Tanemura Castle (Omi)
.JPG)
History
Tanemurajō was the fortified residence of three generations of the Tanemura Clan. It is thought to have been built by Tanemura Takayasu, or his father, Wada Takanari, in the middle 14th century. Wada Takanari, the second son of Rokkaku Takayori, was a vassal of the Rokkaku Clan. He and his son took up the name Tanemura after being enfeoffed here. Tanemurajō, also known as Yabushitajō (藪下城), utilised the adjacent Daidō River as a natural moat. It also had dorui (earthen ramparts) and karabori (dry moats) protecting its other perimetres. The road which ruins into Tane Village from the south is thought to have been the site of the castle's gate, which faced east. According to local residents descended from the Tanemura (probably the Ôhashi family), the castle had two gates, Ôaki ('big opening (大開き)') and koaki ('small opening (小開き)'), and there was a place for troops to muster called 'Kishirobo (木代保)'. After the Kannonji Disturbance of 1563 in which they were implicated in a murder plot, the Tanemura Clan changed their names to 'Ôhashi' and kept a low profile whilst continuing to inhabit the area. In 1568 Oda Nobunaga attacked Kannonjijō and Wadayamajō to defeat the Rokkaku Clan in support of Ashikaga Yoshiaki, and at this time his forces occupied Tanemurajō, but it was abandoned thereafter. The last head of the Tanemura Clan died defending Kannonjijō.
Visit Notes
Tanemurajō is now the site of rural homes and fields. There is - or was - a stone marker with the castle's name on adjacent to a waterway, but I didn't see it. The castle was situated on a small rise and probably used the river as a moat, though the latter's course may have been redirected subsequently. I cycled into the small village of Tane but found no ruins. Probably the site is best just appreciated from the main road whilst going past and waving.
| Castle Profile | |
|---|---|
| English Name | Tanemura Castle (Omi) |
| Japanese Name | 近江種村城 |
| Founder | Wada Takanari; Tanemura Takayasu |
| Year Founded | Mid' 14th Century |
| Castle Type | Fortified Manor |
| Castle Condition | Ruins only |
| Historical Period | Pre Edo Period |
| Features | |
| Visitor Information | |
| Access | Notogawa Station on the Biwako Line; 25 minute walk |
| Visitor Information | 24/7 free; fields |
| Time Required | 20 minutes |
| Location | Higashi-Ōmi, Shiga Prefecture |
| Coordinates | 35° 11' 0.60" N, 136° 10' 53.08" E |
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| Admin | |
| Added to Jcastle | 2022 |
| Contributor | ART |
| Admin Year Visited | Viewer Contributed |
| Friends of JCastle | |
| Oshiro Tabi Nikki | |
| Jōkaku Tanbō | |
| Masaki Shibata | |
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