Kannonji Castle
Encyclopedia
The ruins of are located on the ridgeline of Mount Kinugasa in the town of Azuchi
, Shiga Prefecture
, not far from the ruins of Azuchi Castle
. At the castle site, the ruins of stone walls, a stone-lined well, and an historical signboard can be found. The castle was named after Kannonsho-ji, a Buddhist temple
near the peak of the mountain.
", was appointed to a position as a constabulary
authority over Ōmi and other nearby provinces by the Ashikaga shogunate
in Kyoto
, and a castle was needed as an administrative center and military rallying point. The ridged peak of Kinugasa Mountain, where Kannonsho-ji was already located, was selected as the new site. A castle from that lofty position would command a view of the plains below and would serve as a symbol of power in the region. Construction of the castle was completed in 1468, and was originally named Sasaki Castle.
Sasaki (now Kannonji) Castle was intended to defend Ōmi Province
and was the base-castle of the Rokkaku clan. The castle was attacked and taken not long after construction during the Onin War
(1467–77). Renovations were done during the Kōji Era (1555-1558), and the stone ramparts were enlarged in order to accommodate small cannons.
In 1568, Oda Nobunaga
was escorting Ashikaga Yoshiaki
to Kyoto
in order to install him as shogun
. As the expedition crossed through the area, Rokkaku forces, loyal to the Ashikaga shogun already in place, left their stronghold in order to disrupt or arrest their advance. Nobunaga defeated the Rokkaku on the battlefield and entered Kannonji Castle unopposed and in triumph, before resuming his march to Kyoto.
The Rokkaku clan continued to use Kannonji Castle as a base castle until their worst defeat in 1570 by Shibata Katsuie
. It is thought that the castle was abandoned sometime afterward. In 1582 Kannonji Castle was attacked and burned, along with Azuchi Castle, possibly at the hands of looters from among the local peasantry.
In 1969 and 1970, artifacts were discovered during archaeological
excavations in the main courtyard (hon-maru).
, Nanao Castle, Odani Castle
and Gassantoda Castle
.
, or about 10 minutes from the nearby Azuchi Castle Archaeology Museum and the Nobunaga Hall. The trail leads up the west side of the mountain, first to the ancient temple Kuwanomi-dera (桑実寺), then through a forest of Japanese cedars and up the slope to Kannonji Castle site. From the main courtyard, there is a trail leading on to Kannonsho-ji, a temple with an impressive panoramic view of the area.
If driving, there are two roads that lead up the mountain. One road follows a spur on the southwest slope, and is accessed near the Nakasendo Highway (National Highway 8) in Azuchi. The other leads up the eastern slope, and can be found near Route 202 off the Nakasendo Highway in the neighboring town of Gokasho
. Both roads leads up to Kannonsho-ji, a few minutes' walk from Kannonji Castle ruins.
Azuchi, Shiga
was a town located in Gamō District, Shiga, Japan.As of 2003, the town had an estimated population of 12,217 and a density of 502.76 persons per km². The total area was 24.30 km²....
, Shiga Prefecture
Shiga Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan, which forms part of the Kansai region on Honshu Island. The capital is the city of Ōtsu.- History :Shiga was known as Ōmi Province or Gōshū before the prefectural system was established...
, not far from the ruins of Azuchi Castle
Azuchi Castle
' was one of the primary castles of Oda Nobunaga. It was built from 1576 to 1579, on the shores of Lake Biwa, in Ōmi Province. Nobunaga intentionally built it close enough to Kyoto that he could watch over and guard the approaches to the capital, but, being outside the city, his fortress would be...
. At the castle site, the ruins of stone walls, a stone-lined well, and an historical signboard can be found. The castle was named after Kannonsho-ji, a Buddhist temple
Buddhist temples in Japan
Along with Shinto shrines, Buddhist temples are the most numerous, famous, and important religious buildings in Japan.The term "Shinto shrine" is used in opposition to "Buddhist temple" to mirror in English the distinction made in Japanese between Shinto and Buddhist religious structures. In...
near the peak of the mountain.
History
During the Age of Warring States, the Sasaki (佐々木) family, or "Rokkaku clanRokkaku clan
The was a Japanese samurai clan which wielded considerable power in the Muromachi period under the Ashikaga shogunate.-Rise and Fall:Founded by Sasaki Yasutsuna of Ōmi province in the 13th century, the name Rokkaku was taken from their residence within Kyoto; however, many members of this family...
", was appointed to a position as a constabulary
Constable
A constable is a person holding a particular office, most commonly in law enforcement. The office of constable can vary significantly in different jurisdictions.-Etymology:...
authority over Ōmi and other nearby provinces by the Ashikaga shogunate
Ashikaga shogunate
The , also known as the , was a Japanese feudal military regime, ruled by the shoguns of the Ashikaga clan.This period is also known as the Muromachi period and gets its name from Muromachi Street of Kyoto where the third shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu established his residence...
in Kyoto
Kyoto
is a city in the central part of the island of Honshū, Japan. It has a population close to 1.5 million. Formerly the imperial capital of Japan, it is now the capital of Kyoto Prefecture, as well as a major part of the Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto metropolitan area.-History:...
