Japan Castle Explorer

Wednesday, July 2, 2014

Oshi Castle -Castle rejected flood attack-

Oshi Castle

-Castle rejected flood attack-

Overview

Name: Oshi Castle (Oshi-jo)
Alias:
Place: Honmaru Gyoda city, Saitama

Location: 36.13787775311465, 139.4526659424049
Type: Flat Castle
Built: 15th century
Remaining remnants: Clay walls and gate (transferred)
Title: 100 more famous Japanese castles

Brief History

Oshi castle (忍城) is located at the central area of Gyoda city, at the middle north of current Saitama prefecture. Being surrounded by Tonegawa river and Arakawa river Gyoda area had been an important place, and many ancient tombs exist in this area. Major medieval castles at Kanto region such as Tatebayashi castle (Gunma prefecture), Kawagoe castle or Iwatsuki castle (Saitama prefecture) were usually built at the height beside the river and protected by marsh more or less, but Oshi castle was most extreme one such as islands in the sea.

Build of Oshi castle

Oshi castle was build by Narita clan in 15th century. Narita clan was a traditinal powerful local clan of this area, and served as vassal to Ogigayatsu Uesugi clan, reigner of west half of Kanto region. When Hojo clan, a warlord of Sagami province (Kanagawa clan) aimed expansion into Musashi province Narita clan at first belonged to Ogigayatsu Uesugi clan, but when their master suffered severe defeat and extinguished at the battle of Kawagoe castle in 1546, Narita clan surrendered to Hojo clan.

In 1560, Kenshin Uesugi (1530-1578), a warlord of Echigo province (Niigata prefecture), made large expedition to Kanto region under the name of Norimasa Uesugi (1523-1579), a former Kanto Kanrei (general governor of Kanto region) expelled by Hojyo clan. Nagayasu Narita (1495-1574), leader of the clan at that time, once belonged to Kenshin, but there arouse a quarrel between Kenshin and Nagayasu and Kenshin insulted Nagayasu, thus furious Nagayasu left Kenshin and went back to Hojyo clan. After that Narita clan had been an important retainer of Hojo clan, and expanded Oshi castle as a basement of this area.

Main areas of Oshi castle were located on the small height in the huge marsh from north to south, and connected by road or bridges each other. To enter the castle, the attacker had to go forward narrow path to the castle, exposed by attack of defense side. Due to its security, Oshi castle was regarded as one of seven excellent castles of Kanto region along with Maebashi castle, Kanayama castle, Kawagoe castle, Karasawayama castle, Utsunomiya castle and Tage castle.

Odawara Campaign against Hojyo clan by Hideyoshi

In 1590, central ruler Hideyoshi Toyotomi (1537-1598), a ruler of Japan and who vexed at Hojo clan did not subordinate to him, raised Odawara campaign against Hojo clan. Considering the difference of soldiers, Hojo clan concentrated soldiers at Odawara castle (Kanagawa prefecture), their main base and besieged it, thus only small soldiers were left for other castles.

Since the outbreak of campaign in March 1590, Toyotomi army smoothly captured Hojyo castles other than Odawara castle. In May, a detached force lead by Mitsunari Ishida (1560-1600), future chief administrative staff of Hideyoshi, captured Tatebayashi castle and turned to Oshi castle.

Ujinaga Nariga (1542-1596), leader of the clan at that time, stayed at Odawara castle which was the main base of Hojo clan, thus Oshi castle was guarded by only small soldiers. But as Oshi castle was a secure castle surrounded by huge marsh, to avoid unnecessary damage of attackers Mitsunari decided to adopt flood attack tactics.

Flood attacks in Japan

Flood attack is a tactics to siege a castle in which build embankment surrounding castle and pour water fron neighbor river into the castle area. Once flood attack successes, guarding soliders lost their place to rest and supplies, and further it became impossible to make counter attack to sieging side behind water and tall embankment. In that means, flood attack is a deadly blow to the castle. In Japan, due to rainy weather and rapid river stream, it is more suitable for flood attack than western countries, especially for the castle located at marsh.

On the other hand, to build embankment huge construction engineering was necessary, thus only strong power can use this tactics. In ancient china, Cao Cao (155-220), a powerful lord at the period of Three Kingdoms and substantial founder of Wei dynasty, used flood attack when he attacked Ye city by Yuen clan in 204. In Japan, flood attack was actually used less than 10 times under the record, and over half of them was performed by Hideyoshi Toyotomi (1537-1598) and his army.

