Hirado Castle was built on top of a small, rounded mountainous peninsula facing Hirado Bay, surrounded on three sides by water.
HistoryEdit
After Toyotomi Hideyoshi’s successful conquest of Kyūshū, local warlord Matsura Shigenobu was granted Hirado County and the Iki Island to be his domain. In 1599, Matsura Shigenobu erected a castle called Hinotake-jō on the site of the present-day Hirado Castle. However, he burned the castle down himself in 1613, as a gesture of loyalty towards ShōgunTokugawa Ieyasu, having served in the losing Toyotomi side during the Battle of Sekigahara. In return, he was allowed to retain his position as daimyō of Hirado Domain under the Tokugawa bakufu.
The present Hirado Castle was constructed in 1704 by order of the 4th daimyō of Hirado domain, Matsura Takashi with the assistance of the Tokugawa shogunate. It was intended to be the keystone in coastal defense in the East China Sea region, as the government had by then implemented a policy of national seclusion against Western traders and missionaries. The design was partly influenced by the theories of the military strategist Yamaga Sokō. The new construction was completed in 1718, and the castle remained home to the Matsura daimyō until the Meiji bils of 1868.
In 1871, with the abolition of the han system, all structures of Hirado Castle were dismantled, with the exception of the northern gate, a yagura and the moat, and the grounds turned into Kameoka Park, with a Shinto shrine dedicated to the spirits of the successive generations of the Matsura hankang. The former residence of the final daimyō, Matsura Akira was turned into a local history museum.
In 1962, four yagura, the ramparts, and the keep were reconstructed. The modern keep is a five-story steel-reinforced concrete structure and contains a museum with artifacts of the Matsura clan. One of these artifacts is a 93-cm long Japanese sword (tachi) dating from the Asuka period, and is locally purported to have been carried by a general during the time of the legendary Empress Jingū's invasion of Korea. An heirloom of the Matsura clan, it is now owned by Kameoka Shrine and is a designated as a National Important Cultural Property (ICP).
In 2006, Hirado Castle was listed as one of the 100 Fine Castles of Japan by the Japan Castle Foundation.
De Lange, William (2021). An Encyclopedia of Japanese Castles. Groningen: Toyo Press. pp. 600 pages. ISBN978-9492722300.
Schmorleitz, Morton S. (1974). Castles in Japan. Tokyo: Charles E. Tuttle Co. pp. 144–145. ISBN0-8048-1102-4.
Motoo, Hinago (1986). Japanese Castles. Tokyo: Kodansha. p. 200 pages. ISBN0-87011-766-1.
Mitchelhill, Jennifer (2004). Castles of the Samurai: Power and Beauty. Tokyo: Kodansha. p. 112 pages. ISBN4-7700-2954-3.
Turnbull, Stephen (2003). Japanese Castles 1540–1640. Osprey Publishing. p. 64 pages. ISBN1-84176-429-9.
External linksEdit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Hirado Castle.
Japanese Castle Explorer - Hirado Castle
October 20, 2023
hirado, castle, kameoka, castle, redirects, here, term, also, refer, castle, kameoka, kyoto, prefecture, 平戸城, hirado, seat, matsura, clan, daimyō, hirado, domain, hizen, province, kyūshū, located, present, hirado, city, nagasaki, prefecture, japan, also, known. Kameoka Castle redirects here The term may also refer to the castle in Kameoka Kyoto Prefecture Hirado Castle 平戸城 Hirado jō was the seat of the Matsura clan the daimyō of Hirado Domain of Hizen Province Kyushu It is located in present day Hirado city Nagasaki Prefecture Japan It was also known as Kameoka Castle 亀岡城 Kameoka jō Hirado Castle 平戸城Hirado Nagasaki prefecture JapanKeep of Hirado CastleA 16th century French depiction of Hirado Castle based on eyewitness accountsHirado Castle 平戸城Show map of Nagasaki PrefectureHirado Castle 平戸城Show map of JapanCoordinates33 22 07 N 129 33 27 E 33 368575 N 129 557567 E 33 368575 129 557567TypeHirayama style Japanese castleSite informationOpen tothe publicyesConditionreconstruction from 1962Site historyBuilt1718 original 1962 rebuild Built byMatsura TakashiIn useEdo periodDemolished1872 original Contents 1 Description 2 History 3 Gallery 4 References 5 External linksDescription EditHirado Castle was built on top of a small rounded mountainous peninsula facing Hirado Bay surrounded on three sides by water History EditAfter Toyotomi Hideyoshi s successful conquest of Kyushu local warlord Matsura Shigenobu was granted Hirado County and the Iki Island to be his domain In 1599 Matsura Shigenobu erected a castle called Hinotake jō on the site of the present day Hirado Castle However he burned the castle down himself in 1613 as a gesture of loyalty towards Shōgun Tokugawa Ieyasu having served in the losing Toyotomi side during the Battle of Sekigahara In return he was allowed to retain his position as daimyō of Hirado Domain under the Tokugawa bakufu The present Hirado Castle was constructed in 1704 by order of the 4th daimyō of Hirado domain Matsura Takashi with the assistance of the Tokugawa shogunate It was intended to be the keystone in coastal defense in the East China Sea region as the government had by then implemented a policy of national seclusion against Western traders and missionaries The design was partly influenced by the theories of the military strategist Yamaga Sokō The new construction was completed in 1718 and the castle remained home to the Matsura daimyō until the Meiji bils of 1868 In 1871 with the abolition of the han system all structures of Hirado Castle were dismantled with the exception of the northern gate a yagura and the moat and the grounds turned into Kameoka Park with a Shinto shrine dedicated to the spirits of the successive generations of the Matsura hankang The former residence of the final daimyō Matsura Akira was turned into a local history museum In 1962 four yagura the ramparts and the keep were reconstructed The modern keep is a five story steel reinforced concrete structure and contains a museum with artifacts of the Matsura clan One of these artifacts is a 93 cm long Japanese sword tachi dating from the Asuka period and is locally purported to have been carried by a general during the time of the legendary Empress Jingu s invasion of Korea An heirloom of the Matsura clan it is now owned by Kameoka Shrine and is a designated as a National Important Cultural Property ICP In 2006 Hirado Castle was listed as one of the 100 Fine Castles of Japan by the Japan Castle Foundation Gallery Edit nbsp Hirado Castle stands on an island off Kyushu nbsp Castle keep nbsp Aerial photo of Hirado CastleReferences EditDe Lange William 2021 An Encyclopedia of Japanese Castles Groningen Toyo Press pp 600 pages ISBN 978 9492722300 Schmorleitz Morton S 1974 Castles in Japan Tokyo Charles E Tuttle Co pp 144 145 ISBN 0 8048 1102 4 Motoo Hinago 1986 Japanese Castles Tokyo Kodansha p 200 pages ISBN 0 87011 766 1 Mitchelhill Jennifer 2004 Castles of the Samurai Power and Beauty Tokyo Kodansha p 112 pages ISBN 4 7700 2954 3 Turnbull Stephen 2003 Japanese Castles 1540 1640 Osprey Publishing p 64 pages ISBN 1 84176 429 9 External links Edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Hirado Castle Hirado City home page Japanese Castle Explorer Hirado Castle JCastle Information Page Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Hirado Castle amp oldid 1175937845, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
