Ichijodani medieval town

A town in the Warring States period

'Ichijodani' is a place name where is located in Fukui prefecture. In the Warring States period, Fukui prefecture was called Echizen country, and this area was territory of the Asakura clan.

They built their capital town at Ichijodani, so if we call the name 'Ichijodani' it means the capital of the Asakura clan. Considering the Warring Sates period, the capitals of the Sengoku lord's territory were taken as castles more often. For example, we usually describe this territory was ruled by a certain Sengoku lord in a certain castle. However, that situation began after the completion of Oda Nobunaga's Azuchi castle, which a certain castle had a castle-town as a capital town.

Before that incident, for example, when Oda Nobunaga owned Gifu castle, Gifu was the center of his territory, and his residence and craftsmen's town were made at the foot of the castle hill. The town at the foot of the castle hill was only for craftsmen at that time. As his new trial, Oda Nobunaga made a further step to gather merchants to retail goods and made the economy activate.

'Ichijodani' is one of the typical sample of the town of the Sengoku period. Most of other Sengoku lords made small towns at the feet of their castle mountains. And they made their residence and their employee craftsmen's living places there. Then, castles were the first and towns were the next in their priority. On the other hand, Ichijodani was the first in the town planning of it. So, it was typical and many Sengoku lords paid attention to it.

About the Odani castle in north Oumi district, it's famous the castle but the town called 'Shimizudani'. By contrast, Ichijodani town is famous in spite of the castle called the Ichijoyama castle. That was because the town was typical among many Sengoku lords. This town was sandwiched tall mountains and in the center of them, and it was made in this flatland relatively wide and long enough. Each end of the valley, there were big earthworks to prevent invading enemy's forces. It's like a walled city in Europe.

Is it needed archeology?

This town was started to build at the latter half of the Muromachi period. More detail, maybe at 1468, the construction of this Asakura clan's capital was started. And at 1573, it was destroyed by Oda Nobunaga's invasion. So, it was flourished approximately 100 years.

This famous town was the headquarters of the Asakura clan who had a strong political power, and also relatively close to Kyoto, so many intellectuals at that time visited there.

'Ichijodani' is considered as the headquarters of Asakura Yoshikage who was a famous enemy leader of Oda Nobunaga. However, this town had another aspect. We think it's suitable to see this town as a cultural pioneer town except for Kyoto. It was not an impregnable fortress. In the western half of Japan, the capital of the territory of the Ouchi clan, Yamaguchi town was the same kind of town.

If you visit 'Ichijodani', you can't find anything special and you never seen. There are natural objects, a narrow plain sandwiched tall mountains, a pellucid stream in the center of the plain, and remains of the old road and many lined foundation stone of old wooden buildings on each side of the stream. In a very small part of this town, buildings such like Samurai residences and merchants houses were reproduced. There are dolls wearing the closes at that time in some buildings. However, almost of all are empty space and some sitings have only earthen walls and gates.

About the Asakura clan

In the Warring States period, many big-name Sengoku warriors appeared. Asakura Yoshikage was only one of them. The most famous three big-name were Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, Tokugawa Ieyasu. Others were connected with these three and estimated contributions on them. Asakura were usually connected with Oda Nobunaga, because he was a leader of Oda's opposition lords. However, this estimation is far biased to the political priority such like 'ruling over the whole country of Japan'.

The Warring States period was also a period when the priority of Samurai value of the Muromachi period destroyed. Asakura clan was a Shugodai (a high rank retainer of a Shugo or regional governor) of Shiba clan who was the Shugo of Echizan country. His ancestors had come from Tajima area where is now a northern area of Hyogo prefecture. They had moved to Echizen country and gathered their political power there. These kind of Samurai people were many in the Warring States period.

Asakura clan established their headquarters at Ichijodani region and began to stay there. And also they had been strengthening the dominance of the Echizen country. To say another word, they spent everyday life to battle their enemies in their neighboring areas, and that was same as other Sengoku lords. They concentrated their interest to rule their country, and didn't invade other districts. That was a difference from other Sengoku lords. Other Sengoku lords who typified by Oda Nobunaga had enlarged conflicts against neighboring Sengoku lords.

If we look at from another perspective, Ichijodani was utopia in the Warring States period. The Asakura clan was not only a Sengoku lord who battled for ruling over the whole country but also an adventure to seek an ideal town. We suppose they didn't intend to battle but to build their utopia such like a permanent neutral country. However, they failed in the middle of the way. They didn't make a relationship with Oda Nobunaga and his army destroyed their utopia.

