Changes

In [[1611]], Ieyasu finally was able to arrange a meeting at Nijo with [[Toyotomi Hideyori]]. Here Ieyasu discovered that Hideyori was not the fool that he had been led to believe, and likely finalized his decision to completely destroy the Toyotomi. The castle served as headquarters for the Tokugawa during the [[Winter Campaign of Osaka]] and the [[Summer Campaign of Osaka]] in the years [[1614]]-[[1615]], during which Ieyasu succeeded in eradicating the Toyotomi line. A large victory celebration was held at the castle at the end of hostilities.  

In [[1611]], Ieyasu finally was able to arrange a meeting at Nijo with [[Toyotomi Hideyori]]. Here Ieyasu discovered that Hideyori was not the fool that he had been led to believe, and likely finalized his decision to completely destroy the Toyotomi. The castle served as headquarters for the Tokugawa during the [[Winter Campaign of Osaka]] and the [[Summer Campaign of Osaka]] in the years [[1614]]-[[1615]], during which Ieyasu succeeded in eradicating the Toyotomi line. A large victory celebration was held at the castle at the end of hostilities.  

The castle was extensively renovated from [[1624]] to [[1626]]. Additions included the replacement of the original 5 story tenshu (it was moved to [[Yodo Castle]]) with the tenshu of [[Fushimi Castle]], along with other structures from Fushimi. Corner towers were added to the outside walls. This was done to accommodate the visit of [[Emperor Go-Mizunoo]]-if indeed it could be called that. This was more of a coerced audience orchestrated by Ieyasu’s grandson, [[Shogun]] [[Tokugawa Iemitsu]] and Ieyasu’s son, former Shogun [[Tokugawa Hidetada]]. It served its purpose of solidifying the power of the Tokugawa Shogunate and signifying the submission of the Imperial family by forcing the Emperor to come to the Tokugawa (the last time an Emperor had left his palace to ‘visit’ a member of the warrior class was in [[1588]] when [[Emperor Goyozei]] sojourned to the Jurakudai of [[Toyotomi Hideyoshi]]). The court remained for five days amid extremely elaborate entertainment and meals.

The castle was extensively renovated from [[1624]] to [[1626]]. Additions included the replacement of the original 5 story tenshu (it was moved to [[Yodo castle]]) with the tenshu of [[Fushimi castle]], along with other structures from Fushimi. Corner towers were added to the outside walls. This was done to accommodate the visit of [[Emperor Go-Mizunoo]]-if indeed it could be called that. This was more of a coerced audience orchestrated by Ieyasu’s grandson, [[Shogun]] [[Tokugawa Iemitsu]] and Ieyasu’s son, former Shogun [[Tokugawa Hidetada]]. It served its purpose of solidifying the power of the Tokugawa Shogunate and signifying the submission of the Imperial family by forcing the Emperor to come to the Tokugawa (the last time an Emperor had left his palace to ‘visit’ a member of the warrior class was in [[1588]] when [[Emperor Goyozei]] sojourned to the Jurakudai of [[Toyotomi Hideyoshi]]). The court remained for five days amid extremely elaborate entertainment and meals.

Iemitsu later returned to the castle in [[1634]] with 300,000 men as a show of force to the western provinces and also to reinforce his power over the Imperial Court. It was to be the last visit of any reigning Shogun to the Imperial Court for 230 years.

Iemitsu later returned to the castle in [[1634]] with 300,000 men as a show of force to the western provinces and also to reinforce his power over the Imperial Court. It was to be the last visit of any reigning Shogun to the Imperial Court for 230 years.

The castle fell into disuse afterwards and saw many of its elaborate buildings and structures donated by Iemitsu to local temples, where they remain to the present day. Many of the palace buildings were damaged by an earthquake in [[1663]]. The keep was destroyed by lightning in [[1750]] (although some sources have this as [[1791]]) and the majority of the Honmaru compound buildings were lost during a major series of fires in Kyoto in [[1788]].

The castle fell into disuse afterwards and saw many of its elaborate buildings and structures donated by Iemitsu to local temples, where they remain to the present day. Many of the palace buildings were damaged by an earthquake in [[1663]]. The keep was destroyed by lightning in [[1750]] (although some sources have this as [[1791]]) and the majority of the Honmaru compound buildings were lost during a major series of fires in Kyoto in [[1788]].

Ironically, the final Tokugawa Shogun, [[Tokugawa Yoshinobu]], made the decision to transfer power back to the Emperor here. Nijo Castle was given to the Imperial Household in the first year of Meiji in [[1868]]. [[Emperor Meiji]] made it the temporary seat of government and from here issued an edict abolishing the Shogunate. He transferred Nijo to the Kyoto city government in [[1871]]. The castle’s paintings and furnishings suffered significant damage during the time it was controlled by the city. Nijo was transferred back to the Imperial Household in [[1884]] and it became a detached Imperial Palace. The Imperial family sponsored much needed repairs from 1885-1886, and the majority of fittings featuring the Tokugawa family crest were replaced with the chrysanthemum crest of the Imperial family. The empty Honmaru area became the new home of the former palace of Prince Katsura in 1893-1894 (it had been originally built at the Imperial Palace in [[1847]]), and it remains there to the present day. Despite these improvements, several of the buildings on the grounds were dismantled by the Imperial Household. The castle remained as a summer home for the Imperial family and also as a locale for enthronement banquets for the early 20th century Emperors. In 1939, the castle was donated back to the city of Kyoto. 1965 saw the construction of the extensive Seiryuen Garden north of the Ninomaru palace, which is used as a reception area by city officials.

