Damine castle

Three interesting matters will be delivered in this article.

The first is descriptions of castle locating, shape and method during the latter half of the Sengoku period.
In the middle, we introduce an unique museum atop of the castle mountain, and it's worth looking.   
In the final, the battle between Oda Nobunaga and Takeda Katsuyori, and influence over the Damine castle.

There is a museum atop of the castle mountain

Shitara town (where the Damine castle is located) is on the way to Kyoto city when a famous Sengoku Daimyo, the Takeda clan went to Kyoto from their second important military base, Suwa city in the Sengoku era. 

In addition, the Takeda clan's headquarters was in Kofu city (Yamanashi Pref.), and that was quite far from Kyoto, so they made Suwa city their second military point when they came to make inroads into Oda's territory. 

Until a little while before, Oda Nobunaga had been in the Kiyosu castle (Aichi Pref.) and he had ruled this narrow area only, so the Takeda clan had allied with him to fight against their common enemies. However, Nobunaga's influence expanded rapidly, and he moved to the Gifu castle, as the result,their alliance was reversed and they became do-or-die rivals.

View of the castle mountain

The Damine castle had been a borderline castle between the Takeda clan and the Tokugawa clan (Tokugawa was an ally of Oda). So this castle had never spotlighted until the big war between Oda and Takeda. 
Furthermore, quite same as other same-sized castles around there. If we're forced to say, this castle is a typical example of rural, borderline castle. And further research of this castle, how to choose locations and how to build the whole area may be important for the study of some academic.  


The Damine castle nowadays

To begin with, let's identify its location. This castle is located in Shitara town in the present era. This town's position is approximately 40 kilometers away from the Pacific Ocean, and in the mountain area. The coastal area is not flat, and flat area is narrow and soon the mountains will appear. When we travel around, only arterial roads are trustworthy and rural community roads are full of danger. Even though the road seems to be the right direction, we lose the way, hundred percent. So, only locals can access these roads. This theory was also same during the Sengoku period, this region was incomprehensible for the outsiders.  

Looking up the top of the castle mountain

The Damine castle was built by a rural lord who ruled minor mountainous area around there, the Suganuma clan. This point where the castle was located was a strategically important. Because there was the Sakude path near the castle site. The Sakude path was an important path as one of several from Shinsyu district (the Takeda clan ruled area) to Okazaki district (the Tokugawa clan ruled), these paths were only accessible routes for the aliens. The Suganuma clan understood the importance of this area, so they made one of their castles there. 

The basin where the castle was belonged was hidden without using a drone or something. The current route to the castle is bellow. First, we find the Kansa river which starts in Shitara town and empties into the Pacific Ocean. One of current arterial road runs along this river. At the nearest point on the road, we get sidetracked.

The sidetrack goes up to a mountain. On the top of the mountain, the Damine castle is located, covered by many tall trees. So, we can't find it until we reach the entrance of the castle. According to a brochure, the distance from the starting point of the approach ramp to the castle's entrance is approximately 500 meters. However, this ramp is a zigzag mountain path, so we need 30 minutes if we walk up. On second thought, this castle's site is a corner of the basin, and covers the approach ramp to the area.    

Inside of the castle mountain

The castle itself is an aggregation of small tiered flat spaces. Every part of the mountain scraped off to the tiered suitable shape, every space used as defensive facilities, stock yards, living place and so on. Now, we can only see tiered flat spaces covered by green, plantation of some agricultural products, and woods. So, we feel difficulty for finding the border lines of the castle. According to a map in a researchers document, its longer direction is approximately 300 meters, and its shorter is approximately 200 meters. The hill top area is the widest flat, and a 50 meters to 30 meters of elliptical shape. 

This mountain castle is different from other same kind of ruins. Because there is a museum at the hill top. This museum was built in the Shoinzukuri architectural style which was typical for the samurai residences during the Sengoku period. It looks like a historic architecture, however, it was made in 1994 (25 years ago). 25 years made it look like a historical building, and the atmosphere is also just looks like original. However, it's not the original.  

If the original remains, the scale would be a half or more small. Because this area had many functions not only a residential but defense or so. So, this building is not genuine as its scale in the first place. However, this realistic replica looks like a faithfully rebuilt architecture, so we were honestly moved when we visited. 


Residence using a plan of 'Shomei' 
(a secret technical advice book for a carpenter in the Sengoku period)

The reason why this museum is improperly big scale is a preexist resident plan. Generally, people decide plan of the buildings according to the scale of the construction sites. But if there was a quite attractive plan and the construction site had enough scale. Somebody jumped at the chance to realize an attractive old plan, we suppose. 

Appearance of the museum

Then, what was an attractive old plan? That was a plan in the 'Shomei' book. 
'Shomei' is the secret technical advice book for certain master carpenter at the end of the Sengoku period. 

At that time, famous master carpenters were true geniuses, they had to make buildings as quickly as the owners' wish. And also, their clients didn't have architectural knowledge. So, they had to create the finished forms according to a little information of the imagination of their clients. Furthermore, their clients were almost dangerous Sengoku lords.

Even though they were true geniuses, they couldn't make these buildings so many and so quickly. Then, they prepared in advance. That was a secret technical advice book.

Map of the main area

The resident plan written in 'Syomei' was almighty. It had minimum necessary rooms, and one more important point was that it followed all architectural rules at that time. 

Model plan (from original 'Syomei')

In this example resident plan, there were almost all rooms which average Sengoku Daimyos came up with for their new residences. So, the carpenter master had only to add an additional room to this example. 

A professor's rewrite version 

More important viewpoint was the proportion. The carpenter master considered if he added an extra room, whole proportion would follow the rules or not. And if his client hoped a wider main room, he could change the whole proportion according to the rules. By almighty plans and sense of proportion written in 'Syomei', he could decide his new product blueprints in his brain. 

