Shiroishi Castle

Infobox Military Structure
name=Shiroishi Castle
白石城
partof=
location=Shiroishi, Miyagi, Japan


caption=Shiroishi Castle's tower
type=Japanese castle
built=Kamakura era
builder=Shiroishi clan
materials=wood, stone
height=
used=Kamakura era through 1871
demolished=1875, rebuilt 1995
condition=
ownership= City of Shiroishi
controlledby=Shiroishi clan, Gamō clan (to 1600s), Uesugi clan, Katakura clan (1600s-1871)
garrison=
commanders=
occupants=
battles=
events=Boshin War

nihongo|Shiroishi Castle|白石城|Shiroishi-jō is a Japanese castle in Shiroishi, Miyagi, within what was Mutsu Province. [Papinot, page 581.] It was the castle of the Katakura clan, which was a family of retainers serving the Date clan of Sendai. It was also the headquarters of the Ōuetsu Reppan Dōmei in 1868. [Onodera, p. 10.]

Early History

The castle was originally founded in the Kamakura era, by the Karita clan. [ja icon [http://www2.harimaya.com/sengoku/html/siraisi.html "Shiroishi-shi" on Harimaya.com] (28 March 2008). The Karita clan later became the Shiroishi clan, which served the Date clan of Sendai.]

engoku Era

In 1591, during the late Azuchi-Momoyama era, the castle was held as an outpost by the Gamō clan, ruled by the senior retainer Gamō Satonari. It was during the rule of the Gamō clan that Shiroishi became a full-fledged castle. In 1598, when the Uesugi replaced the Gamō in the region, the castle was given to Amakasu Kagetsugu.

Edo Era

Beginning in 1600, [http://www.shiro-f.jp/shiroishijo/mokuji.htm] the castle and its environs were located in the Sendai Domain. From 1600 onward, Shiroishi Castle was ruled by the Katakura clan, who were retainers of the Date clan of Sendai. [ja icon [http://www2.harimaya.com/sengoku/html/katakura.html "Katakura-shi" on Harimaya.com] (28 March 2008).] It was also one of the exceptions to the Tokugawa shogunate's rule of one castle per domain.

Boshin War

The castle was the meeting place for the delegates of the northern domains in early 1868, during the Boshin War. [Sasaki, p. 98.] It then became the headquarters of the Ōuetsu Reppan Dōmei. The castle was then occupied by the Imperial Japanese Army. It was briefly placed in the care of the Nanbu clan of Morioka, but was demolished in 1875. The Katakura family and its retainers then went north and settled in Hokkaidō.

Reconstruction

The castle was restored in 1995, and is open to the public.

References

*Onodera, Eikō (2005). "Boshin Nanboku sensō to Tōhoku seiken". Sendai: Kita no sha.
*Papinot, Edmond (1948). "Historical and Geographical Dictionary of Japan". n.p.:Overbeck Co.
*Sasaki, Suguru (2001). "Boshin sensō: haisha no Meiji ishin." Tokyo: Chūōkōron-shinsha.
*ja icon http://www.shiro-f.jp/shiroishijo/mokuji.htm (28 March 2008)
*ja icon [http://www2.harimaya.com/sengoku/html/siraisi.html "Shiroishi-shi" on Harimaya.com] (28 March 2008)
*ja icon [http://www2.harimaya.com/sengoku/html/katakura.html "Katakura-shi" on Harimaya.com] (28 March 2008).

External links

* [http://www.city.shiroishi.miyagi.jp/section/english/attractions/culturalattractions.html Shiroishi City's Cultural Attractions Webpage]