Matsuyama Castle (Iyo)

is a "flatland-mountain"-style Japanese castle that was built in 1603 on Mount Katsuyama, in the city of Matsuyama in Ehime Prefecture, Japan. The castle is one of twelve Japanese castles to still have its original ''tenshu''. The castle has been protected as a National Historic Site since 1952. It is also called Iyo-Matsuyama Castle to disambiguate it from Bitchū Matsuyama Castle in Okayama. Tsuyama Castle and Himeji Castle were also built in a similar style around the same time period.

History

During the Muromachi period, central Iyo Province was ruled by the Kōno clan from their stronghold at Yuzuki Castle. However, after the start of the Sengoku period, the Kōno clan was weakened by internal conflicts and became subordinated to strong neighboring warlords such as the Mōri clan and the Chōsokabe clan. After Toyotomi Hideyoshi conquered Shikoku, his general Katō Yoshiaki was rewarded for his services at the Battle of Shizugatake and in 1583 was appointed lord of Masaki with a ''kokudaka'' of 60,000 ''koku''. After Hideyoshi's death, Katō joined with Tokugawa Ieyasu at the Battle of Sekigahara, and in reward, was confirmed as ''daimyō'' of Iyo-Matsuyama Domain under the Tokugawa shogunate with his ''kokudaka'' increased to 200,000 ''koku''.

In 1602, Katō relocated his seat to Matsuyama Castle. The castle was not completed until 1627, and just before its completion, Katō was transferred to Aizu Domain and replaced by Gamō Tadatomo. Under Gamō Tadatomo, a large five-story ''tenshu'' was completed. Gamō Tadatomo died in Matsuyama in 1634 without heirs, shortly after completing the ''Ninomaru'' bailey. The shogunate then assigned Matsudaira Sadayuki from Kuwana Domain to govern the territory, which was reduced in size to 150,000 ''koku''. His branch of the Matsudaira clan, the "Hisamatsu-Matsudaira", was a '' shinpan daimyō'' clan, considered to be closely related to the ruling Tokugawa clan, and would govern Matsuyama until the Meiji Restoration in 1868. Under Matsudaira Sadayuki, the ''tenshu'' was rebuilt on a smaller scale in 1642, reducing the height from five stories to three stories. Despite the domain's constant financial issues, the ''tenshu'' was rebuilt in 1854 by the 12th ''daimyō'', Matsudaira Katsuyoshi, although it had been destroyed by lightning seventy years previously in 1784.

Following the Meiji Restoration, most of the castle gates, ''yagura'' watchtowers, and other structures were demolished by the new Meiji government, and the vacated third bailey became the site of the prefectural headquarters, while the inner bailey became a public park in 1874. From 1886, the second bailey and part of the third bailey became the garrison and headquarters for the Imperial Japanese Army 12th Infantry Regiment. This area would be under military control until 1945.

Current status of the castle

The ''tenshu'', six ''yagura'' watchtowers and several gates remain from the original castle, and there are also several reconstructed buildings. In 1935, the ''tenshu'' and 34 other structures were designated Important Cultural Properties; however, 11 buildings (including the Tenjin ''yagura'') were destroyed in the Matsuyama Air Raid in World War II. In 1949, the Tsutsu Gate and its east and west ''yagura'' were destroyed by arson. In 1989, Matsuyama Castle Park was selected as one of Japan’s “Top 100 Cherry Blossom Spots”.

Matsuyama Castle was listed as one of Japan's Top 100 Castles by the Japan Castle Foundation in 2006. in 2019, an additional nine structures received the designation of Registered Tangible Cultural Properties.

The castle is located a 20-minute walk from JR Shikoku Matsuyama Station.

Castle Architecture

Matsuyama Castle consists of a Honmaru (main enclosure), a Ninomaru (secondary enclosure), and a Sannomaru (tertiary enclosure), spread over a flat hilltop area of about 400 meters long and 100 meters wide. This area has three ''masugata''-style gates at south, northwest and northeast. The Honmaru is an inner square central area with three corner ''yagura'' connected by barrack gates surrounding the ''tenshu''. The south and west edge of central area is protected by curved stone walls built utilizing the cliff as part of its natural defenses. The Ninomaru contains the daimyō residence and garden, and has area of an about 200 square meters. Entry into this secondary area was protected by tall stone walls and water moats. The Sannomaru was 500 meters long square, with tall clay walls and a 50 meter wide water moat. It is now a large park.

Matsuyama castle has a Doorless Gate (''Tonashimon''), and people who pass through it face the heavily fortified ''Tsutsuimon'' with the roof of the Tonashimon. Beside the Tsutsuimon, there is a hidden gate (''Kakuremon'') that could be used for surprise attacks.

The northern corner tower (left side) and the southern corner tower (right side) are connected to each other by corridors. There is a south-corner-turret (''Minami-sumi-yagura'') and a north-corner-turret (''Kita-sumi-yagura'').

On the ''Taka-ishigaki'' stone walls overlooking the Tonashimon there is a Drum Tower (''Taiko-yagura'') with stone-dropping windows. Taiko drums were set up to warn of enemies approaching the inner enclosure of the castle.

Cultural Properties

National Important Cultural Properties

*, rebuilt in 1854, but in its original style with black-colored wooden walls. It has three floors and one basement, and its interior is quite simple compared with the towers built at earlier period. It was designated an Important Cultural Property (ICP) in 1935.
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Registered Tangible Cultural Properties

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Photo gallery

Iyo_Matsuyama_castle.jpg, The Castle Mountain views
Matsuyama Castle Tower 3 (Iyo) JAPAN.JPG, The view from Matsuyama Castle Tower
Matsuyama castle Ropeway&Chairlift(Iyo).JPG, The Matsuyama castle Ropeway&Chairlift
Matsuyama Castle air.jpg, An aerial view of Matsuyama Castle (1974)
Views from Matsuyama Castle (Iyo) 20170123-3.jpg, The view of Matsuyama city from Matsuyama castle

Literature

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References

External links

Matsuyama Castle (Matsuyama City official site)Matsuyama Castle (Official site)

{{Authority control

Castles in Ehime Prefecture
Gamō clan
Hisamatsu-Matsudaira clan
Historic Sites of Japan
100 Fine Castles of Japan
Buildings and structures in Matsuyama
Iyo Province
Important Cultural Properties of Japan
Registered Tangible Cultural Properties