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423:. A castle was needed as an administrative center and military rallying point. The ridged peak of Kinugasa Mountain, where Kannonsho-ji was already, was selected as the new site. A castle from that lofty position would command a view of the plains below and would serve as a symbol of power in the region. The castle was rebuilt during the
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built and used for the residences of
Rokkaku clan and their retainers. The outer Iines and core areas of the castle had stone walls, but as this was a relatively new innovation for the time, the walls were rather low and the main defenses remained earthen ramparts and dry moats with a system of overlooking
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Kannonji Castle was one of the largest mountain castles in Japan, and gradually expanded to cover most of Mount
Kinugasa, with the major areas of the castle spread along with the southern slope of the ridges spread east and west ward from the highest position. Along the slope numerous terraces were
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broke from their
Rokkaku overlords, defeating a large Rokkaku army which had been sent against them. In addition to this humiliating defeat, Rokkaku Yoshikata faced revolts by some of his main retainers, and at one point was even expelled from Kannonji Castle by his own erstwhile retainers. To
447:; twice in battles between the Rokkaku and the Kyogoku, and the final time in a struggle between rival branches of the Rokkaku clan itself. Under Rokkaku Takayori (d.1520), the clan was reunified, and significantly gained in strength as Rokkaku Takayori seized estates from
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Nothing remains of the castle today except for fragmentary ruins of stone walls, a stone-lined well, and a historical signboard. Much of the secondary areas of the castle were recovered by
Kannonshō-ji temple, which became a popular pilgrimage location in the
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region where he continued to resist
Nobunaga for several years from Mikumo Castle, but was unable to recover Kannonji Castle. Nobunaga continued to hold Kannonji castle as a defensive point after the completion of
597:, or about 10 minutes from the nearby Azuchi Castle Archaeology Museum and the Nobunaga Hall. The trail leads up the west side of the mountain, first to the ancient temple Kuwanomi-dera (
518:. On Nobunaga's assassination in 1582, Kannonji Castle was attacked and burned, along with Azuchi Castle, possibly at the hands of looters from among the local peasantry.
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607:, and up to Kannonji Castle site. From the main courtyard, there is a trail leading on to Kannonsho-ji, a temple with an impressive panoramic view.
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928:
Dictionary of the
History and Geography of Japan, Illustrated with 300 Engravings, with Several Individual Plates, and Followed by 18 Appendices
455:. Under his son, Rokkaku Sadayori (1495-1552), the territory prospered greatly by the abolishment of the local guild system in Ishidera, the
498:, with whom was determined to march on Kyoto. The Rokkaku clan at Kannonji Castle was in the path of his advance. The Rokkaku, loyal to the
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618:) in Azuchi. The other leads up the eastern slope, and can be found near Route 202 off the Nakasendō Highway in the neighboring town of
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If driving, there are two roads that lead up the mountain. One follows a spur on the southwest slope and is accessed near the
397:. The precise year the castle was constructed is uncertain, but it was constructed some time during the 14th century by the
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924:
Dictionnaire d'histoire et de géographie du japon illustré de 300 gravures, de plusieurs cartes, et suivi de 18 appendices
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However, under his son
Rokkaku Yoshikata (1521-1598), the clan's fortunes began to decline. The Azai, under the capable
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If hiking, the trail head that leads up the west side of
Kinugasa Mountain (433m) is about a 25-minute walk from
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Kannonji Castle is located on the ridgeline of Mount
Kinugasa, a 400-meter mountain, not far from the ruins of
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and part of northern Ōmi under his control. Renovations to the castle were done during the
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Kannonji Castle is regarded as among Japan's Five
Greatest Mountain Castles, along with
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since 1982, with the area under protection expanded in 1984. The castle was named after
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was rapidly expanding his influence westward towards Kyoto. After capturing
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and Buddhist temples throughout his territories, with the backing of the
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Kannonji Castle was attacked and changed hands three times during the
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when he was expelled from Kyoto and used his influence to bring the
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882:] (in Japanese). Hikone, Japan: Yamagawa Publishers.
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era (1467-1477); it was originally named Sasaki Castle.
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542:In 1969 and 1970, artifacts were discovered during
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459:at the base of Kannonji Castle. he also supported
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874:Harada, Toshimaru; Watanabe, Morimichi (1972).
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700:. Groningen: Toyo Press. pp. 600 pages.
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908:. Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press.
820:(in Japanese). Agency for Cultural Affairs
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763:Castles of the Samurai: Power and Beauty
723:. Tokyo: Charles E. Tuttle Co. pp.
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578:by the Japan Castle Foundation in 2006.
509:Yoshikata fled south to the mountainous
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846:. Tokyo: Kodansha. pp. 200 pages.
784:. Osprey Publishing. p. 64 pages.
684:List of Historic Sites of Japan (Shiga)
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765:. Tokyo: Kodansha. p. 112 pages.
746:. Tokyo: Kodansha. p. 200 pages.
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349:. The ruins have been protected as a
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389:with the eastern provinces, and the
964:Shiga Prefecture Board of Education
698:An Encyclopedia of Japanese Castles
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393:highway connecting Kyoto with the
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574:.The castle was listed as one of
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715:Schmorleitz, Morton S. (1974).
