Azuchi Castle

Azuchi Castle 安土城
Azuchi, Ōmi province, Japan
Reproduction of Azuchi's main keep, at
Type	Azuchi-Momoyama castle
Height	Seven stories (138ft)(main keep)
Site information
Controlled by	Oda Nobunaga
Condition	Stone base remains
Site history
Built	1579
Built by	Oda Nobunaga
Materials	stone, wood, plaster walls
Demolished	1582, by Akechi Mitsuhide
Events	Azuchi religious debate (1579)
Garrison information
Garrison	5,000 (incl. civilians)

Azuchi Castle (安土城, Azuchi-jō^?) was one of the primary castles of Oda Nobunaga. It was built from 1576 to 1579, on the shores of Lake Biwa, in Ōmi Province. Nobunaga intentionally built it close enough to Kyoto that he could watch over and guard the approaches to the capital, but, being outside the city, his fortress would be immune to the fires and conflicts that occasionally consumed the capital. This location was also quite strategically advantageous, in managing the communications and transportation routes between his greatest foes - the Uesugi clan to the north, the Takeda clan in the east, and the Mōri clan to the west.

Unlike earlier castles and fortresses, Azuchi was not intended to only be a military structure, cold, dark, and foreboding. Nobunaga intended it as a mansion, which would impress and intimidate his rivals, not only with its defenses, but also with its lavish apartments and decorations, flourishing town and religious life. The keep, called tenshu (or tenshukaku), rather than being the center of the castle's defences, was a seven-story building containing audience halls, private chambers, offices, and a treasury, as though it were a royal palace. In addition to being one of the first Japanese castles with a tower keep, Azuchi was unique in that its uppermost story was octagonal. In addition, the facade of Azuchi, unlike the solid white or black of other castles, was colorfully decorated with tigers and dragons.

There were five main militaristic features of Azuchi Castle that differentiated it from earlier castle designs. Firstly, it was a massive structure, with the walls of the castle ranging from 18 feet to 21 feet in thickness. The second feature of Azuchi Castle is the predominant use of stone. The walls were constructed from huge granite stones fitted carefully together without the use of mortar. A third innovation of the Azuchi Castle was the high central tower, or donjon. The tower allowed for increased visibility for the use of guns against an opposing force. Builder’s plans for the castle show the donjon to be 138 feet tall, with seven levels. Fourthly, Azuchi Castle had irregularly formed inner citadels. These inner citadels gave defenders ample defensive positions against intruders. The location of Azuchi Castle was also a novel feature. Whereas most Japanese castles found the most advantageous position was at the base of mountain surrounded by dense vegetation (which would allow cover for an enemy), Azuchi Castle was built on a plain to give a wide view of an approaching enemy.