Tajihi-Sarugake Castle

Tajihi-Sarugake Castle (多治比猿掛城, Tajihi-Sarugake-jō) was a Japanese castle located in Akitakata, Hiroshima Prefecture. Its ruins have been protected by the central government as a National Historic Site together with Yoshida-Kōriyama Castle since 1940.[1]

Tajihi-Sarugake Castle
多治比猿掛城
Akitakata, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan
Tajihi-Sarugake Castle
Tajihi-Sarugake Castle is located in Hiroshima Prefecture
Tajihi-Sarugake Castle
Tajihi-Sarugake Castle
Tajihi-Sarugake Castle is located in Japan
Tajihi-Sarugake Castle
Tajihi-Sarugake Castle
Coordinates34°40′47.6″N 132°39′51.0″E / 34.679889°N 132.664167°E / 34.679889; 132.664167
TypeMountaintop style Japanese castle
Site information
Controlled byMōri clan
Site history
Builtc.1560
Built byMōri Hiromoto
In useSengoku period
Demolishedc.1591
Garrison information
OccupantsMōri Motonari
Map

Overview

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The year of construction of Tajihi-Sarugake Castle is uncertain. It is assumed that it was constructed by Mōri Motonari's father Mōri Hiromoto, shortly before he retired to this location in 1560 from Yoshida-Kōriyama Castle.[2] He was accompanied by his second son Matsujumaru (the childhood name of Mōri Motonari), and on his death in 1506, Motonari became castellan. He spent 23 years at this location has chieftain of the Tajihi Mori clan. before returning to Yoshida-Kōriyama castle as a head of Mōri clan.[3][4][5] Motonari's son Mōri Takamoto was born in the castle in 1523 as was his daughter Lady Goryū in 1529.[6]

Details about what happened with Tajihi-Sarugake Castle after the relocation are uncertain. It is recovered that Mōri Takamoto spent one night at the castle in 1563 when on an expedition against the Amago clan in Izumo Province, to meet with his son Mōri Terumoto. It appears that the castle was maintained as a secondary fortification for the Mōri clan until Mōri Terumoto moved clan's main stronghold to Hiroshima Castle in 1591.[3]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "毛利氏城跡 / 多治比猿掛城跡 / 郡山城跡". Cultural Heritage Online (in Japanese). Agency for Cultural Affairs. Retrieved 25 December 2022.(in Japanese)
  2. ^ "Tajihi-Sarugake Castle" (in Japanese). Hiroshima Tourism Association. Retrieved 15 October 2021.
  3. ^ a b "国指定史跡ガイド「毛利氏城跡」の解説" (in Japanese). kotobank. Retrieved 15 October 2021.
  4. ^ "多治比猿掛城" (in Japanese). Hiroshima Prefecture Board of education. Retrieved 15 October 2021.
  5. ^ "Tajihi-Sarugake Castle" (in Japanese). Akitakata city official. Retrieved 15 October 2021.
  6. ^ "Mōri Takamoto". kotobank. Retrieved 15 October 2021.
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