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409:. The Rokkaku held the post of
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295:National Historic Site of Japan
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1647:Castles in Shiga Prefecture
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782:Japanese Castles 1540-1640
780:Turnbull, Stephen (2003).
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70:ruins of Kannonji Castle
1657:Ruined castles in Japan
1652:Historic Sites of Japan
941:Japan Castle Foundation
576:Japan's Top 100 Castles
546:in the main enclosure (
842:Motoo, Hinago (1986).
742:Motoo, Hinago (1986).
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140:
114:
84:
74:
67:
62:
58:
55:
51:
47:
42:
38:
25:
20:
1335:
936:
927:
923:
914:
905:
896:
879:
843:
822:. Retrieved
817:
808:
781:
762:
743:
718:
697:
609:
585:
568:Odani Castle
564:Nanao Castle
557:
554:Significance
547:
541:
533:
525:
508:
488:Oda Nobunaga
480:
442:
421:Kyogoku clan
417:Ōmi Province
410:
399:Rokkaku clan
395:Sea of Japan
368:
355:Kannonshō-ji
326:
304:
303:
285:Oda Nobunaga
270:Battles/wars
248:Rokkaku clan
231:Site history
213:Open to
28:
595:Biwako Line
457:castle town
403:Sasaki clan
339:Ōmihachiman
317:Kannonji-jō
265:Stone, wood
257:1468 – 1582
254:In use
166: /
154:136°09′28″E
142:Coordinates
50:Ōmihachiman
1641:Categories
1625:including
1610:Nakagusuku
1414:Gassantoda
1248:Ichijōdani
1210:Kasugayama
1180:Matsushiro
1092:Nihonmatsu
888:B000J9GH22
800:References
690:Literature
537:Edo period
529:enclosures
365:Background
151:35°08′46″N
1600:Kagoshima
1580:Hitoyoshi
1570:Shimabara
1502:Matsuyama
1487:Takamatsu
1482:Tokushima
1454:Hiroshima
1303:Matsusaka
1293:Nagashino
1195:Matsumoto
1140:Hachigata
1025:Goryōkaku
1005:by region
614:Highway (
612:Nakasendō
522:Structure
468:Azai clan
379:Nakasendō
375:Lake Biwa
327:yamashiro
262:Materials
223:Condition
1575:Kumamoto
1492:Marugame
1444:Fukuyama
1386:Wakayama
1381:Takatori
1361:Sasayama
1336:Kannonji
1298:Iga Ueno
1273:Kakegawa
1263:Yamanaka
1238:Kanazawa
1160:Hachiōji
1135:Kanayama
1125:Banna-ji
1087:Yamagata
1057:Hirosaki
1030:Matsumae
1012:Hokkaidō
922:(1906).
904:(1961).
678:See also
548:hon-maru
445:Ōnin War
274:Onin War
1627:Okinawa
1605:Nakijin
1540:Fukuoka
1517:Uwajima
1497:Imabari
1474:Shikoku
1459:Iwakuni
1439:Okayama
1424:Tsuyama
1419:Tsuwano
1404:Tottori
1396:Chūgoku
1351:Chihaya
1288:Okazaki
1278:Inuyama
1253:Iwamura
1243:Maruoka
1228:Takaoka
1205:Shibata
1165:Odawara
1145:Kawagoe
1067:Morioka
824:23 July
814:"観音寺城跡"
725:144–145
626:Gallery
620:Gokashō
592:JR West
590:on the
431:History
383:Tōkaidō
329:-style
1565:Hirado
1550:Nagoya
1532:Kyūshū
1507:Yuzuki
1409:Matsue
1371:Himeji
1366:Akashi
1356:Takeda
1331:Azuchi
1326:Hikone
1313:Kansai
1283:Nagoya
1200:Takatō
1190:Komoro
1150:Sakura
1130:Minowa
1102:Komine
1082:Kubota
1072:Sendai
1049:Tōhoku
886:
876:滋賀県の歴史
850:
788:
769:
750:
731:
704:
582:Access
461:Shogun
449:nobles
335:Azuchi
322:was a
287:(1568)
280:Events
239:c.1468
46:Azuchi
1615:Shuri
1585:Funai
1522:Kōchi
1346:Osaka
1321:Odani
1268:Sunpu
1233:Nanao
1220:Chūbu
1112:Kantō
926:[
878:[
412:shugo
387:Kyoto
347:Japan
236:Built
226:Ruins
57:Japan
54:Shiga
1560:Saga
1464:Hagi
1341:Nijō
1258:Gifu
1185:Ueda
1175:Kōfu
1120:Mito
1077:Taga
884:ASIN
848:ISBN
826:2020
786:ISBN
767:ISBN
748:ISBN
729:ISBN
702:ISBN
570:and
511:Kōka
476:Kōji
425:Ōnin
381:and
357:, a
311:観音寺城
179:Type
33:観音寺城
1595:Obi
1590:Oka
1545:Ōno
1512:Ōzu
1376:Akō
1155:Edo
600:桑実寺
550:).
415:of
218:yes
1643::
1434:Ki
1062:Ne
862:^
834:^
816:.
727:.
566:,
562:,
539:.
345:,
341:,
314:,
189:山城
52:,
48:,
1629:.
995:e
988:t
981:v
890:.
856:.
828:.
794:.
775:.
756:.
737:.
710:.
320:)
308:(
192:)
186:(
36:)
30:(
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