Ueda Castle
Ueda Castle | |
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上田城 | |
Ueda, Nagano Prefecture, Japan | |
Coordinates | 36°24′15″N 138°14′39″E / 36.40413°N 138.24427°E |
Type | hilltop-style Japanese castle |
Site information | |
Open to the public | yes |
Condition | some extant and reconstructed buildings |
Site history | |
Built | 1583 |
Built by | Sanada Masayuki |
In use | Sengoku - Edo period |
Demolished | 1874 |
Ueda Castle (上田城, Ueda-jō) is a
Situation
Ueda Castle is located on a hill overlooking a branch of the
The Central Bailey (Hon-Maru) [1] originally had seven two-story yagura, but no tenshu and was protected by a moat as well as stone ramparts. The Central Bailey is also surrounded by a Second Bailey (Ni-no-Maru) [2], also with moats and earthen ramparts. The adjacent Third Bailey (San-no-maru) [3], had additional yagura, of which only the foundation bases remain, and contained the main residence of the daimyō [R] (which was also protected by a moat), gardens [G] and work area [A], and the main gate (Ōtemon) of the castle [H]. Most of the area of the former Third Bailey is now occupied by the Ueda High School.
History
During the Sengoku period, the area around Ueda was under the control of the Sanada clan, a minor local warlord in the service of the Takeda clan. After the fall of the Takeda clan to the combined forces of Oda Nobunaga and Tokugawa Ieyasu, the Sanada switched side with bewildering rapidity between the Uesugi clan, the Hōjō clan, Oda Nobunaga and Toyotomi Hideyoshi in an effort to preserve their territory and independence. The construction of the castle began in 1583 by Tokugawa Ieyasu's order.[2] Two years later, Sanada Masayuki moved their main bastion from Sanada-shi Yakata to Ueda Castle.[3] In the same year, the castle was attacked by Tokugawa Ieyasu but the greatly outnumbered Sanada defeated the forces of Tokugawa Ieyasu in the Battle at Kami River, which greatly enhanced Sanada Masayuki’s reputation.[4]
However, under Toyotomi Hideyoshi, the Sanada were forced to submit fealty to Tokugawa Ieyasu and Sanada Masayuki's first son, Sanada Nobuyuki, was married to Komatsuhime, an adopted daughter of Ieyasu; while his second son, Sanada Yukimura (Nobushige), was married to Chikurin-in, an adopted daughter of Hideyoshi. After the death of Hideyoshi, the Tokugawa ordered the Sanada to participate in their invasion of Aizu against the Uesugi clan. Sanada Nobuyuki chose to remain on the Tokugawa side, while Sanada Masayuki and his younger son, Sanada Yukimura chose to join the Toyotomi armies under Ishida Mitsunari against the Tokugawa. This led to the Siege of Ueda in 1600, a side battle to the Battle of Sekigahara. The army of Tokugawa Hidetada, while on their way to Sekigahara was ordered to reduce Ueda Castle along the away. Again, the greatly outnumbered Sanada forces inflicted severe casualties on the Tokugawa and delayed Hidetada so long that he was forced to break off the siege and his forces thus arrived at Sekigahara too late to make a contribution to the battle.[4]
After the Battle of Sekigahara and the establishment of the
Following the
Ueda Castle was listed as one of the
Gallery
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Entrance to Ueda Castle
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Sanada Jinja
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South Yagura
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Otemon Gate
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Ueda Castle
See also
Literature
- De Lange, William (2021). An Encyclopedia of Japanese Castles. Groningen: Toyo Press. pp. 600 pages. ISBN 978-9492722300.
- Takada, Toru: Ueda-jo in: Miura, Masayuki (eds): Shiro to Jinya. Tokoku-hen. Gakken, 2006. ISBN 978-4-05-604378-5, S. 100th
- Nishigaya, Yasuhiro (eds): Ueda-jo. In: Nihon Meijo Zukan, Rikogaku-sha, 1993. ISBN 4-8445-3017-8.
- Schmorleitz, Morton S. (1974). Castles in Japan. Tokyo: Charles E. Tuttle Co. pp. 144–145. ISBN 0-8048-1102-4.
- Motoo, Hinago (1986). Japanese Castles. Tokyo: Kodansha. p. 200 pages. ISBN 0-87011-766-1.
- Mitchelhill, Jennifer (2004). Castles of the Samurai: Power and Beauty. Tokyo: Kodansha. p. 112 pages. ISBN 4-7700-2954-3.
- Turnbull, Stephen (2003). Japanese Castles 1540-1640. Osprey Publishing. p. 64 pages. ISBN 1-84176-429-9.
References
- ^ "上田城跡" [Ueda-jō ato] (in Japanese). Agency for Cultural Affairs. Retrieved August 20, 2020.
- ^ 寺島隆史「第一次上田合戦前後における真田昌幸の動静の再考」(『信濃』62巻5号、2010年)
- ^ "日本の城がわかる事典「真田本城」の解説" (in Japanese). kotobank. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
- ^ ISBN 978-4311750403.(in Japanese)
- ^ Japan Castle Foundation (in Japanese)
External links
- Official home page(in Japanese)
- Ueda Castle - Guide to Japanese Castles, with photos
- - Japan National Tourist site
- Japan Castle Explorer