Originally Hideyoshi had to siege many secure castle during his campaign against Mouri clan, and to avoid unnecessary damage he frequently used starving tactics by cutting off supply line. To shut enemy supply line Hideyoshi built clay walls surrounding enemy castle, and he utilized this experience into flood attack. In 1582 Hideyoshi succeeded to conquer Bicchu Takamatsu castle (Okayama prefecture) for the first time, and in 1585 he also used this tactics to monk worriers at Ota castle (Wakayama prefecture).

It is said that Hideyoshi ordered Mitsunari to use flood attack tactics. As Oshi castle was a castle located in a wide marsh, and large rivers flew next to castle, it has a good condition to perform flood attack. Probably Hideyoshi intent to improve his reputation and authority in Eastern Japan by success of flood attack, as all previous flood attack were performed in Western Japan.

Castle rejected flood attack

At the beginning of July, Mitsunari started to build a large embankment, and completed this embankment in a week. Mitsunari placed his headquarter at the top of old tomb near the castle, and ordered to pour water into the castle. In a moment Oshi castle was filled with water, and inside people had to evacuate to higher place.

But unlike Bicchu Takamatsu castle, Oshi castle stand for this flood attack. The castle had larger areas and central areas were surrounded by tall clay wall peculiar to Hojo clan, thus could stand for water to some extent. The terrain it self is vast flat area, different from Takamtsu castle which was enclosed hills except for small exit.

Besides, the size of Oshi castle was far larger than Bicchu Takamatsu castle, thus offense side had to build 28 kilometer length bank, far longer than Bicchu Takamatsu castle to dam the stream. The castle stand for water over 10 days, and with a heavy rain falling at the time, embankment had collapsed conversely. It is said that neighborhood pheasant mobilized for construction made corner-cutting to repay kindness for their lord.

Finally Oshi castle stood the attack of Toyotomi army until the mid of July, and at last voluntary opened the castle by order of Hojo clan which already surrendered to Hideyoshi. By this battle Oshi castle gained a fame to survive the water attack, and Mitsunari was evaluated as poor at battle. This fact might affect the result of the battle of Sekigahara in 1600, as Mitsunari could not gather and manage the lords under bad reputation on battle.

Afterward of Oshi castle

After the extinction of Hojo clan, Ieyasu Tokugawa (1543-1616) became the lord of Kanto region. He appointed his fourth son Tadayoshi Tokugawa (1580-1607) as a commander, and repaired the damaged castle. After the establishment of Edo Shogunate Oshi castle was treated as major base in Kanto region, and the castle was transformed into a modern on equipped with a three story turrets used as a substitute of main tower. Throughout Edo era, same as other castles in Kanto region, hereditary retainer of Edo Shogunate managed the castle.

Subsequent to Meiji revolution, all building were broken and most part of huge moat characterized this castle were also reclaimed. But clay wall surrounded the central area partially remain, and an imitation of three story turret was built and used as a local museum. At the neighborhood of the castle there exist partial ruin of embankment which used old tomb, which remind us massive flood attack and its failure.

Access

15 minutes walk from Chichibu-Tetsudo line Gyoda station. 20 minutes drive from Tohoku Jidoshado Expressway Kazo interchange.

Pictures (click to enlarge)

Tuesday, July 1, 2014

Tatebayashi Castle -Castle held by important persons of Edo Shogunate-

Tatebayashi Castle

-Castle held by important persons of Edo Shogunate-

Overview

Name: Tatebayashi Castle (Tatebayashi-jo)
Alias:
Place: Shiro-machi Tatebayashi city, Gunma

Location: 36.24365766889265, 139.54531369384972
Type: Flat Castle
Built: Originally in 15th century, expanded in 1590's
Remaining remnants: Clay walls
Title:

Brief History

Tatebayashi castle (館林城) is located at the side of Shironuma moat, at the center of Tatebayashi city. Tatebayashi city places along the way from Koga castle or Sekigado castle, the center of Kanto plain toward northwest Kanto region along Kinugawa river, and an important castle connecting east and west at north edge of Kanto plain.

Shironuma moat became small due to recent land reclamation but formerly was a huge moat, and the site of Tatebayashi castle was a peninsula shaped height protruded into the marsh. Guarded its backside by water, Tatebayashi castle was a secure castle. Throughout Edo era, Tatebayashi castle was treated as one of important bases of Edo shogunate, and important people of Shogunate served its commander.

Early days of Tatebayashi castle

The precise year is unknown but Tatebayashi castle was originally built in 15th century. Later Yura clan, a lord of Kanayama castle (Gunma prefecture), captured Tatebayashi castle and used it as a branch castle.

