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was a
Sengoku period The was a period in History of Japan, Japanese history of near-constant civil war and social upheaval from 1467 to 1615. The Sengoku period was initiated by the Ōnin War in 1467 which collapsed the Feudalism, feudal system of Japan under the ...
''yamashiro''-style
Japanese castle are fortresses constructed primarily of wood and stone. They evolved from the wooden stockades of earlier centuries, and came into their best-known form in the 16th century. Castles in Japan were built to guard important or strategic sites, such ...
located in what is now the
Azuchi was a town located in Gamō District, Shiga Prefecture, Japan. As of 2003, the town had an estimated population of 12,217 and a density of 502.76 persons per km². The total area was 24.30 km². On March 21, 2010, Azuchi was merged into the ...
neighborhood of the city of
Ōmihachiman 260px, City Hall 260px, Traditional buildings Preservation Area is a city located in Shiga Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 82,233 in 34747 households and a population density of 570 persons per km². The total area ...
,
Shiga Prefecture is a prefecture of Japan located in the Kansai region of Honshu. Shiga Prefecture has a population of 1,412,916 (1 October 2015) and has a geographic area of . Shiga Prefecture borders Fukui Prefecture to the north, Gifu Prefecture to the nort ...
,
Japan Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan, while extending from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north ...
. The ruins have been protected as a National Historic Site since 1982, with the area under protection expanded in 1984. The castle was named after Kannonshō-ji, a
Buddhist temple A Buddhist temple or Buddhist monastery is the place of worship for Buddhists, the followers of Buddhism. They include the structures called vihara, chaitya, stupa, wat and pagoda in different regions and languages. Temples in Buddhism represen ...
near the peak of the mountain.


Background

Kannonji Castle is located on the ridgeline of Mount Kinugasa, a 400-meter mountain, not far from the ruins of
Azuchi Castle was one of the primary castles of Oda Nobunaga located in the Azuchi neighborhood of the city of Ōmihachiman, Shiga Prefecture. The site of the castle was designated a National Historic Site in 1926, with the designation upgraded to that of ...
. The castle is in proximity to
Lake Biwa is the largest freshwater lake in Japan, located entirely within Shiga Prefecture (west-central Honshu), northeast of the former capital city of Kyoto. Lake Biwa is an ancient lake, over 4 million years old. It is estimated to be the 13th ol ...
and to control both the
Nakasendō The , also called the ,Richard Lane, ''Images from the Floating World'' (1978) Chartwell, Secaucus ; pg. 285 was one of the five routes of the Edo period, and one of the two that connected Edo (modern-day Tokyo) to Kyoto in Japan. There were 6 ...
and Tōkaidō highways connecting
Kyoto Kyoto (; Japanese: , ''Kyōto'' ), officially , is the capital city of Kyoto Prefecture in Japan. Located in the Kansai region on the island of Honshu, Kyoto forms a part of the Keihanshin metropolitan area along with Osaka and Kobe. , the ci ...
with the eastern provinces, and the
Hokkoku Kaidō The was a highway in Japan during the Edo period. It was a secondary route, ranked below the Edo Five Routes in importance. Because it was developed for travelers going to Zenkō-ji, it was also called ''Zenkō-ji Kaidō'' (善光寺街道). It st ...
highway connecting Kyoto with the
Sea of Japan The Sea of Japan is the marginal sea between the Japanese archipelago, Sakhalin, the Korean Peninsula, and the mainland of the Russian Far East. The Japanese archipelago separates the sea from the Pacific Ocean. Like the Mediterranean Sea, it h ...
. The precise year the castle was constructed is uncertain, but it was constructed some time during the 14th century by the
Rokkaku clan The was a Japanese samurai clan Papinot, Jacques Edmond Joseph. (1906). ''Dictionnaire d’histoire et de géographie du Japon''; Papinot, (2003).html" ;"title="DF 53 of 80">"Rokkaku" at ''Nobiliare du Japon'', p. 49 DF_53_...
,_a_cadet_branch_of_the_Sasaki_clan.html" ;"title="DF 53 of 80/nowiki>">DF 53 ...
, a cadet branch of the Sasaki clan">DF 53 of 80/nowiki>">DF 53 ...
, a cadet branch of the Sasaki clan, a military house which rose to prominence in the Kamakura period. The Rokkaku held the post of ''shugo'' of Ōmi Province, but effectively controlled only the southern half of the province, as the northern half was dominated by a rival cadet clan, the Kyogoku clan. A castle was needed as an administrative center and military rallying point. The ridged peak of Kinugasa Mountain, where Kannonsho-ji was already, was selected as the new site. A castle from that lofty position would command a view of the plains below and would serve as a symbol of power in the region. The castle was rebuilt during the
Ōnin was a after ''Bunshō'' and before ''Bunmei''. This period spanned the years from March 1467 through April 1469. The reigning emperor was . Change of era * 1467 : The era name was changed to mark an event or a number of events. The old era end ...
era (1467-1477); it was originally named Sasaki Castle.


