Shakujii castle
Encyclopedia
Shakujii castle was a Japanese castle
located along the Shakujii River
, in what is now Shakujii Park, in Tokyo
's Nerima
. The history of the inheritance of the feudal territory associated with it is the most clearly known of all territories in what is today Tokyo.
The castle was strategically placed along the Shakujii River
, near Sanbō-tera Pond, to control and defend the river valley. Though there may have been another similar fortification erected nearby during the Heian period
(794-1185), it is likely that the last incarnation of Shakujii castle was first built after the Kamakura period
(1185-1333). A dam was built around the same time, a short distance from the castle, at a spot selected by a diviner, to block the waterway.
The castle lasted into the Muromachi period
(1336-1467), and was controlled by the Toshima clan
who, supported by Kanrei
(Shogun's deputy) Ashikaga Mochiuji
, were in their prime during the rebellion of Uesugi Zenshū
, which lasted from 1415-1417. However, roughly forty years later, the Toshima took part in the 1477 Kyōtoku Rebellion, supporting the uprising of Nagao Kageharu. Toshima Yasutsune led the forces of Shakujii castle and nearby Nerima castle to reinforce his brother Toshima Yasuaki, who was attacked at Hiratsuka castle. They were defeated by the army of Ōta Dōkan
, a vassal of the Uesugi clan
, who put down the rebellion. The Toshima then fled to Kotsukue castle, but were defeated there as well, and Shakujii castle was destroyed a short time later.
Recently, attempts have been made to restore the castle. However, there is very little remaining above ground, and even based on what digging has revealed, it has been difficult to determine the exact location, size, and extent of the fortifications and the moat.
Japanese castle
' were fortresses composed primarily of wood and stone. They evolved from the wooden stockades of earlier centuries, and came into their best-known form in the 16th century...
located along the Shakujii River
Shakujii River
The is a river which flows throughthe northwest quadrant of central Tokyo, Japan.Its source is in the district of Hana-koganei-minami-chō, Kodaira City, nearthe Musashino Danchi...
, in what is now Shakujii Park, in Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
's Nerima
Nerima, Tokyo
is one of the 23 special wards of Tokyo, Japan. In English, it calls itself Nerima City.As of August 1, 2007, the ward has an estimated population of 703,005 , and a density of 14,443 persons per km². 12,897 foreign residents are registered in the ward. 18.4% of the ward's population is over the...
. The history of the inheritance of the feudal territory associated with it is the most clearly known of all territories in what is today Tokyo.
The castle was strategically placed along the Shakujii River
Shakujii River
The is a river which flows throughthe northwest quadrant of central Tokyo, Japan.Its source is in the district of Hana-koganei-minami-chō, Kodaira City, nearthe Musashino Danchi...
, near Sanbō-tera Pond, to control and defend the river valley. Though there may have been another similar fortification erected nearby during the 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...
(794-1185), it is likely that the last incarnation of Shakujii castle was first built after the Kamakura period
Kamakura period
The is a period of Japanese history that marks the governance by the Kamakura Shogunate, officially established in 1192 in Kamakura by the first shogun Minamoto no Yoritomo....
(1185-1333). A dam was built around the same time, a short distance from the castle, at a spot selected by a diviner, to block the waterway.
The castle lasted into the Muromachi period
Muromachi period
The is a division of Japanese history running from approximately 1336 to 1573. The period marks the governance of the Muromachi or Ashikaga shogunate, which was officially established in 1338 by the first Muromachi shogun, Ashikaga Takauji, two years after the brief Kemmu restoration of imperial...
(1336-1467), and was controlled by the Toshima clan
Toshima clan
The ' was a Japanese samurai clan prominent in the Kamakura and Muromachi periods of Japanese history in the northwest of what is today Tokyo. The clan was based primarily in Shakujii castle, in what is today Shakujii Park in the town of Shakujii, in Nerima-ku, until the fall of the castle in the...
who, supported by Kanrei
Kanrei
or, more rarely, kanryō, was a high political post in feudal Japan; it is usually translated as Shogun's Deputy. After 1349, there were actually two Kanrei, the Kyoto Kanrei and the Kantō Kanrei....
(Shogun's deputy) Ashikaga Mochiuji
Ashikaga Mochiuji
Ashikaga Mochiuji was the Kamakura-fu's fourth Kantō kubō during the Sengoku period in Japan. During his long and troubled rule the relationship between the west and the east of the country reached an all-time low. Kamakura was finally attacked by shogun Ashikaga Yoshinori and retaken by force...
, were in their prime during the rebellion of Uesugi Zenshū
Uesugi Zenshu
, also known as Uesugi Ujinori, was the chief advisor to Ashikaga Mochiuji, an enemy of the Ashikaga shogunate in feudal Japan. When he was rebuked by Mochiuji in 1415, and forced to resign, Zenshū organized a rebellion....
, which lasted from 1415-1417. However, roughly forty years later, the Toshima took part in the 1477 Kyōtoku Rebellion, supporting the uprising of Nagao Kageharu. Toshima Yasutsune led the forces of Shakujii castle and nearby Nerima castle to reinforce his brother Toshima Yasuaki, who was attacked at Hiratsuka castle. They were defeated by the army of Ōta Dōkan
Ota Dokan
, also known as Ōta Sukenaga or Ōta Dōkan Sukenaga, was a Japanese samurai warrior-poet, military tactician and Buddhist monk. Ōta Sukenaga took the tonsure as a Buddhist priest in 1478, and he also adopted the Buddhist name, Dōkan, by which is known today...
, a vassal of the Uesugi clan
Uesugi clan
The was a Japanese samurai clan, descended from the Fujiwara clan and particularly notable for their power in the Muromachi and Sengoku periods ....
, who put down the rebellion. The Toshima then fled to Kotsukue castle, but were defeated there as well, and Shakujii castle was destroyed a short time later.
Recently, attempts have been made to restore the castle. However, there is very little remaining above ground, and even based on what digging has revealed, it has been difficult to determine the exact location, size, and extent of the fortifications and the moat.