Changes

*''Reconstructed:2001(Yagura, gate)''

*''Reconstructed:2001(Yagura, gate)''

*''Type: Flatland-Mountain (''hirayama-jô'')''

*''Type: Flatland-Mountain (''hirayama-jô'')''

*''Japanese:''金沢城''(Kanazawa-jou)''

*''Japanese'': 金沢城 ''(Kanazawa-jou)''

After having campaigned against the [[Ikko-Ikki|Ikkô-ikki]] of [[Kaga province]] on behalf of [[Oda Nobunaga]], [[Maeda Toshiie]] began to make plans to construct a castle to oversee his new lands. He chose the location of the village of Yamazaki (not the same site of the battle involving [[Akechi Mitsuhide]]), which had held the [[Oyama Gobo|Oyama Gobô]], a Buddhist temple-fortress subdued by Toshiie, upon which to construct it. Construction began upon Kanazawa castle in [[1580]] and came to a close in [[1592]]. As the fortunes of the [[Maeda clan]] increased under the reign of [[Tokugawa Ieyasu]], this castle was rivaled only by [[Osaka castle|Osaka]] and [[Edo Castle|Edo]] in size and majesty. However, the complex was quite frequently beset with conflagrations. Beginning in [[1602]] when the ''[[tenshu]]'' was destroyed by fire, no less than 30 major blazes were reported. The Maeda doggedly continued to repair the damage after each incident, and even initiated new construction (a rarity during the [[Edo period]] when castle construction and repairs were highly restricted and regulated). The major gatehouse-the Ishikawa-mon-was built in [[1788]], and as late as [[1858]] the Maeda constructed a new armory (a two-story, 30-bay structure, giving it the name of ''Sanjû-ken Nagaya'', which is now known as ''Gojukken Nagaya'') along with several other structures. The castle finally met its doom when the [[Meiji government]] destroyed the buildings and the second bailey (''ni-no-maru'') of the castle was destroyed by fire in [[1881]].  

Kanazawa castle was the political center of [[Kaga han]], the wealthiest daimyô domain in [[Edo period]] Japan, and residence of the [[Maeda clan]] lords of Kaga.

The most interesting role of the castle was not its own history but that of everything that sprang up around it. The Maeda built the famous (and practical) [[Kenrokuen]] garden. The streams feeding the garden also served the purpose of supplying the castle town with water, and the terminus of these streams was shaped into a replica of Lake Biwa near [[Kyoto]]. The castle town spawned the [[Kaga-Hosho school|Kaga Hôshô school]] of [[Noh]]. [[Kutani pottery]] was first made here, and the Maeda lords sent missions to China and Korea for technical advice on ceramics. The area was also famous for its wrought-iron tea kettles used for [[tea ceremony]].

After having campaigned against the [[Ikko-Ikki|Ikkô-ikki]] of [[Kaga province]] on behalf of [[Oda Nobunaga]], [[Maeda Toshiie]] began to make plans to construct a castle to oversee his new lands. He chose the location of the village of Yamazaki (not the same site of the battle involving [[Akechi Mitsuhide]]), which had held the [[Oyama Gobo|Oyama Gobô]], a Buddhist temple-fortress subdued by Toshiie, upon which to construct it. Construction began upon Kanazawa castle in [[1583]] after Toshiie seized the site, and came to a close in [[1592]]. As the fortunes of the Maeda clan increased under the reign of [[Tokugawa Ieyasu]], this castle was rivaled only by [[Osaka castle|Osaka]] and [[Edo Castle|Edo]] in size and majesty. However, the complex was quite frequently beset with conflagrations. Beginning in [[1602]] when the ''[[tenshu]]'' was destroyed by fire, no fewer than 30 major blazes were reported. The ''tenshu'' was never rebuilt, and following a [[1631]] fire which destroyed the rest of the ''honmaru'', the daimyo residence and center of power was moved to the ''ni-no-maru'' (second bailey). Though the ''honmaru'' was never rebuilt, the Maeda doggedly continued to repair the damage to other parts of the castle after each incident, and even initiated new construction (a rarity during the [[Edo period]] when castle construction and repairs were highly restricted and regulated). At its height, the castle boasted over twenty towers.

But the most famous attraction related to the castle is [[Myoryu-ji|Myôryû-ji]], located across town from the castle. It looks like any other temple, but actually was a seven-story fortress. Because the Maeda were the wealthiest clan in Japan after the Tokugawa, they were under intense surveillance by Ieyasu’s spies. To avoid this scrutiny, the Maeda conducted much of their important business at Myôryû-ji. Myôryû-ji is loaded with secret doors and passages and a number of defensive features, such as hidden spiked pits.