History

left, Old map of the castle Kannonji Castle was attacked and changed hands three times during the
Ōnin War The , also known as the Upheaval of Ōnin and Ōnin-Bunmei war, was a civil war that lasted from 1467 to 1477, during the Muromachi period in Japan. ''Ōnin'' refers to the Japanese era during which the war started; the war ended during the Bunmei ...
; twice in battles between the Rokkaku and the Kyogoku, and the final time in a struggle between rival branches of the Rokkaku clan itself. Under Rokkaku Takayori (d.1520), the clan was reunified, and significantly gained in strength as Rokkaku Takayori seized estates from
nobles Nobility is a social class found in many societies that have an aristocracy. It is normally ranked immediately below royalty. Nobility has often been an estate of the realm with many exclusive functions and characteristics. The characteristi ...
and Buddhist temples throughout his territories, with the backing of the
Muromachi shogunate The , also known as the , was the feudal military government of Japan during the Muromachi period from 1336 to 1573.Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005)"''Muromachi-jidai''"in ''Japan Encyclopedia'', p. 669. The Ashikaga shogunate was establis ...
. Under his son, Rokkaku Sadayori (1495-1552), the territory prospered greatly by the abolishment of the local guild system in Ishidera, the
castle town A castle town is a settlement built adjacent to or surrounding a castle. Castle towns were common in Medieval Europe. Some examples include small towns like Alnwick and Arundel, which are still dominated by their castles. In Western Europe, ...
at the base of Kannonji Castle. he also supported
Shogun , officially , was the title of the military dictators of Japan during most of the period spanning from 1185 to 1868. Nominally appointed by the Emperor, shoguns were usually the de facto rulers of the country, though during part of the Kamakur ...
Ashikaga Yoshiharu was the twelfth ''shōgun'' of the Ashikaga shogunate from 1521 through 1546 during the late Muromachi period of Japan.Ackroyd, Joyce. (1982). ''Lessons from History: The Tokushi Yoron'', p. 332. He was the son of the eleventh ''shōgun'' Ash ...
when he was expelled from Kyoto and used his influence to bring the
Azai clan The , also rendered as Asai, was a Japanese clan during the Sengoku period. History The Azai was a line of ''daimyōs'' (feudal lords) seated at Odani Castle in northeastern Ōmi Province, located within present day Nagahama, Shiga Prefecture. ...
(who controlled
Echizen Province was a province of Japan in the area that is today the northern portion of Fukui Prefecture in the Hokuriku region of Japan. Echizen bordered on Kaga, Wakasa, Hida, and Ōmi Provinces. It was part of Hokurikudō Circuit. Its abbreviated form ...
and part of northern Ōmi under his control. Renovations to the castle were done during the Kōji era (1555–1558), and the stone ramparts were enlarged to accommodate small cannons. However, under his son Rokkaku Yoshikata (1521-1598), the clan's fortunes began to decline. The Azai, under the capable
Azai Nagamasa was a Japanese ''daimyō'' of the Sengoku period known as the brother-in-law and enemy of Oda Nobunaga. Nagamasa was head of the Azai clan seated at Odani Castle in northern Ōmi Province and married Nobunaga's sister Oichi in 1564, fathering h ...
broke from their Rokkaku overlords, defeating a large Rokkaku army which had been sent against them. In addition to this humiliating defeat, Rokkaku Yoshikata faced revolts by some of his main retainers, and at one point was even expelled from Kannonji Castle by his own erstwhile retainers. To complicate matters further, the aggressive
Oda Nobunaga was a Japanese ''daimyō'' and one of the leading figures of the Sengoku period. He is regarded as the first "Great Unifier" of Japan. Nobunaga was head of the very powerful Oda clan, and launched a war against other ''daimyō'' to unify ...
was rapidly expanding his influence westward towards Kyoto. After capturing
Mino Province was a province of Japan in the area of Japan that is today southern Gifu Prefecture. Mino was bordered by Ōmi to the west, Echizen and Hida to the north, and Shinano to the east, and Ise, Mikawa, and Owari to the south. Its abbreviat ...
, Nobunaga allied himself with the Azai clan and with the exiled
Ashikaga Yoshiaki "Ashikaga Yoshiaki" in ''The New Encyclopædia Britannica''. Chicago: Encyclopædia Britannica Inc., 15th edn., 1992, Vol. 1, p. 625. was the 15th and final ''shōgun'' of the Ashikaga shogunate in Japan who reigned from 1568 to 1573.Ackroyd, J ...
, with whom was determined to march on Kyoto. The Rokkaku clan at Kannonji Castle was in the path of his advance. The Rokkaku, loyal to the
Ashikaga shōgun Ashikaga (足利) may refer to: * Ashikaga clan (足利氏 ''Ashikaga-shi''), a Japanese samurai clan descended from the Minamoto clan; and that formed the basis of the eponymous shogunate ** Ashikaga shogunate (足利幕府 ''Ashikaga bakufu''), a ...
, attempted to disrupt to Nobunaga's advance, but were soundly
Niwa Nagahide , also known as Gorōzaemon (五郎左衛門), his other legal alias was Hashiba Echizen no Kami (羽柴越前守), was a Japanese samurai of the Sengoku through Azuchi-Momoyama periods of the 16th century. He served as senior retainer to the O ...
. Nobunaga entered Kannonji Castle unopposed and in triumph, before resuming his march to Kyoto. Yoshikata fled south to the mountainous
Kōka was a after ''Tenpō'' and before ''Kaei.'' This period spanned the years from December 1844 through February 1848. The reigning emperors were and . Change of era * December 2, 1844 (): The new era name of ''Kōka'', meaning "Becoming Wide ...
region where he continued to resist Nobunaga for several years from Mikumo Castle, but was unable to recover Kannonji Castle. Nobunaga continued to hold Kannonji castle as a defensive point after the completion of
Azuchi Castle was one of the primary castles of Oda Nobunaga located in the Azuchi neighborhood of the city of Ōmihachiman, Shiga Prefecture. The site of the castle was designated a National Historic Site in 1926, with the designation upgraded to that of ...
. On Nobunaga's assassination in 1582, Kannonji Castle was attacked and burned, along with Azuchi Castle, possibly at the hands of looters from among the local peasantry.


