Yoshida-Kōriyama Castle

Gifu Yoshida-Kōriyama Castle (吉田郡山城, Yoshida-Kōriyama-jō) was initially a small 14th century castle, later expanded to a large castle in the 16th century, located in Akitakata, Hiroshima, Japan.[3][4]

Yoshida-Kōriyama Castle
Akitakata, Hiroshima, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan
Honmaru compound of Yoshida-Kōriyama Castle
Type　Mountaintop castle style Japanese castle
Site history
Built byMōri Motonari
In useSengoku period
Demolished1600[1][2]
Battles/warsSiege of Koriyama (1541)
Garrison information
OccupantsMōri Motonari
Mōri Terumoto

History

This castle was constructed by Mōri Motonari, a famous daimyō, in the 16th century. The Mori Clan originally came to the Yoshida area from Sagami Province (now Kanagawa Prefecture) in 1336. Having survived the war during the Nanboku-chō period (14th century), they continued to expand their territories.[5]

For much of the early period, the castle was small, and the Mori clan found themselves vulnerable, wedged between the Ouchi Clan (of Suo Province) and the Amago clan (Izumo Province).[4] However, in the 16th century, Mōri Motonari defeated initially the Amako Clan, with the help of the Ouchi Clan, and then defeated the Ouchi Clan after they were weakened by internal conflict.[5] The Clan then conquered the Chugoku district.[3] The castle was repaired, rebuilt and expanded in size to cover most of the mountain.[5][6] The clan became more influential, and extended its holdings. It became quite advanced for a mountaintop castle, with complex inner and outer stone walls, a quadrangle and a stone-walled fort. In 1591, Mori Terumoto moved to Hiroshima Castle but Kōriyama Castle was retained as the castle was important for Mori clan.[2]

However, in 1600 the Mori Clan joined the western forces and participated in the Battle of Sekigahara. When the western allies lost the battle, the Mori clan was forced into the provinces of Suō and Nagato.[3] Like many castles in Japan, it was largely demolished in the early Edo period under the one castle/one domain policy of the Tokugawa shogunate.[4]

Preservation

There are some substantial structures left at the current site, mainly some low stone walls and moats.[3] However, considering it was such a large castle that covered much of the mountain, there are about 130 relics left of the castle on the site.[4]

Akitakata City Historical Museum is near the castle. At the museum excavated artefacts from the castle are exhibited.[7][1]

  • Akitakata City Historical Museum
  • Well of Kōriyama Castle
  • Dry moat of Kōriyama Castle
  • Demolished stone wall
  • Ninomaru compound
  • Tomb of Mōri Motonari

See also

References
  1. "本100名城・郡山城編】 12の尾根と谷を駆使した毛利元就が築いた要塞" (in Japanese). 城びと. Retrieved 25 July 2019.
  2. "郡山城跡 戦国武将 毛利元就が居城とした中国地方最大級の山城跡" (in Japanese). あきたかた　navi. Retrieved 25 July 2019.
  3. "The Remains of Koriyama Castle". Hiroshima Cultural Encyclopedia. Hiroshima Prefecture. 2008. Retrieved 22 May 2016.
  4. Aki kooriyama jyou　Aki "Koriyama Castle Ruins" http://nippon-kichi.jp/article_list.do?areaId=34&ml_lang=en
  5. "Kooriyama Castle" Japan Castle http://castle.jpn.org/en/aki/kooriyama/
  6. "Aki Koriyama Castle" http://www.japancastle.jp/2014/03/aki-koriyama-castle-proverb-of-three.htmlas
  7. "第一展示　毛利氏" (in Japanese). 安芸高田市歴史民俗博物館. Retrieved 25 July 2019.

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