Changes

*''Type: Flatland, European-style''

*''Type:Flatland, European''

*''Founder: [[Tokugawa shogunate]]''

*''Founder:Tokugawa [[Bakufu]]''

*''Completed: [[1864]]''

*''Year:1864''

*''Location: [[Hakodate]], [[Ezo]] ([[Hokkaido]])''

*''Location:Hakodate,Hokkaido''

*''Japanese:'' 五稜郭 ''(Goryoukaku)''

Goryokaku (‘five angle fortification’) castle was one of the final castles to be built during the samurai era ([[Tatsuoka castle]] in southern [[Nagano]] likely being the last). It was built from [[1857]] to [[1864]] in southern [[Hokkaido]] about 10 kilometers east of Hakodate by [[Takeda Hisaburo]]. Takeda (who later became an instructor at the Kaiseijo, the Shogunate’s institute for the study of Western learning) designed it with Western Renaissance castle building principles in mind (having learned these from Dutch books brought into Nagasaki). The final result looked far less like a typical Japanese castle and more like an American Civil War harbor fort. The castle was laid out in the form of a five pointed star and was primarily planned to be used against Western incursions into Japanese territory. It allowed for enhanced positioning of artillery batteries that a traditional Japanese castle did not. Because this was the first attempt by Japanese engineers to construct a castle that could survive Western artillery bombardment, the end result proved to be technically inferior to similar Western structures.  

The Goryôkaku (‘five angle fortification’) was one of the final castles to be built during the samurai era ([[Tatsuoka castle]] in southern [[Nagano]] likely being the last). It was built from [[1857]] to [[1864]] in southern [[Hokkaido]] about 10 kilometers east of [[Hakodate]], to serve as a new base for governing the territory.

 

Construction began in the 12th month of 1857, under the oversight of [[Hakodate bugyo|Hakodate bugyô]] [[Takenouchi Yasunori]].<ref>Ishin Shiryô Kôyô 維新史料綱要, vol 2, (1937), 478.</ref> The fortress was designed by [[Takeda Hisaburo]]. Takeda (who later became an instructor at the [[Kaiseijo]], one of the shogunate’s institutes for the study of Western learning) designed it with Western Renaissance castle-building principles in mind, having learned these from Dutch books brought into [[Nagasaki]]. The final result looked far less like a typical Japanese castle and more like an American Civil War harbor fort. The castle was laid out in the form of a five pointed star and was primarily planned to be used against Western incursions into Japanese territory. It allowed for enhanced positioning of artillery batteries that a traditional Japanese castle did not. Because this was the first attempt by Japanese engineers to construct a castle that could survive Western artillery bombardment, the end result proved to be technically inferior to similar Western structures.  

Goryokaku became the headquarters of the Hakodate magistrate. During the latter stages of the [[Bakumatsu]], the castle was taken by a group of about 1,000 Shogunate supporters led by [[Enomoto Takeaki]]. Enomoto formed the Independent Republic Of Ezo with himself as leader on December 28, [[1868]]. This proved to be short lived when Imperial forces laid siege to the castle (in the so called [[Battle of Hakodate|Hakodate War]]), leading to its surrender on May 18, [[1869]].

Goryokaku became the headquarters of the Hakodate magistrate. During the latter stages of the [[Bakumatsu]], the castle was taken by a group of about 1,000 Shogunate supporters led by [[Enomoto Takeaki]]. Enomoto formed the Independent Republic Of Ezo with himself as leader on December 28, [[1868]]. This proved to be short lived when Imperial forces laid siege to the castle (in the so called [[Battle of Hakodate|Hakodate War]]), leading to its surrender on May 18, [[1869]].

==References==

==References==

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

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

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

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

[[Category:Castles]]

[[Category:Castles]]