立地と歴史～Location and History – ページ 8 – 日本200名城バイリンガル (Japan's top 200 castles and ruins)

29.Matsumoto Castle Part1

Location and History

Ogasawara Clan is driven away from Castle, but is waiting for their long-cherished plan to revive

Matsumoto Castle is located in Matsumoto City, Nagano Prefecture, which is known for its wonderful remaining five-level Main Tower. Matsumoto Basin, in which the city is located, has also been known for abundant springs flowing from the surrounding mountains since Ancient Times (we can still see many wells in the city area). That’s why the area was originally called “Fukase” or “Fukashi” which seem to have meant “waters running deep”. The Ogasawara Clan, which became the governor of Shinano Province (now Nagano Pref.), was based in this area during the Middle Ages. Many battles occurred during the Sengoku Period, and Ukon Shimadate, who was a retainer of the clan, built Fukashi Castle (the former Matsumoto Castle) in 1504 to protect the clan’s home, Hayashi Castle. However, they were driven away by the Takeda Clan in 1550, following the Siege of Fukashi.

The range of Matsumoto City and the location of the castle

A well in the city area (at Nishibori Park)

The Takeda Clan fortified Fukashi Castle to be a defensive stronghold even on the flat lands of the basin. The clan had the castle surrounded by tripled water moats. The lands inside the moats were called (from the center) the main, second, and third enclosures. The flow of the Metoba River was diverted to run alongside the outer moat, which made the castle more defensive. The clan also improved the gates of the castle by adding Umadashi systems in front of them. The system refers to a small round enclosure connected by a narrow path to the gate. It was a defense system created and frequently used by the clan. It was said that the basic structures of the castle was completed by the Takeda Clan. However, the castle was still basically made of soil at this point.

The miniature model of Matsumoto Castle during the Edo Period, exhibited by Matsumoto City Museum

The few remaining outer moat of the eastern part of the castle

The few remaining earthen walls inside the outer moat, at Nishibori-dorui (the western moat earthen walls) Park

One of the Umadashi systems in the miniature model above, however, they were all removed at the site

A chance for the Ogasawara Clan to revive suddenly came in 1582 when Nobunaga Oda defeated the Takeda Clan before he was also killed by Mitsuhide Akechi in the Honnoji Incident. Sadayoshi Ogasawara who served Ieyasu Tokugawa returned to Fukashi Castle the following year – for the first time in 33 years, his clan held the castle. He renamed the castle Matsumoto to celebrate the event. The new name was said to come from waiting (matsu) for his long-cherished plan (hon-kai, the Chinese symbol for “hon” is also pronounced “moto”). However, the situation rapidly changed. He and his master, Ieyasu were transferred to the Kanto Region in 1590 by the ruler, Hideyoshi Toyotomi. Hideyoshi gave the castle to Kazumasa Ishikawa who had been a senior vassal of Ieyasu but was acquired by Hideyoshi.

The family crest of the Ogasawara Clan, called Sankaibishi (triple diamonds) (licensed by Minamoto at fr.wikipedia via Wikimedia Commons)

Kazumasa Ishikawa, drawn in the folding screens of “the Battle of Nagashino” (licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons)

Ishikawa Clan modernizes Castle by building Main Tower

Kazumasa started to modernize the castle using advanced techniques favoured by Hideyoshi, which was continued by his son, Yasunaga after Kazumasa’s death in 1592. Yasunaga built stone walls surrounding each enclosures, including the five-level Main Tower inside the main enclosure. He also replaced the Umadashi system of major gates with the Masugata system. The system refers to a defensive square space surrounded by stone walls and gated buildings. The gates were called Ote-mon (main gate) for the third enclosure, Taiko-mon (drum gate) for the second enclosure, and Kuro-mon (black gate) for the main enclosure. They were completed in 1594. However, local people suffered because of these rapid construction projects. A local legend says that when a worker, who had carried a huge stone for the Taiko-mon Gate, complained about it, Yasunaga heard about it and immediately executed him. Since then, the stone has been called Genba-ishi(stone). Genba was the name of Yasunaga’s official position.

