squads were expected to fight in central Japan including Ogaki Castle and Sekigahara. Mitsunari stayed in Ogaki Castle as his stronghold and built several battle castles, such as Nangusan Castle, on the mountains behind Ogaki Castle for his allies to stay. He was waiting for Ieyasu’s attack at the castle doing as best as he could. He also built large mountain castles such as Matsuoyama Castle around Sekigahara Field to call for a great warlord, Terumoto Mori and his master, Hideyori to support him. If his plans came true, Ieyasu might have been defeated because Hideyori was still Ieyasu’s master as well.

The portrait of Hideyori Toyotomi, owned by Yogenin Temple (*licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons)*

Why did Mitsunari leave Castle?

However, on September 15th, Mitsunari suddenly got away from the castle, fought against Ieyasu at Sekigahara Field, and defeated in a day. Why did Mitsunari cancel his own plan and choose the field battle he probably dislike but Ieyasu was more familiar with? The long-accepted theory says Mitsunari noticed Ieyasu tried to skip Ogaki Castle and attack western Japan directly. Mitsunari and his allies were one jump ahead of Ieyasu, and took up their positions at the field. They fought well in the first part, but finally got defeated by the betrayal of Hideaki Kobayakawa, one of their allies, during the battle. This story is dramatic, so Japanese people believed it for a long time. However, it was first seen in war chronicles in the Edo Period, about 60 years later than the actual battle. I also think the reason above is too weak for Mitsunari to leave the castle.

The portrait of Hideaki Kobayakawa, owned by Kodaiji Temple (licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons)

Some new studies may tell us the real reasons why Mitsuhide left Ogaki Castle. According to these studies, Hideaki Kobayakawa was expected to support the East quad earlier than what the previous theory says. Hideaki occupied Matsuoyama Castle and moved to Sekigahara Field before the battle against Mitsunari’s plan. If he stayed, he could have been attacked on both sides. Mitsunari might have noticed Hideaki’s movement, so this may be why he quickly moved to Sekigahara to avoid the worst situation. One theory says Mitsunari tried to get to another mountain castle, called Tama Castle, to fight against Ieyasu and Hideaki, but was unfortunately defeated around Sekigahara Field. After the battle, some Mitunari’s retainers still stayed in Ogaki Castle, however, they were outnumbered. They surrendered after being besieged by the East squad for about a week.

The folding screens of the Sekigahara Battle, owned by Sekigahara Town History and Folklore Museum *(licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons)*

Ogaki as City of Water

After the Battle of Sekigahara, Ogaki Castle was still recognized as an important point connecting eastern and western Japan. Several different lords governed and improved the castle. For example, the Ishikawa Clan completed the Outer Moat and the Matsudaira Clan renovated the four-level Main Tower. The tower was in the Main Enclosure which is connected with the Second Enclosure where the Main Hall for the lord was. Both enclosures were surrounded by the Inner Moat. Overall, the tripled moats surrounded the castle. In addition, the castle town was consolidated with the castle by waterways and rivers. That’s why Ogaki City has been called The city of water. Since 1635, the Toda Clan governed the castle and the area was called the Ogaki Domain until the end of the Edo Period.

The four-level Main Tower of Ogaki Castle, from the signboard at the site

Part of the illustration of Ogaki Castle in Mino Province, exhibited by the National Archives of Japan

The center of Ogaki Castle, from the illustration above

The statue of Ujikane Toda, the founder of the clan in the Ogaki Domain

To be continued in “Ogaki Castle Part2”

144.大垣城　その１

天下分け目の決戦場になったかもしれない城

立地と歴史

天下分け目の決戦場

関ヶ原の戦いは、日本の歴史のなかの最も重要な出来事の一つです。徳川家康に率いられた東軍と、石田三成に率いられた西軍が1600年に関ヶ原で戦い、その結果、徳川幕府の設立につながったのです。ほとんどの日本の人たちは関ヶ原のことを知っているでしょうが、大垣城はどうでしょうか。実はこの城は、もし状況が変わっていれば（三成が城に居座っていたならば）この戦いの決戦場になったかもしれないのです。

徳川家康肖像画、加納探幽筆、大阪城天守閣蔵 (licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons)

石田三成像、杉山丕氏蔵 (licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons)

