Tayasu Jin'ya

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TayasuJinya (1).JPG

History

On what would become the site of Tayasu-jin'ya, a hatamoto (direct retainer of the Shōgun) called Seki Kanehei built a residence in 1600, but he was killed at the Summer Campaign at Ôsaka Castle in 1615. Tayasu-jin'ya was built much later in 1746 by Tayasu Munetaka. Munetaka, born in 1716, was the son of Tokugawa Yoshimune, the eighth Tokugawa shōgun (of the Kishū branch of the Tokugawa). Munetaka's residence was within the Tayasu Gate of Edo Castle, and he founded the Tayasu branch of the Tokugawa, which was distinquished from the other houses for its spartan character. This is where the name Tayasu-jin'ya in Kai is derived.

Munetaka was said to be very intelligent, and to have desired to be the next shōgun. For a time it seemed like he may well be, and he had his supporters, but Yoshimune elected instead to favour Munetaka's half-brother, Tokugawa Ieshige, who would become the ninth Tokugawa shōgun. Ieshige was not as able as Munetaka, but he had pedigree on his side, and his own son was said to be gifted, so that a capable shōgun would emerge by that (primogeniture) lineage in time. Munetaka nonetheless continued to covet the top job, and enumerated Ieshige's shortcomings. This displeased his father, Yoshimune, and Munetake was placed under house arrest (in Edo) for three years; his backers were dismissed from their posts.

I wonder if Tayasu Munetaka ever stepped foot in this jin'ya? His income was over 100,000 koku, but this was derived from holdings in many provinces, of which Kai was just one. However, his holdings in Kai were considerable, at over 30,000 koku. Tayasu-jin'ya may have had some administrative jurisdiction over the other holdings, but Munetaka would've conducted most of his business from his townhouse in Edo.


Visit Notes

Tayasu-jin'ya features ishigaki (stone-piled ramparts) for what was thought to have been a yaguradai (a platform for a small tower). The drain ditches to the north and east were thought to have originally been moats. Tayasu-jin'ya is like a mini-castle ruin, but its footprint would've once been much larger, extending to the south and west (the yaguradai was situated in the northeast). The yaguradai is now a shrine and there is a large stele for the jin'ya here.




Gallery


Castle Profile
English Name Tayasu Jin'ya
Japanese Name 田安陣屋
Founder Seki Kanehei; Tayasu Munetaka
Year Founded 1600; 1746
Castle Type Flatland
Castle Condition Ruins only
Designations Local Historic Site
Historical Period Edo Period
Artifacts Ishigaki, Mizubori, Yaguradai
Features water moats, stone walls
Visitor Information
Access Kasugaichō Station on the Chūō Main Line
Visitor Information 24/7 free; shrine
Time Required 10 minutes
Location Yamanashi, Yamanashi Prefecture
Coordinates 35° 39' 50.76" N, 138° 40' 46.99" E
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Admin
Added to Jcastle 2022
Contributor ART
Admin Year Visited Viewer Contributed
Friends of JCastle
Oshiro Tabi Nikki
Jōkakuzukan
Jōkaku Hōrōki


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