The map around the castle

The main gate in the miniature model above, Metoba River is in front of it

The castle buildings were allowed to use roof tiles with gold leaf with the special permission of Hideyoshi. Such permission was only given to Hideyoshi’s relatives and trusted senior vassals. Other castles of the trusted vassals, which also used the golden roof tiles, were built around Ieyasu’s Kanto Region in places such as Komoro, Ueda, Kofu, Numata, and Sumpu Castle. These castles (including Matsumoto) formed the anti-Ieyasu network to monitor and threaten him. Yasumasa somehow survived even when Ieyasu gained power after Hideyoshi’s death (the golden roof tiles were then scraped). However, he was finally removed by Ieyasu in 1613. The reasons for this remain unclear, but it was possibly Ieyasu’s revenge against the Ishikawa Clan which had abandoned him.

The castles of anti-Ieyasu network

Castle is completed with building Tsukimi Turret

After that, the Ogasawara Clan returned to the castle again but were soon transferred to Akashi Castle in 1617. The castle and the area around it, called the Matsumoto Domain, were followed by the shogun’s relatives and several hereditary feudal lords during the Edo Period. There were also a few important subsequent events for the castle. One of them occurred when Naomasa Matsudaira lived there. He heard about a plan of the shogun, Iemitsu Tokugawa, to visit the castle (though it would be canceled later) and added a new turret called Tsukimi (seeing the moon) Yagura to the Main Tower in 1634. So far, the tower had entirely been designed with battles in mind. This turret, however, was completely built for entertainment. The tower became what we see now, influenced by different tastes.

The portrait of Naomasa Matsudaira, owned by Gesshoji Temple (licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons)

The Main Tower with the Tsukimi Turret on the right

The second occurred during the great fire of Matsumoto in 1727. The Main Hall next to the tower was burned down by the fire; the tower itself fortunately survived. People thought that a god called Nijurokuyashin (the god of the 26th night moon), which was worshiped in the tower, had saved it. In addition, the castle town prospered as the intersection of the Zenkoji Road (from north to south) and the Nomugi Road (from east to west). The town also had many guardhouses to make sure to prevent enemies from reaching the castle easily.

The ruins of the main enclosure main hall

The Nijurokuyashin God, which is still worshiped in the tower

The castle town in the miniature model above

To be continued in “Matsumoto Castle Part2”

29.松本城　その１

松本城は長野県松本市にある城で、現存する素晴らしい５層天守により有名です。城が位置する松本盆地は古代より、周辺の山々から流れてきた豊かな水が湧き出る地としても知られていて、現代の市街地でも多くの現役の井戸を目にすることができます。

立地と歴史

小笠原氏が追放され、帰還するという本懐を待ち続けた城

松本城は長野県松本市にある城で、現存する素晴らしい５層天守により有名です。城が位置する松本盆地は古代より、周辺の山々から流れてきた豊かな水が湧き出る地としても知られていて、現代の市街地でも多くの現役の井戸を目にすることができます。そのため、この地はもともと「深瀬（ふかせ）」または「深志（ふかし）」と呼ばれていました。「深く流れる水」という意味だったようです。中世の頃には、信濃国（現在の長野県）の守護であった小笠原氏がこの地を本拠地としていました。多くの戦いが起こった戦国時代には、小笠原氏の家臣、島立右近（しまだてうこん）が1504年に、主君の本拠地・林城防衛のために、深志城を築城しました。これが松本城の前身となります。ところが1550年に、武田氏により城は落城し、小笠原一派は追放されてしまいました。

松本市の範囲と城の位置

武田氏は深志城を強化し、盆地の平地部分にある城であっても、強力な防御拠点にしようとしました。まず、城を三重の水堀で囲みました。堀に囲まれた曲輪部分は、真ん中から順に、本丸、二の丸、三の丸とされました。加えて、女鳥羽川（めどばがわ）の流路が、総堀（一番外側の堀）に沿うように変えられ、城の防御力はますます高まりました。武田氏はまた、城の門を改良し、前面に馬出しを加えました。馬出しとは、小さな丸い曲輪で、狭い通路によって門とつながっていました。これは、武田氏が開発し、頻繁に使われた防御システムです。城の基本的な構造は、武田氏によって完成されたと言われています。しかしこの時点では、城は基本的には土造りでした。

