Shiroishi Castle

Shiroishi Castle
白石城
Shiroishi, Miyagi, Japan

Shiroishi Castle's tower
Type Japanese castle
Site information
Owner City of Shiroishi
Controlled by Shiroishi clan, Gamō clan (to 17th century), Uesugi clan, Katakura clan (17th century-1871)
Site history
Built Kamakura era
Built by Shiroishi clan
In use Kamakura era through 1871
Materials wood, stone
Demolished 1875, rebuilt 1995
Events Boshin War
Backside/Wall

Shiroishi Castle (白石城 Shiroishi-jō) is a Japanese castle in Shiroishi, Miyagi, within what was Mutsu Province.[1] It was the castle of the Katakura clan, which was a family of retainers serving the Date clan of Sendai. It was also the headquarters of the Ōuetsu Reppan Dōmei in 1868.[2]

Early history

The castle was originally founded in the Kamakura era, by the Karita clan.[3]

Sengoku Era

In 1591, during the late Azuchi-Momoyama era, the castle was held as an outpost by the Gamō clan, ruled by the senior retainer Gamō Satonari.[4]

Edo Era

Beginning in 1600,[5] the castle and its environs were located in the Sendai Domain. From 1600 onward, Shiroishi Castle was ruled by the Katakura clan, who were retainers of the Date clan of Sendai.[6] It was also one of the exceptions to the Tokugawa shogunate's rule of one castle per domain.

Boshin War

The castle was the meeting place for the delegates of the northern domains in early 1868, during the Boshin War.[7] It then became the headquarters of the Ōuetsu Reppan Dōmei. The castle was then occupied by the Imperial Japanese Army. It was briefly placed in the care of the Nanbu clan of Morioka, but was demolished in 1875. The Katakura family and its retainers then went north and settled in Hokkaidō.

Reconstruction

The castle was restored in 1995, and is open to the public.

References

  1. Papinot, Jacques Edmond Joseph. (1976). Historical and geographical dictionary of Japan, Vol. 1, p. 581.
  2. Onodera, p. 10.
  3. (Japanese) "Shiroishi-shi" on Harimaya.com (28 March 2008). The Karita clan later became the Shiroishi clan, which served the Date clan of Sendai.
  4. "Shiroishi Castle" at JCastle.info; retrieved 2013-5-30.
  5. http://www.shiro-f.jp/shiroishijo/mokuji.htm
  6. (Japanese) "Katakura-shi" on Harimaya.com (28 March 2008).
  7. Sasaki, p. 98.

Further reading

Coordinates: 38°00′09″N 140°37′02″E / 38.002589°N 140.617128°E / 38.002589; 140.617128

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