Hikone Castle

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The castle of Hikone

The Hikone Castle (彦 根 城jap, Hikone - jo ) is a famous historical Japanese castle in Hikone in Shiga Prefecture in Japan.

History

This castle dating back to the Edo period, traces its origin back to 1603 when Ii Naokatsu, the son of the former daimyo Ii Naomasa, its construction ordered. The fortification was originally in 1575, built as part of the castle and then spent Otsu Cities of the Ii according to Hikone. It was completed in 1622. Naokatsus lands had been taken from him at this time by the Tokugawa shogunate, and when his brother Naotake gained control of the area around the province Ōmi, he was able to complete the castle with the help of stones of the former castle Sawayama. An important member of the family was Ii Naosuke who served the Shogunate in the mid-19th century as chancellor ( Taïro ). The family led the above family sign, the Tachibana - bloom. The citrus tree tachibana is today the city of Hikone.

As 1868, the Meiji period began, many castles were destroyed. Only the intervention of the Emperor himself, who toured the area, the Hikone Castle intact. Today it is one of the oldest original condition castles of Japan. 1985-85 has one representative front part of the former residence (表 御 殿, omote goten ) reconstructed under the castle hill including a Noh stage with an area of ​​4851 m² for use as a museum. The museum has as a national treasure of the six -part Hikone folding screen.

The main tower of Hikone Castle was declared in 1952 by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology for National Cultural Property.