Echizen-ono castle

A castle in the sky

It's mystical that only castle main tower and surroundings are above a sea of clouds. And other areas are rolled over a fog hanging low across the city. Very few days a year, you can see this vision. This is a scenery called 'Castle in the Sky'. There are several 'Castles in the Sky' in Japan. And the most famous is the Takeda castle in Hyogo prefecture. However, this Echizen-ono castle is also doing good. It's a budding as one of the three 'Castles in the Sky' in Japan.

From a poster of Ono city

Because Echizen-ono castle is called a 'Castle in the Sky', we misunderstand that it's a mountain castle. However, it's a flatland-mountain castle in classifying the style of castles. The theory of flatland-mountain castles is classified as castles made on hills or small mountains in flat-lands. And they usually had their castle towns in front of them.

This castle was made by Kanamori Nagachika around 1579. In the same year, the notable Azuchi castle which changed the theory of the art of castles was made by Oda Nobunaga. And, Kanamori was a retainer of Oda Nobunaga, so, this castle was supposed to be made diverting Oda's masterpiece's concepts. Unfortunately, the Azuchi castle was ruined and only several stone walls are survived. So, even though visiting the Azuchi castle we can't find the Oda's new castle theory.

Kanamori Nagachika
the Azuchi castle

The castle method was changed after the appearance of Oda's masterpiece dramatically. So, subsequent castles were changed their classification as 'early modern castles'.

The main tower

Oda Nobunaga destroyed Asakura Yoshikage who had been a famous Sengoku lord in Echizen region at 1573. And, the Azuchi castle was completed 6 years after the incident. The Azuchi castle broke the mold from Yama-jiro or mountain castles to Hirayama-jiro or flatland-mountain castles with its castle town. We suppose Kanamori was impressed by this new style castle and when he started to construct his own castle, he must have imitated his master's castle.

Asakura Yoshikage

Up until the appearance of the Azuchi castle, Samurai people made their castles on the top of mountains as secure fortresses. And, in a piece time, they lived in residences at the feet of mountains where their fortresses were hidden. Ichijyou-dani town had been famous until Oda Nobunaga's raising, and the Asakura clan possessed their huge residence in the center of this town. The town was made in a valley sandwiched by steep mountains, and the hidden fortress (mountain castle) was at the top of the mountain behind their residence. Even Oda Nobunaga's castles, such as the Gifu castle and the Komaki castle (these were made before the Azuchi castle), the methods were same as Asakura clan's Ichijyou-dani.

Ichijyo-dani
the Gifu castle
the Komaki castle

Oda Nobunaga realized a very important theory when he battled with Asakura Yoshikage in Echizen. How strong the town had been made, it would have been destroyed by a large army's impact. So, he noticed the compounded castles with moats and ramparts where his army could be besieged in an emergency moment would be useful. The Azuchi castle was the first deliverable of his idea.

The basic idea of 'early modern castles' wasn't changed. Appearance of arquebuses made themselves major weapons in the battle fields, and according to the incident, castles were caused to change their details. So, in many newly made castles had wide moats comparing with the past. Miner modifications of the castle construction methods continued until the beginning of 17'th century when no more castle was needed. However, the basic idea established by the Azuchi castle wasn't turned.

We have no information whether the Echizen-ono castle was made imitating the Azuchi castle or not. However, our opinion after learning from the actual place is this castle was deeply affected by the Oda Nobunaga's masterpiece. For example, the main compound was made in the deepest area, and behind it was a massive defense device difficult to attack. In the case of the Azuchi castle, it was the Biwa lake, and the Echizen-ono castle's back was a steep slope.

Palace was placed at the Ni-no-maru compound in the center of this castle.
Furthermore, this compound was surrounded by the San-no-maru compound, and outside of the San-no-maru was the Soto-kuruwa. So, the palace had triple covers in front of it, and its background was also covered with the secure castle mountain. For providing stronger defenses, every outside of these compounds covered with earthen walls and moats.

Looking at from another perspective, Echizen-ono castle's defense method focused on the palace only. The palace was placed at the center and the defensive devices covered it mainly. And, in case these defenses defeated, the main tower was prepared on the top of the castle mountain. So, it can also be said only a miniaturization of old-fashioned Yamajiro type defensive method.
That's because it imitated only surface, but not in the deepest point.