かなめの所、大柿の城

大垣城は、美濃国（現在の岐阜県）の西部にあり、関ヶ原を通して西日本とつながっていました。最初にいつこの城が築かれたかは定かではありませんが、日本が統一されてきた戦国時代の１６世紀後半には重要な存在となっていたのです。天下人の豊臣秀吉は「かなめの所大柿（大垣）の城」と言っており、城主として近親者を送り込みました。この城は平地に築かれたのですが、堀と川に幾重にも囲まれていました。水城のように見えていたのでしょう。

城の位置

1598年に秀吉が亡くなった後、徳川家康と石田三成との間に政争が起こりました。家康が、秀吉の幼少の息子でその時はまだ天下人あった秀頼の力を凌ぐのではないかと、三成は疑ったのです。家康は、1600年６月に彼に逆らった上杉氏を討伐するために東日本に向かいました。そして光成は、７月に西日本で家康を倒すために挙兵したのです。東軍と西軍は、大垣城や関ヶ原がある中日本で戦うことが予想されました。三成は、本陣として大垣城に滞在し、大垣城の背後の山にいくつもの陣城（南宮山城など）を築き、そこに同盟者（毛利秀元など）を据えました。三成は、できるだけの準備を行い、そこで家康の攻撃を待っていたのです。彼はまた、関ヶ原周辺に松尾山城などの大きな山城を築き、有力大名の毛利輝元や彼の主人である秀頼を呼び寄せ、彼の味方にしようとしたのです。もし、彼の計画が実現していれば、家康は負けていたかもしれません。秀頼はその時点ではまだ家康の主人でもあったからです。

豊臣秀頼肖像画、養源院蔵 *(licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons)*

なぜ三成は城を出たのか

ところが、９月１５日、三成は突然城を後にし、関ヶ原で家康と戦い、たった一日で敗れてしまいました。なぜ三成は、彼の計画を捨て、恐らく彼は苦手でも家康は得意であった野戦を選んだのでしょうか。これまでの定説は、家康が大垣城を飛び越えて西日本の方へまっすぐ攻撃しようとすることに気付き（その情報を流すことが家康の謀略だったとも言われます）、同盟者とともに家康を先回りして関ヶ原に布陣したとされています。彼ら西軍は最初の頃はよく戦ったのですが、同盟者の一人、小早川秀秋が戦いの最中に裏切ったことによりついには敗れたというものです。この筋書きは劇的であり、多くの日本人は長い間それを信じていました。ところがそれは、実際の戦いから約６０年も後に、江戸時代の軍記物に初めて現れた話だったのです。私もその話は、三成が城をわざわざ離れる理由としては弱すぎるように思います。

小早川秀秋肖像画、高台寺蔵 (licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons)

最近の研究が、三成が大垣城から移動した理由を明らかにしてくれるかもしれません。これらの研究によれば小早川秀秋は、これまでの定説よりももっと前から東軍に味方することが予測されていたとのことです。秀秋は、三成の計画に逆らって松尾山城を占拠し（その城には別の大名が入る予定になっていた）、戦いの前に関ヶ原に移動していたというのです。その場合、三成が大垣城に留まっていると、挟み撃ちにあってしまうことになります。三成は秀秋の動きに気付き、最悪のケースを避けるために止む無く関ヶ原に移動したのです。また、三成は、家康と秀秋に対抗するため、ある山城（玉城～たまじょう）に入ろうとしたが、果たせずに関ヶ原周辺で撃滅されてしまったとする説もあります。関ヶ原の戦いの後、三成の一部の部下はまだ大垣城に残っていました。しかし多勢に無勢であり、東軍に一週間城を包囲され、降伏することになってしまいました。

「関ヶ原合戦図屏風」、関ケ原町歴史民俗資料館蔵 *(licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons)*

水の都、大垣

関ヶ原の戦いの後、大垣城はまだ東日本と西日本をつなぐ重要地点とされていました。いくつかの大名家がこの城を居城とし、改良を加えました。例えば、石川氏は外堀を完成させ、松平氏は天守を四層に改築しました。その天守は本丸にあり、城主の御殿がある二の丸とつながっていました。両方の曲輪は内堀に囲まれていました。そして、合わせて三重の堀が城を囲んでいたのです。また、城下町が水路や川によって城と一体化されていました。そのため、現在の大垣市は水の都と呼ばれてきたのです。1635年以来、戸田氏がこの城と、大垣藩と呼ばれた城の周辺地域を江戸時代末期まで支配しました。