But in 1583, Hojyo clan, a warlord of Sagami country (Kanagawa prefecture) and held most part of Kanto region, attacked Yura clan. As a condition of peace Tatebayashi castle was transferred to Hojyo clan, and Hojyo clan also used Tatebayashi castle as one of major bases.

At the time of Odawara campaign by central ruler Hideyoshi Toyotomi (1537-1598) against Hojyo clan in 1590, the castle was attacked by large Toyotomi army lead by Mitsunari Ishida (1560-1600), later chief administrative staff of Toyotomi government, and accepted a summon to surrender and opened it without resistance.

After the extinction of Hojyo clan, Ieyasu Tokugawa (1543-1616) was appointed as a lord of Kanto region by Hideyoshi, and held current Kanagawa, Tokyo, Saitama, Gunma and north part of Chiba prefecture.

Ieyasu placed his important generals at major castles near to each border of new territory. Tadakatsu Honda (1548-1610), the bravest general of Tokugawa army,was located at Otaki castle aiming at Satomi clan at Awa country, and Tadachika Okubo (1553-province1628), a trusted general of Ieyasu became the commander of Odawara castle looking at Tokai region.

Naomasa Ii (1561-1602), young brilliant commander became the commander of Minowa castle (Gunma prefecture) to guard against Shinano province (Nagano prefecture) or Shinano province (Niigata prefecture), and Yasumasa Sakakibara (1548-1606), an excellent general equivalent to Tadakatsu was placed at Tatebayashi castle to guard the attack from Tohoku region.

Another brave general of Tokugawa army

Yasumasa Sakakibara was a commander of guard troop of Ieyasu along with Tadakatsu Honda, and fought with Ieyasu from young age. Not so famous as Tadakatsu but Yasumasa was also a brilliant general of Tokugawa army. At the battle of Anegawa in 1570, Yasumasa made side attack to Asakura army and contributed to victory.

Further, during the battle of Komaki Nagakute against detached army of Hideyoshi Toyotomi (1537-1598), Yasumasa lead the back attack to Hidetsugu Toyotomi (1568-1595), nephew of Hideyoshi and commander of the troop, and thoroughly beat them.

Yasumasa was also good at calligraphy, and before the battle of Komaki Nagakutehhe wrote agitation documents severely abusing Hideyoshi and delivered. After Ieyasu subordinated to Hideyoshi in 1586, at the Odawara campaign against Hojyo clan in 1590, he attacked many castles as a vanguard and also served as a representative to accept surrender of Odawara castle.

Yasumasa transformed Tatebayashi castle as a modern one. The main areas including central area, secondary area and third area was placed at a straight line, and outer areas consisted another line next to main areas. The root of peninsula is most secured area guarded by high clay walls and composite gate. Even though this castle did not have stone walls, but there were several turrets including a three story one as a substitute of main tower.

As a front general Yasumawa was unfortunate after the establishment of Edo Shogunate in 1600, and died in 1606 at this castle. Next 50 years hereditary retainer of Edo shogunate served as commanders of this castle.

Castle produced Shogun and its candidate

In 1661, Tsunayoshi Tokugawa (1646-1709) , younger brother of 4th Shogun Ietsuna Tokugawa (1651-1680) was appointed as a governor of Tatebayashi castle. But in 1680, Ietsuna died without successor, thus Tsunayoshi became the fifth Shogun of Edo shogunate.

The period of Tsunayoshi was a maturity time of Edo era and its reign was mostly smooth, but Tsunayoshi also issued “Shorui Awaremi no Rei” (Rule of protection animal” and strictly banned capture of stray dogs and forced people to feed them, and it was quite unpopular among people.

When Tsuyanoshi became the Shogun of course he moved to Edo castle, thus his son Tokumatsu (1680-1683) became the nominal commander. But Tokumatsu died in youth thus Tatebayashi domain became extinct and Tatebayashi castle was once broken.

Next in 1707, Kiyotake Matsudaira (1663-1724), a nephew of Tsunayoshi, was appointed as a governor of this castle and restored it. Kiyotake was once nominated as 8th Shogun after the death of 7th Shogun Ietsugu Tokugawa (1709-1716), but he was too old to be a Shogun at that time, this plan was cancelled and Yoshimune Tokugawa (1684-1751) , the leader of Kishu domain, became the Shogun.

After Kiyotake, hereditary retainer of Edo shogunate served the commander of the castle by the end of Edo era. Subsequent to Meiji revolution, all buildings were lost and the place of castles was used for a ground of administrative offices and schools. Today it is difficult to grasp the shape of former important castle, but there remain a limited part of clay wall remain in the castle area, and an imitation of former main gate into third area and outer gate are each restored.