Kochi castle

Kochi castle is located near the south shore of the island of Shikoku in Kochi City in Kochi Prefecture (the historical province of Tosa). The castle began its life as a basic yamashiro in the mid 1300’s. Chosokabe Motochika raised a larger, permanent structure in place of this in 1588 but soon moved his headquarters further south to Urado castle. After the Chosokabe found themselves on the losing side of the battle of Sekigahara in 1600 this fief was given to Yamanouchi Kazutoyo. Yamanouchi initially used Urado castle as his base, but soon reversed the Chosokabe move and transferred to Kochi. He began to rebuild the castle in 1602 and completed the tenshu in 1603. Construction on the castle was completed in 1611. The castle was heavily damaged by an earthquake in 1707. Just as repairs were being completed, the tenshu and honmaru complex were destroyed by fire in 1712. Another fire in 1727 added further damage to the castle grounds. A major reconstruction project was begun in 1729, with the tenshu and a turret gate being completed in 1747. Construction finished up in 1753. While the castle was never tested in warfare, an invasion of sorts brought down the castle-termites damaged the tenshu to the verge of collapse in the mid-20th century and it had to be disassembled beginning in 1949. The damaged parts were replaced and reconstruction was completed in 1955. The castle has a typical hirayamajiro layout-the grounds consist of a honmaru located on Otakasakayama (a hill about 42 meters high), a ninomaru to the north on a lower level, and a sannomaru to the east on a slightly lower level. A Nishinomaru along with residences was built at the foot of the hill. The castle featured many stone walls with zig-zagging bends with stone dropping holes at the corners. It also had fences with spears located between the walls, pointing outwards and providing an effective deterrent to any enemy advance. The tenshu has four exterior and five interior levels and is unique among Japanese castles for having a two level ishigaki base. The Kaitokukan (‘Hall Of Desire For Virtue’) is located next to the tenshu and served as the daimyo residence. It is one of the rare surviving shoin style Edo period daimyo residences. Along with the tenshu and Kaitokukan, the East and West Tamon yagura, Kokutetsu-mon, Kurogane-mon, and Roka-mon, are other original structures on the site classified as Important Cultural Properties.

References

• Kodama Kota & Tsuboi Kiyotari, editors Nihon Joukaku Taikei-20 Volumes Tokyo:Shinjimbutsu oraisha, 1981

• Hinago Motoo Nihon No Bijutsu #54:Shiro Tokyo:Shibundo, 1970

• Schmorleitz, Morton S Castles In Japan Tokyo:Charles E Tuttle Company Inc, 1974