, and a castle was needed as an administrative center and military rallying point. The ridged peak of Kinugasa Mountain, where Kannonsho-ji was already located, was selected as the new site. A castle from that lofty position would command a view of the plains below and would serve as a symbol of power in the region. Construction of the castle was completed in 1468, and was originally named Sasaki Castle.
Sasaki (now Kannonji) Castle was intended to defend Ōmi Province
Omi Province
is an old province of Japan, which today comprises Shiga Prefecture. It was one of the provinces that made up the Tōsandō circuit. It is nicknamed as .Lake Biwa, Japan's largest lake, is located at the center of the province...
and was the base-castle of the Rokkaku clan. The castle was attacked and taken not long after construction during the Onin War
Onin War
The ' was a civil war that lasted 10 years during the Muromachi period in Japan. A dispute between Hosokawa Katsumoto and Yamana Sōzen escalated into a nationwide war involving the Ashikaga shogunate and a number of daimyo in many regions of Japan....
(1467–77). Renovations were done during the Kōji Era (1555-1558), and the stone ramparts were enlarged in order to accommodate small cannons.
In 1568, 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...
was escorting Ashikaga Yoshiaki
Ashikaga Yoshiaki
was the 15th shogun of the Ashikaga shogunate in Japan who reigned from 1568 to 1573. His father, Ashikaga Yoshiharu was the twelfth shogun, and his brother, Ashikaga Yoshiteru was the thirteenth shogun....
to Kyoto
Kyoto
is a city in the central part of the island of Honshū, Japan. It has a population close to 1.5 million. Formerly the imperial capital of Japan, it is now the capital of Kyoto Prefecture, as well as a major part of the Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto metropolitan area.-History:...
in order to install him as shogun
Shogun
A was one of the hereditary military dictators of Japan from 1192 to 1867. In this period, the shoguns, or their shikken regents , were the de facto rulers of Japan though they were nominally appointed by the emperor...
. As the expedition crossed through the area, Rokkaku forces, loyal to the Ashikaga shogun already in place, left their stronghold in order to disrupt or arrest their advance. Nobunaga defeated the Rokkaku on the battlefield and entered Kannonji Castle unopposed and in triumph, before resuming his march to Kyoto.
The Rokkaku clan continued to use Kannonji Castle as a base castle until their worst defeat in 1570 by Shibata Katsuie
Shibata Katsuie
or was a Japanese military commander during the Sengoku Period who served Oda Nobunaga.-Biography:Katsuie was born in the Shibata family, a branch of the Shiba clan . Note the differences between , , and the .Katsuie was the retainer of Oda Nobukatsu...
. It is thought that the castle was abandoned sometime afterward. In 1582 Kannonji Castle was attacked and burned, along with Azuchi Castle, possibly at the hands of looters from among the local peasantry.
In 1969 and 1970, artifacts were discovered during archaeological
Archaeology
Archaeology, or archeology , is the study of human society, primarily through the recovery and analysis of the material culture and environmental data that they have left behind, which includes artifacts, architecture, biofacts and cultural landscapes...
excavations in the main courtyard (hon-maru).
Significance
Kannonji Castle is regarded as among Japan's Five Greatest Mountain Castles, along with Kasugayama CastleKasugayama Castle
' was the primary fortress of the Japanese warlord Uesugi Kenshin during the Sengoku period. It is situated in what is now the city of Jōetsu, Niigata prefecture, and was originally built and ruled by the Nagao clan....
, Nanao Castle, Odani Castle
Odani Castle
was a Sengoku period mountain-top castle located in the present day town of Kohoku in Higashiazai District, Shiga Prefecture, Japan. Only the ruins remain today. It was the home castle of the Azai clan and the mountain it was built upon was considered to be impregnable...
and Gassantoda Castle
Gassantoda Castle
Gassantoda Castle is a mountain castle, or yamashiro, located in Yasugi, Shimane Prefecture, Japan. Today, only its ruins still stand.-Significance:...
.
Access
If hiking, the trailhead that leads up the west side of Kinugasa Mountain (433m) is about 25 minutes' walk from Azuchi StationAzuchi Station
is a train station in Azuchi, city of Omihachiman, Shiga, Japan.-Stations next to Azuchi:...
, or about 10 minutes from the nearby Azuchi Castle Archaeology Museum and the Nobunaga Hall. The trail leads up the west side of the mountain, first to the ancient temple Kuwanomi-dera (桑実寺), then through a forest of Japanese cedars and up the slope to Kannonji Castle site. From the main courtyard, there is a trail leading on to Kannonsho-ji, a temple with an impressive panoramic view of the area.
If driving, there are two roads that lead up the mountain. One road follows a spur on the southwest slope, and is accessed near the Nakasendo Highway (National Highway 8) in Azuchi. The other leads up the eastern slope, and can be found near Route 202 off the Nakasendo Highway in the neighboring town of Gokasho
Gokasho, Shiga
was a town located in Kanzaki District, Shiga, Japan.On February 11, 2005 Gokashō was merged with the town of Eigenji, also from Kanzaki District, the towns of Aitō and Kotō, both from Echi District, and the old city of Yōkaichi, to form the new city of Higashiōmi.In 2003, the town had an estimated...
. Both roads leads up to Kannonsho-ji, a few minutes' walk from Kannonji Castle ruins.