Akō Castle
| Akō Castle | ||
|---|---|---|
 External gate and watchtower |
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| Alternative name (s): | Kariya-jō ( 加里 屋 ) | |
| Castle type : | Hirajiro (Lower Castle) | |
| Conservation status: | Partly reconstructed | |
| Place: | Ako | |
| Geographical location | 34 ° 44 '44.4 " N , 134 ° 23' 20.3" E | |
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The castle Ako ( japanese 赤穂城 , Ako-jō ) is located in the town of Ako , Hyōgo Prefecture . In the Edo period the Mori last resided there , who belonged to the small Tozama daimyo with an income of 20,000 koku .
Lords of the castle in the Edo period
- From 1615 the Ikeda with an income of 35,000 Koku.
- From 1645 the Asano with 53,000 Koku.
- From 1702 the Nagai with 35,000 Koku.
- From 1706 Mori to the end of Edo period 1868 that of 20,000 Koku.
The attachment
In the years 1573 to 1592 Ukita Hideie ( 宇 喜 多 秀 家 ) built a branch castle to Okayama Castle in Akō. Then the castle fell to Ikeda Masatsuna (池田 政綱, 1605–1631), who died childless. He was followed by his younger brother Teruoki ( 輝 興 ; 1611–1647), who was replaced in 1645, mentally disturbed. He was followed in the same year by Asano Naganao ( 浅 野 長 尚 ; † 1666). As an exception, he received from the Shogun permission to expand the castle and give it the shape in which it is found today by 1661. The experienced Kondō Masazumi ( 近藤 正 純 ) and Yamaga Sokō (1622–1685) acted as site managers .
The completed castle made use of the inland sea and a river so that it was almost completely surrounded by water. The central area, the so-called Hommaru, contained the residence. A castle tower, the Tenshukaku, was planned, but only its massive base was built from stone blocks. This central area is completely surrounded by the castle area in front of it, the Ni-no-maru. In the north, the Ni-no-maru is followed by the San-no-maru.
After the start of the Meiji period , all buildings were demolished. In 1955, however, the corner watchtower of San-no-maru was rebuilt according to old photos. At that time there was a high school on the site, which was moved outside in 1982. The main entrance gate, the Ōte-mon, was also restored. The main gate to the Hommaru and other gates were also restored. Finally, the gardens and pond there were reconstructed with the help of studies.
Today, most of the complex is a public park, the Akō joseki kōen ( 赤 穂 城 跡 公園 , "Akō Castle Park "). At the north end is the Ōishi jinja ( 大石 神社 ), a Shintō shrine , the Ōishi Yoshio ( 大石 良 雄 ; 1659-1703), the leader of the 47 Rōnin of Akō, is dedicated. Next there is the city history museum ( 赤 穂 市立 歴 史 博物館 , Akō shiritsu rekishi hakubutsukan ).
photos
Outside gate (Ōte-mon)
Hanebashi Gate
Umayaguchi Gate
Gateway to the Hommaru
Gateway to the Hommaru
Remarks
- ↑ The third daimyo, Asano Naganori ( 浅 野 長 矩 ; 1667–1701), angrily drawn his sword in the Shogun's palace in Edo and had to commit seppuku because of it . That led to the story of the 47 ronin.
literature
- Kato, Masafumi: Akō-jo. In: Masayuki Miura (ed.): Shiro to jinya. Saikoku-hen. Gakken, 2006, ISBN 4-05-604379-5 .
