Shigisan Castle was built in 1536. It followed the basic design of most Japanese castles from the Middle Ages, so it was built on a mountain out of earth and wood (instead of stone). The great weakness of this type of castle was the inherent instability of the natural foundations created from a sculpted hillside, particularly where the forest cover had been removed. Today, relatively nothing remains of this once impressive castle, but here is a good description of it:
A roughly concentric series of mountain peaks were converted into a number of natural inner and outer baileys by carving up the mountain. Each layer overlooked the one below it, utilising not only the tops of the hills but different intermediate levels also to create interlocking fields of fire. The result was a series of sculpted earth bastions. Ditches were strengthened by having vertical cross pieces built through them at right angles to the inner walls, and near perpendicular sections were made more dramatic by having long channels cut out of them, down which rocks could be rolled. Mountain streams were diverted into gullies to create moats, and entrances to gateways were offset to allow an enemy's approach to be covered completely. Walls were built using a form of wattle and daub construction plastered with a mixture of red clay and crushed rock. Arrow ports were cut at regular intervals.
Shigisan castle fell to members of the Miyoshi clan (a Japanese family descended from Emperor Seiwa) in 1568, but it was recaptured quickly afterwards when the attackers' attention was redirected to the capital by the activities of Oda Nobunaga (a powerful samurai daimyo who initiated the unification of Japan near the end of the Warring States period). Nobunaga would then besiege the castle in 1577, destroying it and bringing the downfall of Matsunaga Hisahide (another daimyo who controlled the castle). Supposedly, Matsunaga Hisahide committed Seppuku upon his defeat and his son leapt from the castle walls, with Matsunaga's head in his hand, and his sword through his own throat... Fun times!
[–] Strange_Attractor 0 points 3 points 3 points (+3|-0) ago (edited ago)
Shigisan Castle was built in 1536. It followed the basic design of most Japanese castles from the Middle Ages, so it was built on a mountain out of earth and wood (instead of stone). The great weakness of this type of castle was the inherent instability of the natural foundations created from a sculpted hillside, particularly where the forest cover had been removed. Today, relatively nothing remains of this once impressive castle, but here is a good description of it: A roughly concentric series of mountain peaks were converted into a number of natural inner and outer baileys by carving up the mountain. Each layer overlooked the one below it, utilising not only the tops of the hills but different intermediate levels also to create interlocking fields of fire. The result was a series of sculpted earth bastions. Ditches were strengthened by having vertical cross pieces built through them at right angles to the inner walls, and near perpendicular sections were made more dramatic by having long channels cut out of them, down which rocks could be rolled. Mountain streams were diverted into gullies to create moats, and entrances to gateways were offset to allow an enemy's approach to be covered completely. Walls were built using a form of wattle and daub construction plastered with a mixture of red clay and crushed rock. Arrow ports were cut at regular intervals.
Shigisan castle fell to members of the Miyoshi clan (a Japanese family descended from Emperor Seiwa) in 1568, but it was recaptured quickly afterwards when the attackers' attention was redirected to the capital by the activities of Oda Nobunaga (a powerful samurai daimyo who initiated the unification of Japan near the end of the Warring States period). Nobunaga would then besiege the castle in 1577, destroying it and bringing the downfall of Matsunaga Hisahide (another daimyo who controlled the castle). Supposedly, Matsunaga Hisahide committed Seppuku upon his defeat and his son leapt from the castle walls, with Matsunaga's head in his hand, and his sword through his own throat... Fun times!
-- location
Source of photo: 1