Myodaijiko Castle
The site of a fortified manor belonging to Ashikaga Yoshiuji, later called ‘Myodaiji Old Castle’, in downtown Okazaki, is now a temple and nursery. For related sites see Myodaiji Castle and Hiraiwa Castle (Mikawa).
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History
Myōdaijikojō is an antecedent of Myōdaijijō. Although, confusingly, some sources also refer to Myōdaijijō as Myōdaijikojō. This Myōdaijikojō site is the proper one, however, and it is located in the Myōdaijihonmachi on lower ground from Myōdaijijō, closer to the river. Myōdaiji’s castle town developed here in Myōdaijihonmachi before being supplanted by the castle town of Okazakijō (later lower ranking samurai of Okazaki Domain built their homes here).
Myōdaijikojō is also referred to as the palace or residence of Ashikaga Yoshiuji. The historical documents 『三河古城記』 and 『三河国二葉松』 both place Myōdaijikojō here, with the former referring to it also as the palace of Ashikaga Takauji, and the latter referring to it also as the residence of Ashikaga Yoshiuji. However, another theory is that the Ashikaga Clan compound was located at the site of Hacchōjō in the area to the west of Okazaki Castle famous for miso production.
Ashikaga Yoshiuji was on the winning side of the Jōkyū War of 1221, allowing him to become the governor of Mikawa Province. If this was where Yoshiuji ruled from, then Myōdaijikojō may date to this time. Ashikaga Yoshiuji’s castle was said to have been built as a provincial seat, but also large enough to accommodate a shogun.
Later the Myōdaijikojō site is thought to have accommodated the Saigō Clan after their entry into Mikawa under provincial governor Niki Yoshinaga in 1356 where they served as Yoshinaga’s deputies. In 1360 Niki Yoshinaga was defeated by the Hosokawa and Toki clans. At that time Saigō Danjō led a force of 500 men to defend Yoshinaga, but they were routed at the Yahagi River by Hatakeyama forces. Myōdaijikojō was either destroyed or abandoned around that time, and the Saigō Clan would not re-emerge until eighty years later, re-building their castle, Myōdaijijō, in a different location from Myōdaijikojō, between 1430 and 1440.
Field Notes
The site of a fortified manor belonging to Ashikaga Yoshiuji, later called ‘Myodaiji Old Castle’, in downtown Okazaki, is now a temple and nursery.
For related sites see Myodaiji Castle and Hiraiwa Castle (Mikawa).
| Castle Profile | |
|---|---|
| English Name | Myodaijiko Castle |
| Japanese Name | 明大寺古城 |
| Alternate Names | Ashikaga-Yoshiuji-yakata |
| Founder | Ashikaga Yoshiuji (theorised); Saigō Clan |
| Year Founded | 13th century (theorised); 14th century |
| Castle Type | Fortified Manor |
| Castle Condition | Ruins only |
| Historical Period | Pre Edo Period |
| Features | |
| Visitor Information | |
| Access | Higashi-Okazaki Station on the Nagoya Main Line; 4 minute walk |
| Hours | Access Limited |
| Time Required | 10 minutes |
| URL | Castle Website |
| Location | Okazaki, Aichi Prefecture |
| Coordinates | 34.95374, 137.16583 |
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| Admin | |
| Added to Jcastle | 2023 |
| Contributor | ART |
| Admin Year Visited | Viewer Contributed |
| Friends of JCastle | |
| Jōkaku Shashin Kiroku | |
| Aichi Shiro | |