「大垣城その２」に続きます。

38.Iwamura Castle Part1

A great mountain castle with a sad episode

Location and History

One of Three Great Mountain Castles

Iwamura Castle was a large mountain castle which was located in the eastern part of Mino Province (now Gifu Prefecture). The castle has been considered as one of the Three Great Mountain Castles followed by Bicchu-Matsuyama and Takatori Castles. Basically, mountain castles were built during the Sengoku Period when many battles happened. However, during the peaceful Edo Period, most castles were moved or rebuilt on plain land for the governor. The Three Great Mountain Castles were rare examples which remained until the end of the Edo Period. In particular, Iwamura Castle had the highest altitude of 717 meters high among the active castles during that time.

The location of the castle

The relief map around the castle

Female Lord, Otsuya and her Tragedy

It was said that the Toyama Clan first built the castle in the 13th Century, but it is quite uncertain. Records show the clan used the castle as their home base in the first 16th Century during the Sengoku Period. The Toyama Clan was one of the local warlord families residing in the area, which became the head of the local lord group called the Iwamura Group. However, the clan was affected by other larger warlords such as the Takeda and Oda Clans. For example, the clan often worked for the Takeda Clan. They often married their wife who belonged to the Oda Clan. This was to ensure balance between the two clans. In 1571, when a lord of the castle died, Nobunaga Oda sent one of his sons as the next lord of the Toyama Clan. The ex-lord’s wife named Otsuya, who came from Oda and Nobunaga’s aunt, actually governed the castle because the new lord was still very young. She has been known as one of the few female lords in Japan.

The family crest of the Iwamura Clan, called Maru-ni-Futatsubiki or Two horizonal lines inside a Circle

The portrait of Nobunaga Oda, attributed to Soshu Kano, owned by Chokoji Temple, in the late 16th century (licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons)

The situation became very serious for Otsuya when Shingen Takeda decided to fight against Nobunaga. This was because her territory was the buffer zone between Shingen and Nobunaga, which both clans wanted to own. Shingen sent his retainer, Torashige Akiyama with troops to capture Iwamura Castle in 1572. The castle was surrounded by the troops, but it survived for a while because it had very good defensive structures. Torashige negotiated an arranged marriage with Otsuya in order to be a part of the Takeda Clan. Otsuya accepted it.

The portrait of Shingen Takeda, owned by Jimyo-in Temple (licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons)

The portrait of Torashige Akiyama, attributed to Fuko Matsumoto, owned by Erinji Temple *(licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons)*

However, Nobunaga was very angry to hear about this. Nobunaga decided to send his troops to Iwamura Castle in 1575 after Shingen had died and the power of the Takeda Clan began to decline especially by the defeat in the battle of Nagashino Castle. The castle was besieged again but survived for 5 months because of its own strength. The attackers negotiated that the defenders could be saved if they surrendered. Torashige and Otsuya accepted this, however, the promise was a lie, so they were executed, which became a big tragedy during the Sengoku Period.

The illustration of Iwamura Castle, one of the Shoho Castle Illustrations, *exhibited by the National Archives of Japan*

Matsudaira Clan modernizes Castle

After that, several different lords governed the castle. In 1601 after the Tokugawa Shogunate was established, Ienori Matsudaira became the lord of the castle and the founder of the Iwamura Domain. Before his entry, the castle was probably a large and simple mountain castle with its buildings like the Main Hall at a high place. However, Ienori moved the Main Hall to the foot of the mountain to make it more convenient for him. He also modernized the mountain part by building stone walls which surrounded the enclosures. For example, the Main Enclosure on the top had two two-level turrets on the stone walls and two gates, but was empty inside during the late Edo Period. It might have been designed for emergencies like battles. In addition, Ienori also developed the castle town, which still has a good atmosphere to visit now.

The restored gate and turret of the Main Hall at the foot (taken by HiC from photoAC)

The Main Enclosure part of the illustration above

The former castle town of Iwamura (taken by rupann7777777 from photoAC)

To be continued in “Iwamura Castle Part2”