- Shigisan Castle
Infobox Military Structure
name=Shigisan castle
信貴山城
partof=
location=Mount Shigi , border of Yamato andKawachi province s,Japan
coordinates=
caption=
caption2=
type="yamashiro" typeJapanese castle
code=
built=1536
builder=Kizawa Nagamasa
materials=
height=
used=1536-1577
demolished=1577
condition=
ownership=
open_to_public=
controlledby=
garrison=
current_commander=
commanders=Kizawa Nagamasa ,Matsunaga Hisahide
occupants=
battles=Siege of Shigisan (1577)
events=nihongo|Shigisan castle|信貴山城|Shigisanjō was a
Japanese castle of theSengoku period , controlled by the Kizawa andMatsunaga clan s.Location
The castle was located atop
Mount Shigi , on the border of Japan's Kawachi andYamato province s (todayNara prefecture ). The "shugo " (shogunal governors) and laterdaimyo of Yamato province ruled the province from Shigisan, and wielded some control over the strategic passes between Yamato and Kawachi.The location was also significant for the temple of
Chōgosonshi-ji , which sits on the mountainside, some distance below the castle. Shigisan is the central mountain of theShingon sect of Buddhism, and is claimed to be the location where, in 587,Shōtoku Taishi defeatedMononobe no Moriya in thebattle of Shigisan .History
The castle was originally constructed in 1536 by
Kizawa Nagamasa , who commanded it on behalf of theHatakeyama clan , who held the post of "shugo" of Yamato province. It was repaired and expanded on in 1559, byMatsunaga Hisahide , who commanded it on behalf of theMiyoshi clan . It would grow to be roughly 700m from north to south, and 550m from east to west, and included a four-story "yagura " (tower or turret). In 1562, however, the daimyo of Yamato province moved toTamonyama castle .Shigisan castle fell to members of the Miyoshi clan in 1568, but was recaptured quickly afterwards when the attackers' attention was redirected to the capital by the activities of
Oda Nobunaga . Nobunaga would then besiege the castle in 1577, destroying it and bringing the downfall of Matsunaga Hisahide.ee also
*
Shigisan-engi References
*"The information in this article is based largely upon that in the corresponding article on the Japanese Wikipedia, accessed 08 January 2008."
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