小笠原氏が戻ってくる機会が1582年に突然やってきました。織田信長が武田氏を滅ぼし、またその信長も本本能寺の変で明智光秀に殺されてしまったのです。その当時徳川家康に仕えていた小笠原貞慶（おがさわらさだよし）はその翌年、３３年ぶりに城に帰還したのです。貞慶はそれを祝して、城の名前を「松本」と変えました。その名前は、「本（もと）懐」を「待つ（松）」というところから付けられたと言われています。しかし、状況はまた急激に変わりました。1590年には天下人の豊臣秀吉により、貞慶は主君の家康とともに、関東地方に移封となりました。秀吉は松本城を、家康の重臣であり、秀吉の下に出奔した石川数正（いしかわかずまさ）に与えました。

小笠原氏の家紋、三階菱 *(licensed by Minamoto at fr.wikipedia via Wikimedia Commons)*

「長篠合戦図屏風」に描かれた石川数正 *(licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons)*

石川氏が天守を築き城を近代化

数正は、秀吉によって好まれた先進技術によって城の近代化を始めました。1592年に数正が亡くなってからは、子の康長（やすなが）が引き継ぎました。康長は曲輪群を石垣で囲み、本丸には５層の天守を築きました。彼はまた、主要な門の馬出しを桝形に置き替えました。桝形とは、石垣や門の建物に囲まれた、四角い防御スペースのことを言います。これらの門は、三の丸の大手門、二の丸の太鼓門、本丸の黒門のことです。城の工事は1594年に完成しました。しかし、この工事は突貫で行われたため、民衆には苦痛を与えました。地元の言い伝えによれば、太鼓門に使われる巨石を運んでいた人夫が不満を言ったところ、康長はそれを聞き、直ちにその人夫の首を刎ねたそうです。それ以来、その石は玄蕃石（げんばいし）と呼ばれるようになりました。「玄蕃」とは康長の官職名でした。

城周辺の地図

城の建物には、秀吉の特別な許可により、金箔を貼った屋根瓦が使われました。この許可は、秀吉の親族か、信頼のある重臣にのみに与えられました。その重臣たちの城にも金箔瓦が使われていて、小諸城、上田城、甲府城、沼田城、駿府城など家康がいた関東地方周辺に配置されました。松本城を含むこれらの城は、家康包囲網を形成し、家康を監視し、且つ脅威を与えていました。康長は、秀吉の死後に家康が天下を取ったときも、家康に味方することで何とか生き残りました（金箔瓦は当然廃棄されました）。ところが、1613年に彼はついに家康によって改易されました。その理由ははっきりしないのですが、可能性として、家康は石川氏が彼の下を去ったことに報復したという面もあったでしょう。

家康包囲網の城

月見櫓建設により天守が完成

その後、小笠原氏が再度松本城に復帰するのですが、1617年にはまた明石城に転封となりました。城とその周辺地域は松本藩となりますが、江戸時代の間、いくつもの親藩や譜代大名によって引き継がれました。その間、城に関する重要な出来事がいくつかありました。その一つが松平直政（まつだいらなおまさ）が城を治めたときに起こりました。彼は、将軍の徳川家光が松本城に立ち寄るという計画を聞き（その後取りやめとなりますが）、1634年に新しく月見櫓を天守に付け加えました。それまでは天守は全く戦を想定して作られていました。しかし、月見櫓は完全に娯楽のために築かれたものです。これによって天守は、違った趣の建物が融合した、現在の姿になりました。

松平直政肖像画、月照寺蔵 *(licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons)*

二番目の出来事は、1727年の松本大火のときです。大火により、天守となりの本丸御殿は焼けてしまいましたが、天守そのものは幸運にも無事でした。人々は、中に祀られていた二十六夜神（にじゅうろくやしん）が天守を救ったのだと考えました。また城下町は、南北を貫く善光寺街道と東西を走る野麦街道が交差する場所として、大いに繁栄しました。城下町には多くの番所があり、もし敵が攻めてきたときには容易に城に近づけないようになっていました。

「松本城その２」に続きます。

186.Kaneda Castle Patr1

Kaneda Castle was one of the ancient mountain castles in western Japan. They were built by the Imperial Court after the Battle of Baekgang, Korea in 663. Kaneda Castle was at the foremost line against possible invasions from the alliance of Tang and Silla. This was because it was located in Tsushima Island, only about 50km away from Korea.