Blueprints were called 'Kiwari' in this era. That means how to cut or how to connect is the essence of the beauty of all buildings. The scale of the room specify how big would be the size of the pillars, and how many tatami mats would be placed. So, the carpenter master could follow the rules of the architectural beauty. These rules expand the range into roofs, ceilings, doors, windows, so, every part of the building. They are very similar to the golden ratio in the western world.

By the way, this museum building was made following these proportion rules, so its appearance is very nice. However, there is some point we can't accept. 'Syomei' was the proportion rule book basically, so, the appearance is okay as long as the constructor follows this book. But, how about the parts which consist every item. For example, the thickness of the planks. Open verandas is made of thick planks. But the thickness is not same as other originals we visited some other day. They seemed to follow the basic rules in this rule book, but the rules were only basic and not described in detail. 

Details should be decided by the carpenter master himself but the rule book. We suppose actual carpenter masters at that time decided the elements' volume a little thicker. Maybe they had another experimental knowledge or other external factors caused the originals' element. In comparison, this museum's elements are slightly thinner. So, it's pity that we feel something not genuine in this building. 

From a professor's drawing

Same side of appearance

From here, we want to describe our opinion a little. Many historical sightseeing places are going to be reconstructed using their original method to utilize their features effectively. People have a common understanding if they use fake method, visitors can detect their lies. So, many newly made facilities are also good condition. Regarding this museum, the designer seems to learn 'Shomei' and try to realize its spirit. If it was possible, collecting examples from survived similar residences would be necessary. We dare to mention our disappointment.


Value of this site

Mountain castles were made by cutting slopes, digging holes and embanking. Usually they didn't have stone walls. Several huge and important ones had. Looking-back this mountain castle, it would not have stone walls. Furthermore, because it would not have stone walls, it also didn't have earthen walls in the hey day. 

Dry moat

We suppose the Damine castle had only earth banks and dry moats. It was covered by earth banks and palisades to avoid enemy soldiers. 
And basin side slopes were gentle, so, they decided it's difficult to cover this side even though there was an additional dried moat. So, the lord regarded the whole basin area was the defense perimeter of the castle site. And main defensive attack would be planned at the entrance of the basin where soldiers could look down the only path into the inside from the castle-enclosures. They could attack the enemy above them. 

The main gate of the main enclosure was placed on the road side corner. We can't look its downward enclosures because of the trees. As long as we learn from a document, only several enclosures were there. So, the main gate was only a symbol of the castle we suppose. 


The battle between Oda Nobunaga and Takeda Katsuyori

The Oda clan's territory was the western half of Aichi Pref. nowadays. And the Takeda clan's was Yamanashi Pref.. So, they did not need to fight for expanding their territories, because the distance was too far to have a competitive relationship.

Oda Nobunaga

In the last few decades of the Sengoku period, a new code was set which was the lord who came to Kyoto to help the Shogun would become the number-two of the Shogunate. The lord who firstly successed was Oda Nobunaga. After a while, the Shogun dissatisfied Nobunaga's behavior which looked like a ruler himself, so he ordered other lords to come to Kyoto to alternate. The highest probability lord was the Takeda clan. And the Takeda clan had the desire to alternate the position of Nobunaga.    

The Takeda clan began to attack Oda's territory to visit Kyoto, because Oda's territory was an obstacle of the Takeda clan's advance. Takeda Shingen commanded the Takeda army. He was one of charismatic commanders, so his army was considered supremely strong. If he had lived a little more, he might have beaten Nobunaga, become a new number-two, and entered a new phase. However, before the fatal battle, he died of illness. So, Nobunaga had to fight against a new opponent, Takeda Katsuyori (Shingen's son).    
  

Tkakeda Katsuyori

Katsuyori commanded the Takeda army with the cherished desire of the late Singen. He aimed Kyoto again. Then, his army battled with the Nobunaga's near the Nagashino castle. It was called the battle of Nagashino, and it was one of very famous battles during the Sengoku era. Katsuyori believed that his army's cavalry corps was the strongest, and there was no lord who didn't know its reputation. Eventually, Nobunaga's innovative spirit overwhelmed Katsuyori's belief. The new weapon named 'Teppo' or Arquebuses beaten previous strategy. 

(We described this scene in our another article, so please check that.)    

If you want to know more about the history of Arquebuses in Japan and about 'the battle of Nagashino'.
Go to 'Arquebuse 1'




Sorry for keeping you wait for a long time, and the Damine castle made it appearance here. Again, the Suganuma clan was the lord of this castle. They were one of borderline lords, and they had betrayed the Tokugawa clan's group 5 years before this battle happened. So, they fought with the Takeda clan's. 

The battle field is 30 kilometers inland from a coastline, and now located in the Shinsiro city. The Takeda army escaped separately to a mountainous region. Because they had many castles as advance military bases there, and a supply route from Suwa city (their second important military base) to the coastline of the Pasific Ocian. Katsuyori, the commander of the army moved with the Suganuma clan's group, and they aimed the Damine castle. Maybe Sugamuma had the trust and confidence of Katsuyori.

From the watch tower

However, they had a situation! The Damine castle's soldiers betrayed their lord, and they denied their master to enter the castle. They had been hoping to belong to the Tokugawa clan's army in their hidden mind. Katsuyori and Suganuma went to an another castle, and Katsuyori arrived at the Suwa city safely. 

The Damine castle and the Suganuma clan became historically famous by a shameful internal trouble. After the incident, several internal conflicts and tragedies happened, but these were small incidents from a historical perspective. After that, the Takeda clans collapsed, and the Damine castle's lord was changed, and finally the castle was abolished.