Sekidousan Castle
Sekidōsanjō is a castle ruin overlooking a fortified monastic community centered around Ōmiyabō (now reconstructed). There is a main bailey ringed by residual dorui (earthen embankments) and surrounded at the base of the ramparts by a karabori (dry moat). The guide at Ōmiyabō* accompanied me up. The
History
Sekidōsanjō is thought to have been built by Uesugi Kenshin in 1578 as part of his strategy to take Nanaojō. It is thought also to have been used by shugenja and so-called warrior monks (probably laymen fighting for monks). Following the death of Oda Nobunaga in 1582, the Hatakeyama Clan revolted and siezed the fort but they were besieged and defeated by Meada Toshiie and Sakuma Morimasa, and Sekidōsanjō was destroyed. Maeda Toshiie contributed to the rebuilding of the mountain worshippers' community but it was destroyed in modern times by the Meiji revolutionaries (ishigaki and other ruins remain spread across the mountain slope and are extensive; the castle ruin is towards the top of the mountain and one passes many temple ruins to reach it).
Field Notes
Sekidōsanjō is a castle ruin overlooking a fortified monastic community centered around Ōmiyabō (now reconstructed). There is a main bailey ringed by residual dorui (earthen embankments) and surrounded at the base of the ramparts by a karabori (dry moat). The guide at Ōmiyabō* accompanied me up. The paved path to the castle abruptly plummets over a cliff in one place, clearly damaged by a landslide.
- Ōmiyabō, a vast temple ruin, is the reason I came here, and the main reason anyone should visit, even castle fans...
| Castle Profile | |
|---|---|
| English Name | Sekidosan Castle |
| Japanese Name | 石動山城 |
| Founder | Uesugi Kenshin |
| Year Founded | 1578 |
| Castle Type | Mountaintop |
| Castle Condition | Ruins only |
| Designations | National Historic Site |
| Historical Period | Pre Edo Period |
| Artifacts | Dorui, Baileys, Karabori |
| Features | |
| Visitor Information | |
| Access | Notoninomiya Station on the Nanao Line; Taxi |
| Hours | 24/7 free |
| Time Required | one hour |
| Location | Nakanoto, Ishikawa Prefecture |
| Coordinates | 36.96447, 136.97456 |
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| Admin | |
| Added to Jcastle | 2019 |
| Contributor | ART |
| Admin Year Visited | Viewer Contributed |
