Kannonji Castle
| Kannonji Castle | |
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| (観音寺城?) | |
| Azuchi, Shiga Prefecture, Japan | |
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 Kannonji Castle
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| Coordinates | 35°08′46″N 136°09′28″E / 35.146027°N 136.157778°E |
| Type | Mountain castle (山城?) |
| Site information | |
| Controlled by | Azuchi, Shiga |
| Open to the public |
yes |
| Condition | Ruins |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1468 |
| Built by | Rokkaku clan |
| In use | 1468 – 1582 |
| Materials | Stone, wood |
| Battles/wars | Onin War |
| Events | Visited by Oda Nobunaga (1568) |
The ruins of Kannonji Castle (観音寺城 Kannonji-jō?) are on the ridgeline of Mount Kinugasa in the town of Azuchi, Shiga Prefecture, not far from the ruins of Azuchi Castle. At the site, the ruins of stone walls, a stone-lined well, and a historical signboard can be found. The castle was named after Kannonsho-ji, a Buddhist temple near the peak of the mountain.
During the Sengoku period, the Sasaki (佐々木) family (or Rokkaku clan) was appointed constabulary authority over Ōmi and other nearby provinces by the Ashikaga shogunate in Kyoto. A castle was needed as an administrative center and military rallying point. The ridged peak of Kinugasa Mountain, where Kannonsho-ji was already, was selected as the new site. A castle from that lofty position would command a view of the plains below and would serve as a symbol of power in the region. Construction was completed in 1468; it was originally named Sasaki Castle.
Sasaki (now Kannonji) Castle was intended to defend Ōmi Province and was the base-castle of the Rokkaku clan. It was attacked and taken not long after construction during the Onin War (1467–77).
Renovations were done during the Kōji Era (1555-1558), and the stone ramparts were enlarged to accommodate small cannons.
In 1568, Oda Nobunaga was escorting Ashikaga Yoshiaki to Kyoto to install him as shogun. As the expedition crossed through the area, Rokkaku forces, loyal to the Ashikaga shogun, left their stronghold to disrupt or arrest their advance. Nobunaga defeated the Rokkaku on the battlefield and entered Kannonji Castle unopposed and in triumph, before resuming his march to Kyoto.
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Wikipedia