It is said that the first lord, Kanamori completed this castle during his domination. However, as long as we had researched, there was no exact information who had completed. In our opinion, Kanamori had started construction, and at least, its outline was made by his responsibility, but its completion was done by other lord. Because, we can't find any evidence of completion by Kanamori.

So, our suspicion is directed to the masonry of Honmaru compound which looks very aged. There by chance is a probability the masonry of Honmaru compound is not original. Furthermore, the reconstructed main tower also wouldn't inherit the original appearance. Because we heard information it had been designed after the Hamamatsu castle when it had been reconstructed.
Why it designed after the Hamamatsu castle? As long as we know, there was no relationship between Kanamori Nagachika and the Hamamatsu castle. We're afraid that we are too much suspicious for everything.

the Hamamatsu castle

Meaning of existence of Echizen-ono castle

The early modern castle which was invented by Oda Nobunaga was quite influential among the Sengoku lords. So, all of them made the imitations of Oda Nobunaga's castle. However, as the centuries rolled by, the ideal castle became the antique quite soon, then, the castle method changed often. There were several reasons, but the most important was the inconvenience. High castle mountains like Azuchi castle's mountain were too inconvenient when they worked inside the siting. The situation of the Echizen-ono castle was also same, because its castle mountain was too high to work at facilities there.

Changing the point of view, we concentrate the Hikone castle which has a high castle mountain. We think it was rather an exception. Because, it was at high risk of suffering battles in the circumstance it was made. There was also another example which was made at the same moment of the Hikone castle's birth, namely the Nagoya castle. The Nagoya castle was also at high risk for the same reason, but it was made by Hirajiro castle (no natural castle hill) style. Newly made castles in this moment were made like the latter. According to the construction time, favorite styles were changed, and the height of castle mountains (or hills) were getting lower and lower.

the Hikone castle
the Nagoya castle

The beginning of the Echizen-ono castle was related to the Asakura clan's downfall and an occurrence of political unstableness in this region. Looking a little more detail, first, Oda allowed former retainers of the Asakura clan, and he made them his retainer. Furthermore, he agreed to their governing there.
Then, if they governed this area well, he would not begin extra battle and ordered the building of the Echizen-ono castle.

In spite of his gentle treatment, former retainers of the Asakura clan started battles between themselves. And the result of this civil war, a religious group of a neighbor district invaded into this area and began to rule. Oda Nobunaga lost his temper, and attacked again. He destroyed both the Asakura's retainers and the religious power in this area. When the second battle was happened, Kanamori Nagachika, one of Oda's original retainers marched to the Echizen area from the Mino area. According to this contribution, he was given the Ono region, and he became the ruler there.

Kanamori Nagachika ruled Ono town approximately 10 years. After that, he moved to Hida district following the next authority, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and another lord succeeded this castle instead. Furthermore, many lords ruled there, but most of their ruling were only brief period, and there were no typical records of them. The lords of Echizen-ono castle belonged to the Fukui castle's group, which was the center of this district until the end of the feudal period. This castle ended its life as a supporting role of a lead role, Fukui castle after its brilliant debut.

Let's go to Echizen-ono castle

At the central city of this district namely Fukui city, JR superexpress 'Thunderbird' stops. It goes to Kanazawa city where is an ancient city we visited the Kanazawa castle. From Fukui city to Ono city, we can ride on JR etsumi-hokusen line but there aren't many trains. Approximately 2 hours from Osaka to Fukui, and further 1 hour from Fukui to Ono. However, these are only the riding time. If we consider the inconvenience in access, we should prepare a hotel to stay at least one night.

the Kanazawa castle

JR etsumi-hokusen line

Remains were only Hon-maru compound on the top of the castle mountain at the Echizen-ono castle. And we needed to go up a steep slope to visit the main castle, and it took 20 minutes or so. On the other hand, if we turned our attention to the castle town, the arrangement of it is well remained even now. And traffic volume wasn't so much and there were several sightseeing points, so it was suitable to walk around.

Side of a vending machine

The timing is very little from dawn to 9 AM in November, when Echizen-ono castle change into the 'Castle in the Sky'. We remember the aurora lights in Nordic countries, which are famous but the timings they appear are also very little. These are such like a phantom. No matter how much chasing, you may never catch the timing.

Japanese castles we mentioned in this article. You can refer to our previous ones.