Inuyama Castle
Encyclopedia
is located in the city of Inuyama
, Aichi Prefecture
, Japan
. The castle overlooks the Kiso River
, which serves as the border between Aichi and Gifu
prefectures
. Inuyama Castle is one of the 12 Japanese castles still in existence which were built before the Edo period
.
(a Heian Period
-book), Harigane Shrine (a Shinto
shrine) was moved to make way for the castle. That structure has been heavily augmented over time, and the current towers were completed in 1537, by Oda Nobuyasu, Oda Nobunaga
's uncle. Though the antiquated architectural style of the watchtower atop the tenshu
has in the past led many historians to believe this to be the oldest extant tenshu in Japan, that honor goes to Maruoka Castle
, built in 1576. Construction on the main tenshu (donjon) at Inuyama began in 1601, and continued through 1620.
The castle was the center of power for the Naruse clan, retainers of the Matsudaira clan
and rulers of the Inuyama Domain
. Inuyama Castle was unique in Japan in that it was privately owned. The donjon (tenshu) has been designated as national treasure
. However, it was seized by the Japanese government as part of the Meiji Restoration
. In 1891, the castle was damaged in the Great Nōbi Earthquake
, and it was returned to the Naruse family in 1895, on the condition that they repair and maintain it. The castle was recently sold to the city of Inuyama, and is in the process of being turned over to the Aichi Prefectural government.
It was long believed that the donjon of Inuyama Castle was moved to the castle from Kanayama Castle
in 1599, until such theory was disapproved as a result of examination through a large scale restoration work, involving the dismantling of the donjon, carried out between 1961 and 1965.
Inuyama, Aichi
is a city located near Nagoya in Aichi Prefecture, Japan.In 2010, the city had a population of 75,449 and a population density of 1,010 persons per km². The total area is 74.97 km². The city lies along the edge of Aichi Prefecture, separated from neighbouring Gifu Prefecture by the Kiso River...
, Aichi Prefecture
Aichi Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region. The region of Aichi is also known as the Tōkai region. The capital is Nagoya. It is the focus of the Chūkyō Metropolitan Area.- History :...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. The castle overlooks the Kiso River
Kiso River
The is a river in Japan roughly 193 km long, flowing through the prefectures of Nagano, Gifu, Aichi, and Mie before emptying into Ise Bay a short distance away from the city of Nagoya. It is the main river of the Kiso Three Rivers and forms a major part of the Nōbi Plain...
, which serves as the border between Aichi and Gifu
Gifu Prefecture
is a prefecture located in the Chūbu region of central Japan. Its capital is the city of Gifu.Located in the center of Japan, it has long played an important part as the crossroads of Japan, connecting the east to the west through such routes as the Nakasendō...
prefectures
Prefectures of Japan
The prefectures of Japan are the country's 47 subnational jurisdictions: one "metropolis" , Tokyo; one "circuit" , Hokkaidō; two urban prefectures , Osaka and Kyoto; and 43 other prefectures . In Japanese, they are commonly referred to as...
. Inuyama Castle is one of the 12 Japanese castles still in existence which were built before the Edo period
Edo period
The , or , is a division of Japanese history which was ruled by the shoguns of the Tokugawa family, running from 1603 to 1868. The political entity of this period was the Tokugawa shogunate....
.
History
Inuyama Castle is often claimed as the oldest castle in Japan. Its original construction was completed in 1440. According to EngishikiEngishiki
-History:In 905 Emperor Daigo ordered the compilation of a new set of laws. Fujiwara no Tokihira began the task, but work stalled when he died four years later in 909. His brother Fujiwara no Tadahira continued the work in 912 eventually completing it in 927...
(a Heian Period
Heian period
The is the last division of classical Japanese history, running from 794 to 1185. The period is named after the capital city of Heian-kyō, or modern Kyōto. It is the period in Japanese history when Buddhism, Taoism and other Chinese influences were at their height...
-book), Harigane Shrine (a Shinto
Shinto
or Shintoism, also kami-no-michi, is the indigenous spirituality of Japan and the Japanese people. It is a set of practices, to be carried out diligently, to establish a connection between present day Japan and its ancient past. Shinto practices were first recorded and codified in the written...
shrine) was moved to make way for the castle. That structure has been heavily augmented over time, and the current towers were completed in 1537, by Oda Nobuyasu, Oda Nobunaga
Oda Nobunaga
was the initiator of the unification of Japan under the shogunate in the late 16th century, which ruled Japan until the Meiji Restoration in 1868. He was also a major daimyo during the Sengoku period of Japanese history. His opus was continued, completed and finalized by his successors Toyotomi...
