View source for Yuzuki Castle

{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2019}}
{{Infobox military installation
|name         = Yuzuki Castle
| nativename-a=湯築城
|partof       = 
|location     = [[Matsuyama, Ehime| Matsuyama]], [[Ehime Prefecture]], [[Japan]]
|coordinates  = {{Coord|33|50|54.8|N|132|47|13.9|E|region:JP_scale:20000_source:jawiki|display=inline, title}}
|image        = Yuzukijo 11.JPG
|image_size   = 250px
|caption      = Reconstructed buildings at Yuzuki Castle
| map_type = Japan Ehime Prefecture#Japan
| map_alt = Location in Japan
| map_relief = 1
| map_caption = Yuzuki Castle
|type         = ''Teikakushiki hirayama''-style [[Japanese castle]])
|built        = c.1335
|builder      = Konō clan
|materials    = 
|height       = 
|used         = Muromachi - Sengoku period
|demolished   = 1585
|condition    = ruins
|ownership    = 
|controlledby = 
|garrison     = 
|commanders   = 
|occupants    = 
|battles      = 
|events       = 
|footnotes    = {{box|background=white|align=center|wide=yes|border size=3px|border color=brown|text align=center|[[Monuments of Japan|National Historic Site of Japan]]}}
{{maplink2|type=point|frame=yes|plain=yes|zoom=14|frame-align=center|frame-width=200|coord={{coord|33|50|54.8|N|132|47|13.9|E}}}}}}
[[Image:Yuduki Castle air.jpg|thumb|right|300px|[[Aerial photograph]] of the site]]
{{nihongo|'''Yuzuki Castle'''|湯築城|Yuzuki-jō}} was a former [[Japanese castle]] located in the city of [[Matsuyama]], [[Ehime Prefecture]], Japan.  During the [[Muromachi period]], it was the stronghold of the Kōno clan, who ruled [[Iyo Province]] under the [[Muromachi shogunate]]. The ruins of the castle were area designated a [[Monuments of Japan|National Historic Site]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.city.matsuyama.ehime.jp/kybunka/1176001_1047.html |title=Site of Yuzuki Castle |publisher=[[Matsuyama, Ehime|Matsuyama City]] |access-date=20 April 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/401/3339 |title=Database of Registered National Cultural Assets |publisher=[[Agency for Cultural Affairs]] |access-date=20 April 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://ehime-c.esnet.ed.jp/bunkazai/kennobunkazai/shiteibunkazai/shiseki/pdf-files/kuni/4-1-07yuzukijoato.pdf |title=Site of Yuzuki Castle |publisher=[[Ehime Prefecture]] |access-date=20 April 2011}}</ref>

==Overview==
Yuzuki Castle is located on a hill near the [[onsen|spa town]] of [[Dōgo Onsen]]. At the end of the [[Heian period]], Kōno Michinobu supported [[Minamoto no Yoritomo]] against the [[Heike clan]] during the [[Genpei War]] and was awarded with a large territory in [[Iyo Province]] in Shikoku. In the [[Kamakura period]], the clan sided with [[Emperor Go-Toba]] against the [[Kamakura shogunate]] in the [[Jōkyū War]] and was suppressed, but due to the efforts of Kōno Michiari during the [[Mongol invasions of Japan]] in 1274 and 1281, the clan was restored to their position as ''[[shugo]]'' of Iyo province. In the [[Muromachi period]], the clan found their position to be increasingly in name only. As Iyo Province was divided by geography into several river valleys, local warlords resisted Kōno overlordship, and the clan was threatened by the aggressive stance of the [[Hosokawa clan]] who dominated neighboring [[Sanuki Province]].<ref name="Shiseki">{{cite book |last1=Isomura |first1=Yukio |last2=Sakai |first2=Hideya |title=(国指定史跡事典) National Historic Site Encyclopedia |date=2012 |publisher=学生社 |isbn=978-4311750403}}{{in lang|ja}}</ref>

Yuzuki Castle was constructed with these threads in mind. It consists of a [[Motte-and-bailey castle|Motte-and-bailey design]] with a hill  and  two surrounding water moats. The hill was divided into several [[kuruwa|enclosures]], protected by clay walls. The diameter of the castle was roughly 400 meters. <ref name="Shiseki"/>

During the [[Sengoku period]], the Kōno were allied with the Murakami pirates, who dominated the [[Seto Inland Sea]] and by the [[Mōri clan]] of [[Aki Province]]; however, these alliances did not protect the clan when [[Chōsokabe Motochika]] of [[Tosa Province]] invaded from the south, the armies of [[Toyotomi Hideyoshi]] invaded from the east, and the Mōri reneged on their alliance and attacked from the north.Yuzuki Castle was surrendered to Toyotomi Hideyoshi without a fight in 1585 and the Kōno clan came to an end. Hideyoshi chose not to use Yzuku Castle, so its ruins remained relatively well-preserved into the modern era. Its ruins were [[archaeological excavation| excavated]] in 1988, now form part of Dōgo Park. A [[samurai]] complex has been reconstructed and the area is popular for its ''[[hanami]]'' (flower viewing) in spring.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dogokouen.jp/history/yuzuki.html |title=Dogo Park Yuzuki-jō Site - history |publisher=Dogo Park |access-date=21 March 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.city.matsuyama.ehime.jp/lang/en/sightseeing/dogo.html |title=Dogo Hot Spring - Dogo Park |publisher=[[Matsuyama, Ehime|Matsuyama City]] |access-date=21 March 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/arrange/attractions/g_route/golden_shikoku.html |title=Round Trip of Shikoku - Dogo Park |publisher=[[Japan National Tourism Organization]] |access-date=21 March 2011}}</ref> <ref name="Shiseki"/>

Yuzuki Castle was listed as one of [[Japan's Top 100 Castles]] by the Japan Castle Foundation in 2006.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20141117152607/http://www1a.biglobe.ne.jp/nihonjokaku/ Japan Castle Foundation]</ref>

The castle is located a five minute walk from Matsuyama city tram Dōgo-Onsen Station. <ref name="Shiseki"/>

==See also==
*[[List of Historic Sites of Japan (Ehime)]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category-inline|Yuzuki Castle}}
* [http://www.dogokouen.jp  Dogo Park Yuzuki-jō homepage]{{in lang|ja}}
*[https://www.city.matsuyama.ehime.jp/kanko/kankoguide/rekishibunka/bunkazai/kuni/yudukijou_ato.html Matsuyama city home page]{{in lang|ja}}

{{100 Fine Castles of Japan}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Castles in Ehime Prefecture]]
[[Category:Ruined castles in Japan]]
[[Category:Historic Sites of Japan]]
[[Category:100 Fine Castles of Japan]]
[[Category:Matsuyama, Ehime]]
[[Category:Iyo Province]]


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