Structure

Kannonji Castle was one of the largest mountain castles in Japan, and gradually expanded to cover most of Mount Kinugasa, with the major areas of the castle spread along with the southern slope of the ridges spread east and west ward from the highest position. Along the slope numerous terraces were built and used for the residences of Rokkaku clan and their retainers. The outer Iines and core areas of the castle had stone walls, but as this was a relatively new innovation for the time, the walls were rather low and the main defenses remained earthen ramparts and dry moats with a system of overlooking
enclosures Enclosure or Inclosure is a term, used in English landownership, that refers to the appropriation of "waste" or "common land" enclosing it and by doing so depriving commoners of their rights of access and privilege. Agreements to enclose land ...
. The total area of the castle is estimated to have been 800 meters in length and 400 meters in width. Nothing remains of the castle today except for fragmentary ruins of stone walls, a stone-lined well, and a historical signboard. Much of the secondary areas of the castle were recovered by Kannonshō-ji temple, which became a popular pilgrimage location in the
Edo period The or is the period between 1603 and 1867 in the history of Japan, when Japan was under the rule of the Tokugawa shogunate and the country's 300 regional '' daimyo''. Emerging from the chaos of the Sengoku period, the Edo period was characteriz ...
. In 1969 and 1970, artifacts were discovered during
archaeological excavation In archaeology, excavation is the exposure, processing and recording of archaeological remains. An excavation site or "dig" is the area being studied. These locations range from one to several areas at a time during a project and can be condu ...
s in the main enclosure (''hon-maru'').