Location and History

One of Ancient Maintain Castles

Kaneda Castle was one of the ancient mountain castles in western Japan. They were built by the Imperial Court after the Battle of Baekgang, Korea in 663. Japan tried to help Baekje, but was beaten by the Tang and Silla alliance. Emperor Tenchi was scared of invasions from the alliance, so he ordered these castles’ constructions. Kaneda Castle was at the foremost line against the alliance because it was located in Tsushima Island, only about 50km away from Korea.

The locations of the major ancient mountain castles

The map about the Battle of Baekgang (licensed by Samhanin via Wikimedia Commons)

These castles are also called Korean style mountain castles which were established in Korea and brought to Japan with the instructions from the refugees from Baekje. There had been many battles in ancient Korea (part of present day North and South Korea) due to invasions from China and the internal conflict with three countries, Baekje, Silla and Goguryeo. The style involves surrounding the whole mountain by stone walls or earthen walls, which was very different from that of Japanese castles that would be later established. If people in Korea at that time were attacked by enemies, they would escape to their mountain castle, wait for the enemies’ supply to run out and counterattack the enemies. This style was applied to Japan to immediately prepare for possible invasions from the alliance.

The diorama of Kaneda Castle Ruins, exhibited by the sightseeing information center Fureaidokoro Tsushima

Stone Walls mostly surround Mountain

The Imperial Court built Mizuki in 664 as the 1st ancient mountain castle. After that, it also built Ono and Kii Castles in 665, and then, Takayasu, Yashima and Kaneda Castles in 667, according to Nihon-shoki, the oldest official chronicles of Japan. It is thought that nearly 30 ancient mountain castles, including recorded and non-recorded ones, were built along the estimated routes of the invasions around the northern Kyushu Region and Seto Inland Sea. The Imperial Court also drafted soldiers from eastern Japan, who would be called Sakimori, and sent them to the northern Kyushu Region to protect and monitor this area. The fire-signal system was also developed in the region to rapidly inform the signs of what happened.

Kaneda Castle was built on Joyama Mountain facing Aso Bay in the central part of Tsushima Island. The castle was about 15km away to the north from the provincial capital of Tsushima, near the current Izuhara Port. This was probably because the usage of the castle would follow that of the mountain castles in Korea like a shelter. Its perimeter was about 2.2km, which was mostly covered with stone walls, in contrast to other ancient mountain castles like Ki-no-jo, mostly surrounded by earthen walls. The northern and western sides of the castle were along the steep ridges of the mountain, which were naturally very defensive. On the other hand, the southern side faced the valley which would be the entrance to the castle and the eastern side was beside the bay. That’s why several gates were built and the stone walls were higher on these sides. It is thought that there were no office buildings and no warehouses, but only buildings like barracks the Sakimori soldiers used inside the castle, according to the results of excavations.

The aerial photo around the castle

The stone walls of Kaneda Castle (the southeast stone fortress)

The relief map around the castle

Castle is shortly abandoned because of Stable Diplomatic Relations

Meanwhile, the diplomatic negotiations with foreign countries continued. For, example, Tang and Goguryeo started to fight with each other in 666. Both countries asked Japan for help. While Emperor Tenchi moved the capital from Asuka in Nara to Otsu, more interior than Asuka in 667 and made the first national census in 670 probably to prepare for the next war. The tension between Japan and Tang reached its peak after Tang defeated Goguryeo in 668. It is said that Tang actually planned to invade Japan then. However, the plan was canceled as Tang and Silla battled each other in 670. The battle resulted in Silla repelling Tang and the unification of Korea Peninsula in 676. The next emperor, Tenmu, also made friendly relations with Silla, which meant the serious threat to Japan had gone.

The ruins of the imperial palace of Otsu (*licensed by Saigen Jiro via Wikimedia Commons)*

As a result, there would be no need for maintaining all the ancient mountain castles. Many of them including Kaneda Castle were repaired or improved by the end of the 7th Century. However, it is thought that Kaneda Castle was abandoned at the beginning of the 8th Century. Manyoshu, the oldest anthology of Japan, which was first published in the late 8th Century, contains a Tanka poem created by a Sakimori soldier who was in charge of Tsushima Island. Interestingly, this Tanka was published nearly a century after the castle was active. The life of this great castle was only 30 to 40 years.

The ruins of Kaneda Castle (the first gate)

To be continued in “Kaneda Castle Part2”