Changes

*''Japanese:'' 二条城 ''(Nijou-jou)''

*''Japanese:'' 二条城 ''(Nijou-jou)''

While Nijô Castle (located at Horikawa and Nijô in central [[Kyoto]]) can be classified as a ''[[hirajiro]]'' ("plains castle"), it is much more of a palace than other existing Japanese castles. Shortly after his victory over the forces of the West at the [[Battle of Sekigahara]], [[Tokugawa Ieyasu]] began to make preparations for the construction of a castle at Nijô in [[1601]]. Actual construction began in [[1602]] and was completed in [[1603]]. It was built on the site of [[Oda Nobunaga]]’s [[Nijo palace|Nijô palace]]. The castle was later used as the headquarters of the ''[[Shoshidai]]'' (Governor) of Kyoto, and also as the shogunal residence in Kyoto. The ''Shoshidai'' was responsible for monitoring the behavior of the 33 western provinces under his control, but his real function was to enforce the Tokugawa policy of keeping the Imperial family under control and preventing them from interfering in politics. Members of the court aristocracy were obliged to apply at Nijô castle for authorization to leave a certain central portion of Kyoto, to which they were otherwise restricted.

While Nijô Castle (located at Horikawa and Nijô in central [[Kyoto]]) can be classified as a ''[[hirajiro]]'' ("plains castle"), it is much more of a palace than other existing Japanese castles. Shortly after his victory over the forces of the West at the [[Battle of Sekigahara]], [[Tokugawa Ieyasu]] began to make preparations for the construction of a castle at Nijô in [[1601]]/5<ref>[[Morgan Pitelka]], ''Spectacular Accumulation'', University of Hawaii Press (2016), 84.</ref>. Actual construction began in [[1602]] and was completed in [[1603]]. It was built on the site of [[Oda Nobunaga]]’s [[Nijo palace|Nijô palace]]. The castle was later used as the headquarters of the ''[[Shoshidai]]'' (Governor) of Kyoto, and also as the shogunal residence in Kyoto. The ''Shoshidai'' was responsible for monitoring the behavior of the 33 western provinces under his control, but his real function was to enforce the Tokugawa policy of keeping the Imperial family under control and preventing them from interfering in politics. Members of the court aristocracy were obliged to apply at Nijô castle for authorization to leave a certain central portion of Kyoto, to which they were otherwise restricted.

In [[1611]], Ieyasu was able to arrange a meeting at Nijô 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 the Tokugawa headquarters for the [[Osaka Campaign]] of [[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 was able to arrange a meeting at Nijô 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 the Tokugawa headquarters for the [[Osaka Campaign]] of [[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 July of 2007, certain buildings on the castle grounds were found by the Kyoto Institute Of Technology to be leaning and at risk of collapse if an earthquake were to strike. The Honmaru Palace gate along with the Go-shoin reading room were found to be in particularly poor shape. The plaster wall at the eastern main gate (Higashi-Otemon) is also subject to collapse during a quake. Many of the buildings became damaged over the years when their original shingled roofs were replaced with tile, putting substantially more weight and greater stress on the walls. Much of the existing damage is also attributed to an earthquake in 1995. The ciy of Kyoto announced that they will work with Kyoto Prefecture and the Cultural Affairs Agency to repair the castle. Beginning in fall of 2007, the castle is scheduled to be closed to the general public for five years or more.     

In July of 2007, certain buildings on the castle grounds were found by the Kyoto Institute Of Technology to be leaning and at risk of collapse if an earthquake were to strike. The Honmaru Palace gate along with the Go-shoin reading room were found to be in particularly poor shape. The plaster wall at the eastern main gate (Higashi-Otemon) is also subject to collapse during a quake. Many of the buildings became damaged over the years when their original shingled roofs were replaced with tile, putting substantially more weight and greater stress on the walls. Much of the existing damage is also attributed to an earthquake in 1995. The ciy of Kyoto announced that they will work with Kyoto Prefecture and the Cultural Affairs Agency to repair the castle. Beginning in fall of 2007, the castle is scheduled to be closed to the general public for five years or more.     

==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

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

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

*[[Yoshinobu Exhibition catalog 1998]]

*[[Yoshinobu Exhibition catalog 1998]]

*The Japan Times: Wednesday, July 11, 2007

*The Japan Times: Wednesday, July 11, 2007

[[Category:Castles]]

[[Category:Castles]]