The major gatehouse - the Ishikawa-mon - was built in [[1788]], and as late as [[1858]] the Maeda constructed a new armory (a two-story, 30-bay structure, giving it the name of ''Sanjukken Nagaya'') along with several other structures. The castle finally met its doom when the [[Meiji government]] destroyed many of the buildings, those in the second bailey (''ni-no-maru'') lost to a fire in [[1881]].  

Today, a number of structures of Kanazawa castle has been rebuilt, including the Ishikawa-mon, Gojukken-nagaya, Sanjukken-nagaya, and Tsurumaru storehouse. These structures feature the famous Kutani lead tiling from the region. The Ishikawa-mon originally protected the rear entrance to the castle and has a triple-roofed Kôrai-mon and a two story Yagura-mon boxing the courtyard. It also has a corner tower and parapets. The roofing was made from lead, which along with the tiling could be melted down to make bullets in case of a siege. The castle site was home to Kanazawa University until 1989.

Today, a number of structures of Kanazawa castle has been rebuilt, including the Ishikawa-mon, Gojukken-nagaya, Sanjukken-nagaya, and Tsurumaru storehouse, though not including the ''tenshu'' or other ''honmaru'' structures. The castle site was used as a military base in the [[Meiji period]], and was home to Kanazawa University after that, until 1989. Today, it is a national historical site and "park".

 

The Ishikawa-mon originally protected the rear entrance to the castle, but today has become the main entrance, and a symbol of the castle and of the city. The gate faces the [[Kenrokuen]] to the east, and is accessed via a bridge extended over what was once a moat, known as ''Hasuikebori'' (蓮池掘, "Lotus Pond Moat") or ''Hyakkenbori'' (百間掘, "Hundred Bays Moat"). Today, a roadway runs in its place.

 

The stone walls of the castle were repaired and restored in [[1765]], though the structures standing today which compose the Ishikawa-mon date to 1788. The Ishikawa-mon is a ''masu-gata'' (枡形) or "square gate," composed in fact of two gates through which a visitor or invader must pass. Upon entering the triple-roofed Kôrai-mon (高麗門), one must turn ninety degrees to pass through the two-story Yagura-mon (櫓門) boxing a small courtyard. Guards stationed atop the walls of the gatehouse and in a two-story watchtower overlooked and defended this courtyard, the bridge, and beyond.

 

Like most structures in the compound, the Ishikawa-mon features lead tile roofs and ''namako'' plastered walls. The roofing was made from lead, which provided protection against fire and which, along with tiling in the walls, could be melted down to make bullets in case of a siege.

 

The Ishikawa-mon grants access to the ''shinmaru'' ("new bailey") and ''san-no-maru'' (third bailey), which is separated from the ''ni-no-maru'' by the ''gojukken-nagaya'' ("Fifty Bays Long Armory").

 

 

 

The temple of [[Myoryu-ji|Myôryû-ji]], located across town from the castle, is another famous site in the city. It looks like any other temple, but actually was a seven-story fortress. Because the Maeda were the wealthiest clan in Japan after the Tokugawa, they were under intense surveillance by Ieyasu’s spies. To avoid this scrutiny, the Maeda conducted much of their important business at Myôryû-ji. Myôryû-ji is loaded with secret doors and passages and a number of defensive features, such as hidden spiked pits.

==Links==

==Links==

==References==

==References==

*Terada Shôichi (ed.) ''Meijô wo aruku 2: Kanazawa-jô''. Tokyo: PHP Kenkyûsho,　2002.

*Plaques and signs on-site.

*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

*Kodama Kota & Tsuboi Kiyotari (eds.). ''Nihon Jôkaku Taikei''. 20 Volumes. Tokyo: Shinjimbutsu oraisha, 1981.

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

*Nanjô Norio & Naramoto Tatsuya (eds.). ''[[Nihon no Meijo Kojo Jiten|Nihon no Meijô Kojô Jiten]]''. TBS Brittanica, 1989.

*[[Nihon no Meijo Kojo Jiten]] 1989

*Schmorleitz, Morton S. ''Castles In Japan''. Tokyo: Charles E Tuttle Company Inc, 1974.

*Terada Shôichi (ed.). ''Meijô wo aruku 2: Kanazawa-jô''. Tokyo: PHP Kenkyûsho,　2002.

[[Category:Castles]]

[[Category:Castles]]

[[Category:Edo Period]]

[[Category:Edo Period]]