Ironically, the final Tokugawa Shogun, [[Tokugawa Yoshinobu]], made the decision to transfer power back to the Emperor here. Nijo castle was given to the Imperial Household in the first year of Meiji in [[1868]]. [[Emperor Meiji]] made it the temporary seat of government and from here issued an edict abolishing the Shogunate. He transferred Nijo to the Kyoto city government in [[1871]]. The castle’s paintings and furnishings suffered significant damage during the time it was controlled by the city. Nijo was transferred back to the Imperial Household in [[1884]] and it became a detached Imperial Palace. The Imperial family sponsored much needed repairs from 1885-1886, and the majority of fittings featuring the Tokugawa family crest were replaced with the chrysanthemum crest of the Imperial family. The empty Honmaru area became the new home of the former palace of Prince Katsura in 1893-1894 (it had been originally built at the Imperial Palace in [[1847]]), and it remains there to the present day. Despite these improvements, several of the buildings on the grounds were dismantled by the Imperial Household. The castle remained as a summer home for the Imperial family and also as a locale for enthronement banquets for the early 20th century Emperors. In 1939, the castle was donated back to the city of Kyoto. 1965 saw the construction of the extensive Seiryuen Garden north of the Ninomaru palace, which is used as a reception area by city officials.

The castle is a major tourist draw in Kyoto and one of the best preserved castles in Japan with by far the most impressive interiors. The architecture of the castle itself merits further elaboration. Nijo Castle consists of two main areas, the Ninomaru Palace and the Honmaru Palace.

The castle is a major tourist draw in Kyoto and one of the best preserved castles in Japan with by far the most impressive interiors. The architecture of the castle itself merits further elaboration. Nijo castle consists of two main areas, the Ninomaru Palace and the Honmaru Palace.

The Ninomaru Palace began as a small building in 1603 but was greatly expanded and brought to its present status in the construction projects of 1624-26. It was the area used by the Shogun while in Kyoto to receive guests and also as his living quarters. The five connected buildings are arranged along a diagonal axis from the southeast to the northwest. The first building is entered through the Mi-kurumayose (carriage house) and is known as the Tozamurai. It consists of several chambers such as the Imperial Messenger’s Chamber, the Willow Room, and Young Pine Room. As in the other buildings, sliding screen doors (fusuma) allow the rooms to be connected or condensed as needed. The second building is the Shikidai and contains three chambers for Shogunal Ministers. The Ohiroma is the third building and has four chambers plus the great audience hall where the Shogun would receive visitors. Next is the Kuro-shoin, which although a bit smaller, is elaborately decorated. Finally, there is the Shiro-shoin which contained the Shogun’s private living quarters.  

The Ninomaru Palace began as a small building in 1603 but was greatly expanded and brought to its present status in the construction projects of 1624-26. It was the area used by the Shogun while in Kyoto to receive guests and also as his living quarters. The five connected buildings are arranged along a diagonal axis from the southeast to the northwest. The first building is entered through the Mi-kurumayose (carriage house) and is known as the Tozamurai. It consists of several chambers such as the Imperial Messenger’s Chamber, the Willow Room, and Young Pine Room. As in the other buildings, sliding screen doors (fusuma) allow the rooms to be connected or condensed as needed. The second building is the Shikidai and contains three chambers for Shogunal Ministers. The Ohiroma is the third building and has four chambers plus the great audience hall where the Shogun would receive visitors. Next is the Kuro-shoin, which although a bit smaller, is elaborately decorated. Finally, there is the Shiro-shoin which contained the Shogun’s private living quarters.  

The paintings in the present Honmaru palace, Prince Katsura’s, were done around 1847 and feature many famous Edo period artists. These include Kano Eigaku, Nakajima Raisho, Nakajima Kayo, Nagano Sukechika, Yagi Kiho, Maruyama Oryu, Tamura Kyoshu, Kishi Chikudo, Hara Zaisho, Nagasawa Roshu, and others including the noted Reizei Tamechika. These generally feature landscapes and birds.

The paintings in the present Honmaru palace, Prince Katsura’s, were done around 1847 and feature many famous Edo period artists. These include Kano Eigaku, Nakajima Raisho, Nakajima Kayo, Nagano Sukechika, Yagi Kiho, Maruyama Oryu, Tamura Kyoshu, Kishi Chikudo, Hara Zaisho, Nagasawa Roshu, and others including the noted Reizei Tamechika. These generally feature landscapes and birds.

The paintings in the Ninomaru Palace have been undergoing restoration for many years, but Nijo Castle is still one of the best locales in Japan for visiting a well preserved castle that displays the wealth and power of its owners.

The paintings in the Ninomaru Palace have been undergoing restoration for many years, but Nijo castle is still one of the best locales in Japan for visiting a well preserved castle that displays the wealth and power of its owners.

[[Category:Castles]]

[[Category:Castles]]