Kunohe Castle

Kunohe Castle
九戸城
Ninohe, Iwate Prefecture, Japan
Remnants of dry moats at ruins of Kunohe Castle
Kunohe Castle
九戸城
Kunohe Castle
九戸城
Coordinates 40°16′00″N 141°18′13″E / 40.26667°N 141.30361°E / 40.26667; 141.30361
Type hirayama-style Japanese castle
Site information
Open to
the public		 yes
Condition ruins
Site history
Built Muromachi period
Built by unknown
In use Sengoku period
Demolished 1636

Kunohe Castle (九戸城, Kunohe-jō) was a Japanese castle controlled by the Nanbu clan located in what is now the city of Ninohe, Iwate Prefecture, in the Tōhoku region of far northern Japan. It was also referred to as Fukuoka Castle (福岡城, Fukuoka-jō)[1] or Miyano Castle’’' (宮野城, Miyano-jō).

Description

Kunohe Castle was a hirayama-style castle built on a river terrace overlooking a junction between the Mabechi River, Shiratori River and a small branch of the Shiratori River, which formed part of its natural defences to the north, west and east. As with similar contemporary castles (such as Ne Castle), the fortifications at Kunohe consisted of a number of dry moats, creating a number of enclosures, each with its own earthen ramparts: the main bailey, second bailey, and there smaller baileys (Matsunomaru, Ishizawadate, and Wakasadate). The entrance to the south was protected by a wide dry moat, and the area of the enclosures was over 500 square meters.

History

The date of the castle’s foundation is unknown. The Nanbu clan was originally a branch of the Takeda clan from Kai Province and was awarded estates in the far northern Tōhoku region during the Kamakura period, but actively began controlling the area after the start of the Muromachi period. The Kunohe clan was a branch of the main Nanbu clan, and estensively rebuilt pre-existing fortifications around 1492-1501 AD.[1]

Following a succession dispute in 1590, Kunohe Masazane rose in rebellion against the Nanbu Nobunao, chieftain of the main Nanbu clan, who had the backing of Toyotomi Hideyoshi. In the Kunohe Rebellion of 1591, the greatly outnumbered defenders of the castle surrendered to an army led by Gamo Ujisato; however, the peace terms were a ruse, and after surrendering the defenders were all massacred in the second bailey of the castle.[2]

The castle was initially rebuilt by Gamo Ujizane; however, Nanbu Naonobu chose to make Sannohe Castle his seat in 1597 and by 1636 the castle was allowed to fall into ruins.

On June 7, 1935 the area was proclaimed a National Historic Site by the Japanese government.[3]

See also

Literature

  • Schmorleitz, Morton S. (1974). Castles in Japan. Tokyo: Charles E. Tuttle Co. pp. 144–145. ISBN 0-8048-1102-4.
  • Motoo, Hinago (1986). Japanese Castles. Tokyo: Kodansha. p. 200 pages. ISBN 0-87011-766-1.
  • Mitchelhill, Jennifer (2004). Castles of the Samurai: Power and Beauty. Tokyo: Kodansha. p. 112 pages. ISBN 4-7700-2954-3.
  • Turnbull, Stephen (2003). Japanese Castles 1540-1640. Osprey Publishing. p. 64 pages. ISBN 1-84176-429-9.

References

  1. 1 2 "Kunohe Castle Ruins". The Home of Japan Awaits Your Visit. Ninohe City Tourism Association. 2016. Retrieved 1 April 2017.
  2. ↑ Turnbull, Stephen (2010). Hatamoto: Samurai Horse and Foot Guards 1540-1724. Osprey. ISBN 9781846034787.
  3. ↑ "九戸城跡 くのへじょうあと". Cultural Heritage Online (in Japanese). Agency for Cultural Affairs. Retrieved 25 December 2016.
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