Hachimanyama Castle

{{short description|Castle ruins in Ōmihachiman, Japan}}

{{Infobox military installation

| name = Hachimanyama Castle

| nativename-a={{lang|ja|八幡山城}}

| partof =

| location = Ōmihachiman, Japan

| image =Yahatahachimanjo09.jpg|

| image_size =

| caption =Stone wall of Honmaru compound

| type = Mountaintop style castle

| height =

| ownership = Toyotomi clan

| controlledby =

| condition = ruins

| built = 1585

| builder = Toyotomi Hidetsugu

| used =

| materials =Stone walls

| demolished = 1595

| battles =

| past_commanders = Toyotomi Hidetsugu, Kyōgoku Takatsugu

| garrison =

| occupants =

| events =

| coordinates =

}}

{{nihongo|Hachimanyama Castle|八幡山城|Hachimanyama-jō}} was a castle in Ōmihachiman, Japan, on the eastern shore of Lake Biwa in Shiga prefecture. It was the home castle of Toyotomi Hidetsugu, the nephew of Toyotomi Hideyoshi.{{cite web|url= https://www.biwako-visitors.jp/spot/detail/884 |title=八幡山城|publisher=しがNavi|language=ja|access-date=23 August 2019}}

History

Hachimanyama Castle was built by Toyotomi Hidetsugu in 1585 under orders from Toyotomi Hideyoshi. Azuchi Castle's materials were used in the construction of the castle, and Azuchi city's functions were moved to Hachiman city.{{cite web|url=https://www.jalan.net/kankou/spt_25204af2170018170/ |title=八幡山城|publisher=じゃらん|language=ja|access-date=23 August 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://www.travel.co.jp/guide/article/25530/ |title=豊臣秀吉の後継・秀次の悲劇を伝える城 八幡山城|publisher=Lineトラベル|language=ja|access-date=25 July 2019}} In 1595, Kyōgoku Takatsugu moved to Ōtsu Castle and Hachimanyama Castle was abandoned.

Current state

Hachimanyama castle is now in ruins, with some extant stone walls and wet moat. The Buddhist temple Zuiryuji now occupies the former honmaru, or main bailey. Hachimanyama Ropeway provides services between the mountaintop and Himure Hachimangū.{{cite web|url=https://kojodan.jp/castle/127/ |title=八幡山城跡 |publisher=攻城団|language=ja|access-date=23 August 2019}}  The castle was listed as one of the Continued Top 100 Japanese Castles in 2017.{{cite web|url= http://jokaku.jp/japan-top-100-castles/best-100-castles-of-japan-2nd-selection/ |title=続日本100名城 |publisher=日本城郭協会|language=ja|access-date=23 August 2019}}

Gallery

Yahatahachimanjo14.jpg|View from Nishinomaru, or western compound

Yahatahachimanjo35.jpg|Stone wall of Toyotomi Hidetsugu's residence

Yahatahachimanjo02.jpg|Stone wall of Ninomaru, or secondary compound

Yahatahachimanjo15.jpg|Stone wall of Nishinomaru, or western compound

Yahatahachimanjo10.jpg|Kitanomaru, or northern compound

Hachimanbori08s3200.jpg|Wet moat of Hachiman

Yahatahachimanjo38.jpg|Wet moat of Hachiman

Literature

{{Commons category|Hachiman'yama Castle}}

  • {{cite book |title=An Encyclopedia of Japanese Castles | last=De Lange |first=William |year=2021 |pages=600 pages|publisher=Toyo Press |location=Groningen |isbn=978-9492722300}}

References