| Kōchi Castle | |
|---|---|
高知城 | |
| 1-2-1 Marunouchi, Kōchi-shi, Kōchi-ken, Japan | |
  | |
| Site information | |
| Type | Hirayamashiro (hilltopcastle) |
| Condition | All the buildings in thehonmaru (innermostbailey) are original, dating from 1729 to 1753. |
| Location | |
  Kōchi Castle  Kōchi Castle | |
| Coordinates | 33°33′40″N133°31′53″E / 33.56111°N 133.53139°E /33.56111; 133.53139 |
| Height | Five stories (tenshu) |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1601 to 1611 |
| Built by | Yamanouchi Kazutoyo |
| In use | 1611 to 1868 |
| Materials | Earth, stone, and wood |
Kōchi Castle (高知城,Kōchi-jō) is anEdo PeriodJapanese castle in the city ofKōchi,Kōchi Prefecture, Japan. It is located at Otakayama hill, at the center of Kōchi city, which in turn is located at the center of the Kōchi Plain, the most prosperous area of formerTosa Province on the island ofShikoku. From 1601 to 1871, it was the center ofTosa Domain, ruled by thetozamaYamauchi clan under theTokugawa Shogunate. The castle site has been protected as aNational Historic Site since 1959, with the area under protection expanded in 2014.[1]
During theSengoku period, Tosa Province was dominated byChōsokabe Motochika, who conquered most of Shikoku from stronghold atOkō Castle. However, Okō Castle was a mountain stronghold with little room for the development of acastle town. After his defeat byToyotomi Hideyoshi in 1585, Motochika decided to construct a new castle at Otakayama hill and the ruins of an ancient fortification which had been constructed byOtakasa Matsuomaru sometime during the lateHeian orKamakura period. Although the new castle had the advantages of space and a central location, the area around the hill at this time was extremely swampy, due to the influx of alluvial sediments from theKagami River, and was prone to flooding.[2] Motochika shortly afterwards moved once again to a new location at Urado Castle on the coast, which also had the advantage of being closer to his fleet.
However, Motochika's successorChōsokabe Morichika joined the pro-Toyotomi Western Army at theBattle of Sekigahara in 1600, and was subsequently deprived of his title, and later his life. The victoriousTokugawa shogunate orderedYamauchi Kazutoyo, lord ofKakegawa Castle inTōtōmi Province to take control of the province asdaimyō of the newly createdTosa Domain, with a nominalkokudaka of 202,600koku.[3] Kazutoyo first entered Urado Castle, but its defenses were weak, so he rebuilt Otakayama Castle from 1601 to 1611 on a larger scale. He renamed the castle "Kawanakayama Castle", and later changed the name to Kōchi Castle.[4]
Much of the original fortress burned down in 1727; it was reconstructed between 1729 and 1753 in the original style. During theBoshin War, Kōchi escaped any damage, and the castle was also exempted from the post-Meiji restoration orders to destroy all remaining feudal fortifications.The castle also survivedWorld War II unscathed, and underwent major restoration from 1948 to 1959. Though no battles were fought at the castle, it is noteworthy because the castle buildings are all historical structures, and not post-war replicas. It is also the only castle in Japan to retain both its historicaltenshu, orkeep, and its palace, the residence of the localdaimyō.[5] In fact, it is the only castle to have all the original buildings (from the 18th-century reconstruction) in thehonmaru, or innermost ring of defense, still standing.
Kōchi Castle was listed as one ofJapan's Top 100 Castles by the Japan Castle Foundation in 2006.[6] The castle is a 20-minute walk from theJR ShikokuKōchi Station.[7]
As one of only twelve castles with intact original main keeps in Japan, Kōchi Castle was formerly designated aNational Treasure (国宝) before the 1950 National Treasure Protection Law (文化財保護法施) was enacted. After the law was passed, a number of surviving structures within the castle grounds were individually given NationalImportant Cultural Property designations:
Two rivers, theKagami River [ja] and theEnokuchi River, form the outer moat of the castle. The castle is relatively small, as it was constructed primarily as a defense against possible rebellion by former Chōsokabe retainers, who were very unhappy with the death of their lord and the imposition of rule by the Yamauchi clan and Tokugawa Shogunate. The central bailey at the peak of the hill is an isolated area connected to secondary bailey only by bridge, and wholly surrounded by stone walls andyagura watchtowers. In case of emergency the bridge could be destroyed and the isolated defenders in thetenshu could wait for the reinforcements from branch castles. Thetenshu is five stories high and sits atop Otakasa Hill, commanding an extensive view of the city. Each roads from hillside area to central area are steep and folded, and climbing enemies are exposed to continuous attack from upper area, including main tower. Inside central area, other than thetenshu, the Kaitokukan palace was located. This was constructed in theShoin style. The castle retains this structure today and has been fitted with period-appropriate items in the lower rooms. In addition to atearoom,genkan (entrance area), and latrine, the Kaitokukan contains eighttraditional rooms, ranging in size from three to twelvetatami. It is surrounded by averanda on the east and south sides. The Kaitokukan also burned during the fire of 1727, but it was not repaired until 1747, with work completed in 1749.[5]
Below the central area secondary area and other terraces covered with tall stone walls were built. The main gate of the castle located at southeast direction of the hill, and outer moat surrounded south half. The castle grounds are now a public park, and a popular location in spring forhanami. They contain the Prefectural Library and the Kōchi Literary Museum, in addition to statues of notable scions of theYamauchi clan.
Media related toKochi Castle at Wikimedia Commons
Geographic data related toKōchi Castle atOpenStreetMap.svg)
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