Matsue Castle

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The keep of Matsue

The castle Matsue (Japanese松江 城, Matsue- jo ) is a Japanese castle in Matsue in Shimane Prefecture. It is also called " plover castle " (千 鸟 城, Chidorijō ). It is one of the few castles in Japan, which has been preserved in its original wooden form and not, like most, exists only as a modern replica of concrete.

History

The construction of the castle began in Matsue, under the daimyo Horio Yoshiharu, 1607 and was completed in 1611. 1638 was the castle and the associated Matsue fief to the Matsudaira clan, a young master of the ruling Tokugawa clan over.

Most Japanese castles were damaged or destroyed by war, earthquakes or other reasons. As a major part was built of wood, made ​​a fire from the greatest threat. The Matsue castle was built after the last great war of feudal Japan, which is why they never experienced a battle. Nevertheless, today only some walls and the keep are available.

Of the twelve remaining castles in Japan, this is the only one in the Sanin region. This castle is the second largest, the third highest (30m ) and the sixth oldest of all castles. It was over a period of five years under the daimyo of the Matsue fief in the province of Izumo, Yoshiharu Horio, built and completed in 1622.

After the reign Tadaharu Horios and Tadataka Kyogokus, Maomasa Matsudaira, was a grandson of Ieyasu Tokugawa, the ruler of the castle. After he had moved from Matsumoto Shinshu in the province, he began a reign which lasted ten generations of the Matsudaira clan over a period of 234 years.

1875 all buildings were destroyed within the castle, with the exception of the keep itself, which was obtained under pressure from interest groups. The castle was completely rebuilt in 1950-1955.

The castle is a complex structure, built in the style of a watchtower, which seen from the outside seems to have five floors, but has six floors in the interior. Most walls of the castle are painted black. The architecture has to withstand a solid structure built to violent attacks while majestic and festive appears at the same time and brings back memories of the Momoyama style.