Iwakuni Castle
Encyclopedia
is a castle
in Iwakuni, Yamaguchi
, Japan
.
from 1601 to 1608 as his own castle.
Kikkawa was a retainer of a vassal of the Shogun under the Mōri clan
. However, this castle was dismantled as per the Ikkoku-ichijo (一国一城, literally, "One Castle Per Province") order established by the Tokugawa Shogunate in 1615.
The famous Kintai Bridge
was originally a bridge to the main gate of the castle.
After the destruction of the castle, Kikkawa used a part of the old castle as his residential office.
A replica of the castle tower stands high on a hill above the Nishiki River
and the Kintai Bridge
in the city
of Iwakuni
, Yamaguchi Prefecture
.
The Kikkawa clan held this castle and Iwakuni Han, which was assessed at 30 000 (later 60 000) koku
.
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...
in Iwakuni, Yamaguchi
Yamaguchi Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan in the Chūgoku region on Honshū island. The capital is the city of Yamaguchi, in the center of the prefecture. The largest city, however, is Shimonoseki.- 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...
.
History
This castle was constructed by Kikkawa HiroieKikkawa Hiroie
' was a Japanese daimyo of the Azuchi-Momoyama period through early Edo period.Hiroie's father was Kikkawa Motoharu and his mother was a daughter of Kumagai Nobunao. He initially was named Tsunenobu and made his debut on the battle field on 1570 against Amago Katsuhisa with his father...
from 1601 to 1608 as his own castle.
Kikkawa was a retainer of a vassal of the Shogun under the Mōri clan
Mori clan
The Mōri clan was a family of daimyō, descended from Ōe no Hiromoto and established themselves in Aki Province. Their name was derived from a shōen in Mōri, Aikō District, Sagami Province. The generation of Hiromoto began to name themselves Mōri.After the Jōkyū War, Mōri was appointed to the jitō...
. However, this castle was dismantled as per the Ikkoku-ichijo (一国一城, literally, "One Castle Per Province") order established by the Tokugawa Shogunate in 1615.
The famous Kintai Bridge
Kintai Bridge
The is a historical wooden arch bridge, in the city of Iwakuni, in Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan.The bridge was built in 1673, spanning the beautiful Nishiki River in a series of five wooden arches, and the bridge is located on the foot of Mt.Yokoyama, at the top of which lies Iwakuni...
was originally a bridge to the main gate of the castle.
After the destruction of the castle, Kikkawa used a part of the old castle as his residential office.
A replica of the castle tower stands high on a hill above the Nishiki River
Nishiki River
The is a 110 km long river, the longest in Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan. The Nishiki is the main river in a larger system measuring 331.8 km in total. The government of Japan classifies it as a second-class river system. The Nishiki River system drains an area of 884.2 km².The...
and the Kintai Bridge
Kintai Bridge
The is a historical wooden arch bridge, in the city of Iwakuni, in Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan.The bridge was built in 1673, spanning the beautiful Nishiki River in a series of five wooden arches, and the bridge is located on the foot of Mt.Yokoyama, at the top of which lies Iwakuni...
in the city
Cities of Japan
||A is a local administrative unit in Japan. Cities are ranked on the same level as and , with the difference that they are not a component of...
of Iwakuni
Iwakuni, Yamaguchi
is a city located in Yamaguchi, Japan.On March 20, 2006, the old city of Iwakuni absorbed the towns of Kuga, Mikawa, Miwa, Nishiki, Shūtō and Yū, and the village of Hongō, all from Kuga District, to form the new, expanded city of Iwakuni.- History :...
, Yamaguchi Prefecture
Yamaguchi Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan in the Chūgoku region on Honshū island. The capital is the city of Yamaguchi, in the center of the prefecture. The largest city, however, is Shimonoseki.- History :...
.
The Kikkawa clan held this castle and Iwakuni Han, which was assessed at 30 000 (later 60 000) koku
Koku
The is a Japanese unit of volume, equal to ten cubic shaku. In this definition, 3.5937 koku equal one cubic metre, i.e. 1 koku is approximately 278.3 litres. The koku was originally defined as a quantity of rice, historically defined as enough rice to feed one person for one year...
.
See also
- Kintai BridgeKintai BridgeThe is a historical wooden arch bridge, in the city of Iwakuni, in Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan.The bridge was built in 1673, spanning the beautiful Nishiki River in a series of five wooden arches, and the bridge is located on the foot of Mt.Yokoyama, at the top of which lies Iwakuni...
- Nishiki RiverNishiki RiverThe is a 110 km long river, the longest in Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan. The Nishiki is the main river in a larger system measuring 331.8 km in total. The government of Japan classifies it as a second-class river system. The Nishiki River system drains an area of 884.2 km².The...
- Iwakuni Castle selected one of the hundred famous castles in Japan by Japan Castle Foundation, in 2006.