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| JapanLinked.com | Japan Guide - Japanese Castles |
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Nara Period |
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During the Nara period of 545-794, warlords began to engage in more combat and their castles, called Kinowa and Kinowasaku, developed into forts surrounded by moats. These were stronger then the earlier designs. |
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Heian Period |
During the Heian period (794-1185) there was a shift from the need to defend the entire state from invaders to that of lords defending individual mansions or territories from one another. Though battles were still continually fought in the north-east portion of Honsh? (the T?hoku region) against native peoples, the rise of the samurai warrior class towards the end of the period, and various disputes between noble families jostling for power and influence in the Imperial Court brought about further developments. The primary defensive concern in the archipelago was no longer native tribes or foreign invaders, but rather internal conflicts within Japan, between rival samurai clans or other increasingly large and powerful factions, and as a result, defensive strategies and attitudes were forced to change and adapt. As factions emerged and loyalties shifted, clans and factions which had been allies in the service of the Imperial Court became enemies, and defensive networks were broken, or altered through the shifting of alliances. |
Sengoku Period |
During the Sengoku period.Hundreds of castles were built. These were mountaintop castles, called yamajiro, and served as watchtowers. The castles were small, with no moats or turrets. Examples of such castles survive today, including Iwakuni and Gifu castles. The yamajiro soon were replaced by hirayamajiro, flatland-mountain castles. These castles were built on small hills and still provided a good view of the area. From the castles, battles were conducted, government administrated and large armies managed. A tall main keep provided a more extended view of the surroundings of the castle. The first hirayamajiro was Azuchi Castle, built by Oda Nobunga in 1579. |
Edo Period |
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The Edo Period of Japanese history, 1603-1867, was a time of relative peace. However, a law known as ikkoku ichijoo required that each province have exactly one castle. The result was the building of almost useless castles in some areas and the tearing down of historic structures in others. The same law also said that the daimyo had to receive permission to build, rebuild or renovate their castles.
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Restoration of Japanese Castles |
With the Meiji Restoration of 1868, castles were no longer a necessity, and as such, the Meiji government passed the Castle Abolishment Law in 1873 to demolish all castles. To the Meiji rulers, castles were a reminder of the days of feudalism, which had ended with their seizure of power. Of the 170 Edo period castles, 2/3 were destroyed by 1875. In recent years, other castles have been lost to fire, earthquakes and World War II, and today only 12 original donjon castles remain. These include Matsumaro-jo, Inuyama-jo, Hikone-jo, Himeji-jo, Maruoka-jo, Matsue-jo, Marugame-jo, Uwajima-jo, Bitchu-Matsuyama-jo, Hirosaki-jo and Matsuyama-jo. Even these 12 have lost much of their original grounds and outer buildings, but all are now protected by Japanese laws. Pictures and more information on these castles can be seen here. |
| Modern Day |
| During the 1900's, many old Japanese castles have been reconstructed, the first being Osaka-jo in 1931 and the most recent being Kishiwasa-jo in 1954. These reconstructions are usually made of concrete and contain a local history museum of some sort and some contain certain elements of the original structures, such as the moat or gate. |
Castles in Japan you can visit |
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Aizu-wakamatsu-Jo
| Kouchi-Jo
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