Significance

Kannonji Castle is regarded as among Japan's Five Greatest Mountain Castles, along with
Kasugayama Castle is a Sengoku period ''yamashiro''-style Japanese castle located in the Nakayashiki neighborhood of the city of Jōetsu, Niigata prefecture. It was the primary fortress of the warlord Uesugi Kenshin, and was originally built and ruled by the Nag ...
,
Nanao Castle was a Muromachi period ''yamajiro''-style Japanese castle located in what is now the city of Nanao, Ishikawa Prefecture, in the Hokuriku region of Japan. Its ruins have been protected as a National Historic Site since 1934. Background Nanao Cas ...
,
Odani Castle 280px, Map of Odani Castle was a Sengoku period mountain-top Japanese castle located in the former town of Kohoku, now part of Nagahama city, in Shiga Prefecture, Japan. Only the ruins remain today. It was the home castle of the Azai clan and t ...
and
Gassantoda Castle Gassantoda Castle (月山富田城, ''Gassantoda-jō'') was a Japanese castle located in Yasugi, Shimane Prefecture. History It is believed the castle was built in the Heian period but this is unclear. Later the castle served as the seat of the ...
.The castle was listed as one of
Japan's Top 100 Castles The castles in were chosen based on their significance in culture, history, and in their regions by the in 2006. In 2017, Japanese Castle Association created an additional finest 100 castles list as Continued Top 100 Japanese Castles. Hokkaidō ...
by the Japan Castle Foundation in 2006.Japan Castle Foundation
/ref>


Access

If hiking, the trail head that leads up the west side of Kinugasa Mountain (433m) is about a 25-minute walk from
Azuchi Station is a passenger railway station located in the city of Ōmihachiman, Shiga Prefecture, Japan, operated by the West Japan Railway Company (JR West). Lines Azuchi Station is served by the Biwako Line portion of the Tōkaidō Main Line, and is 24.9 ...
on the
JR West , also referred to as , is one of the Japan Railways Group (JR Group) companies and operates in western Honshu. It has its headquarters in Kita-ku, Osaka. It is listed in the Tokyo Stock Exchange, is a constituent of the TOPIX Large70 index, and ...
Biwako Line The is the nickname used by the operator of the West Japan Railway Company (JR West) to refer to the portion of the Tōkaidō Main Line (between Maibara Station and Kyoto Station) and the Hokuriku Main Line (between Maibara Station and Nagahama ...
, or about 10 minutes from the nearby Azuchi Castle Archaeology Museum and the Nobunaga Hall. The trail leads up the west side of the mountain, first to the ancient temple Kuwanomi-dera (), then through a forest of
Japanese cedar ''Cryptomeria'' (literally "hidden parts") is a monotypic genus of conifer in the cypress family Cupressaceae, formerly belonging to the family Taxodiaceae. It includes only one species, ''Cryptomeria japonica'' ( syn. ''Cupressus japonica'' L ...
s, and up to Kannonji Castle site. From the main courtyard, there is a trail leading on to Kannonsho-ji, a temple with an impressive panoramic view. If driving, there are two roads that lead up the mountain. One follows a spur on the southwest slope and is accessed near the
Nakasendō The , also called the ,Richard Lane, ''Images from the Floating World'' (1978) Chartwell, Secaucus ; pg. 285 was one of the five routes of the Edo period, and one of the two that connected Edo (modern-day Tokyo) to Kyoto in Japan. There were 6 ...
Highway (
Japan National Route 8 is a major highway in the Hokuriku and Kansai The or the , lies in the southern-central region of Japan's main island Honshu, Honshū. The region includes the Prefectures of Japan, prefectures of Nara Prefecture, Nara, Wakayama Prefectur ...
) in Azuchi. The other leads up the eastern slope, and can be found near Route 202 off the Nakasendō Highway in the neighboring town of Gokashō. Both roads lead to Kannonsho-ji, a few minutes' walk from Kannonji Castle ruins.


Gallery

File:Kannonjij10.jpg File:Kannonjij12.jpg File:Kannonjij3.jpg File:Kannonsyouji2.jpg File:Kannonsyouji1.jpg


See also

*
List of Historic Sites of Japan (Shiga) This list is of the Historic Sites of Japan located within the Prefecture of Shiga. National Historic Sites As of 1 January 2021, fifty Sites have been designated as being of national significance (including two *Special Historic Sites); Gen ...


Literature

* * * * *


References


External links


Shiga-Biwako Visitors GuideShiga Prefecture Board of Education
{{Authority control Castles in Shiga Prefecture Historic Sites of Japan Ruined castles in Japan 100 Fine Castles of Japan Ōmihachiman, Shiga