's uncle. Though the antiquated architectural style of the watchtower atop the tenshu
Tenshu
thumbnail|250px|right|Matsue TenshuTenshu, , also called Tenshukaku, 天守閣, the central tower or main keep at Japanese castle. It is the most important part of Japanese castle. It began from Sengoku period. Azuchi Castle, built in 1576 by Oda Nobunaga, was Japan's first castle to have a Tenshu....
has in the past led many historians to believe this to be the oldest extant tenshu in Japan, that honor goes to Maruoka Castle
Maruoka Castle
is a Japanese castle, located in Maruoka, Fukui, and famous for its donjon , the oldest in Japan. Built in 1576 by order of Shibata Katsutoyo, only the central tower remains; the grounds are used by the local populace for festivals such as hanami and traditional parades...
, built in 1576. Construction on the main tenshu (donjon) at Inuyama began in 1601, and continued through 1620.
The castle was the center of power for the Naruse clan, retainers of the Matsudaira clan
Matsudaira clan
The was a Japanese samurai clan that claimed descent from the Minamoto clan. It first originated in and took its name from Matsudaira village, in Mikawa Province . Over the course of its history, the clan produced many branches, most of which also centered around Mikawa Province...
and rulers of the Inuyama Domain
Inuyama Domain
The was a feudal domain in Owari Province, Japan. It was not officially designated as a domain by the Tokugawa Shogunate, when major domains were established, but was finally designated a domain in 1868...
. Inuyama Castle was unique in Japan in that it was privately owned. The donjon (tenshu) has been designated as national treasure
National treasures of Japan
National Treasures are the most precious of Japan's Tangible Cultural Properties, as determined and designated by the Agency for Cultural Affairs...
. However, it was seized by the Japanese government as part of the Meiji Restoration
Meiji Restoration
The , also known as the Meiji Ishin, Revolution, Reform or Renewal, was a chain of events that restored imperial rule to Japan in 1868...
. In 1891, the castle was damaged in the Great Nōbi Earthquake
1891 Mino-Owari earthquake
The was a large earthquake that struck the former provinces of Mino and Owari in the Nōbi Plain area during the Meiji period in Japan. It is also referred to as the Nōbi Earthquake or the Great Nōbi Earthquake . It is the largest known inland earthquake in Japan.-History:The earthquake struck on...
, and it was returned to the Naruse family in 1895, on the condition that they repair and maintain it. The castle was recently sold to the city of Inuyama, and is in the process of being turned over to the Aichi Prefectural government.
It was long believed that the donjon of Inuyama Castle was moved to the castle from Kanayama Castle
Kanayama Castle
, also known as Ōta Kanayama Castle and as Nitta Kanayama Castle, is a yamashiro located on top of Mount Kanayama in Ōta, Gunma Prefecture, Japan.-History:...
in 1599, until such theory was disapproved as a result of examination through a large scale restoration work, involving the dismantling of the donjon, carried out between 1961 and 1965.
Castle Rulers
The rulers of Inuyama Castle are listed below in order with their dates of reign in parentheses. There were no castle rulers from 1612–1617 and 1869–1895.- Pre-Naruse Clan
- Oda Nobuyasu (1537–1547)
- Oda NobuyukiOda Nobuyukiwas the son of Oda Nobuhide, and younger brother of Oda Nobunaga in the earlier years of the Sengoku period of the 16th century of Japan.Nobuyuki conspired against his brother Nobunaga with the Hayashi and Shibata families. Nobuyuki's Suemori Castle was reduced by Ikeda Nobuteru. Though Hayashi and...
(1547–1564) - Ikeda Nobuteru (1570–1581)
- Oda Nobufusa (1581–1582)
- Nakagawa Sadanari (1582–1584)
- Ikeda Nobuteru (1584)
- Katō Yasukage (1584, proxy ruler)
- Takeda Kiyotoshi (1584–1587, proxy ruler)
- Hijikata Katsuyoshi (1587–1590, proxy ruler)
- Nagao Yoshifusa (1590–1592, proxy ruler)
- Miwa Gorōemon (1592–1595)
- Ishikawa Mitsuyoshi (1595–1600)
- Ogasawara Yoshitsugu (1601–1607)
- Hiraiwa ChikayoshiHiraiwa Chikayoshiwas a Japanese daimyo of the early Edo period. He ruled the Inuyama Domain....
(1607–1612)- Naruse Clan
- Naruse Masanari (1617–1625)
- Naruse Masatora (1625–1659)
- Naruse Masachika (1659–1703)
- Naruse Masayuki (1703–1732)
- Naruse Masamoto (1732–1768)
- Naruse Masanori (1768–1809)
- Naruse Masanaga (1809–1838)
- Naruse Masazumi (1838–1857)
- Naruse Masamitsu (1857–1869, 1895–1903)
- Naruse Masao (1903–1949)
- Naruse Masakatsu (1949–1973)
- Naruse Masatoshi (1973–2004)