Hayashizore Castle
Hayashizorejō, also called Hayashizore-yakata and Hayashizoreko-yashiki, is a fortified residence site in Hayashizore Township, Toyota Municipality. The site of the manor hall is thought to have been the hillside where now sits a shrine. The foot of the hill is terraced, but, of course, it is imposs
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History
Hayashizorejō was the hillside fortified residence of Yabuta Tadamoto in the early Kamakura period. Yabuta was a local strongman and part of a coalition called the Nakayama Seven. He and the rest of the coalition were defeated by Matsudaira Chikauji who had begun expanding Matsudaira Clan territory. It seems that Hayashizorejō was destroyed at this time.
By all accounts, Matsudaira Chikauji was a long-term planner. As well as improving infrastructure in his expanded domain by building roads and bridges, he supposedly said that "starting here (in Matsudaira), if we (expand our) rule little by little, within ten generations the Matsudaira will rule all of Japan!". Tokugawa Ieyasu was the ninth generation ruler of the Matsudaira Clan.
Starting with this work ethic, Matsudaira Chikauji looked jealously upon the neighbouring village of Hayashizore, whose lord had his manor hall only 2km from Lord Chikauji's own. The attack on Hayashizore has all the cunning which would inform generations of Matsudaira in their strategy. Chikauji set out with his men under the pretense of making a pleasurable excursion to go hawking. Passing by Hayashizore, Chikauji and his warriors suddenly attacked. Yabuta Tadamoto was killed in the scrummage. Thus Hayashizorejō has the distinction of being the first castle to fall in an inconceivably long line of castles to fall in the lead up to the entire nation being finally unified under the Tokugawa shoguns.
Field Notes
Hayashizorejō, also called Hayashizore-yakata and Hayashizoreko-yashiki, is a fortified residence site in Hayashizore Township, Toyota Municipality. The site of the manor hall is thought to have been the hillside where now sits a shrine. The foot of the hill is terraced, but, of course, it is impossible to discern whether these terraces originally hosted fortifications. I went up the hill a little to make sure I wasn't missing anything, and found nothing overtly castle-like on the ridge.
The lord of Hayashizore-yakata was Yabuta Tadamoto. His cenotaph is found in a temple just a little down the road from the yakata (fortified manor hall) site at a temple. I found this temple much more interesting than the yakata site. Though they must date to long after the yakata was in use, the temple's gate and stonewalls are very handsome.
Gallery
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| Castle Profile | |
|---|---|
| English Name | Hayashizore Castle |
| Japanese Name | 林添城 |
| Alternate Names | Hayashizore-yakata / Hayashizoreko-yashiki |
| Founder | Yabuta Tadamoto |
| Year Founded | Early Kamakura Period |
| Castle Type | Fortified Manor |
| Castle Condition | Ruins only |
| Historical Period | Pre Edo Period |
| Features | |
| Visitor Information | |
| Access | Bus: Hayashizore Stop |
| Hours | 24/7 free; shrine |
| Time Required | 20 minutes |
| Location | Toyota, Aichi Prefecture |
| Coordinates | 35.05066, 137.24151 |
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| Admin | |
| Added to Jcastle | 2024 |
| Contributor | ART |
| Admin Year Visited | Viewer Contributed |
| Friends of JCastle | |
| Sengoku Shiseki | |
| Jōkaku Shashin Kiroku | |
| Shiseki Yawa | |
