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Azuchi Castle

滋賀県

Built by Oda Nobunaga in 1576 on Mt

Founded

1576

Type

Castle

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JR安土駅から徒歩約25分

滋賀県近江八幡市安土町下豊浦

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Info

Castle

Founded 1576

450 years

Overview

Built by Oda Nobunaga in 1576 on Mt. Azuchi by Lake Biwa, this was Japan's first full-scale multi-story castle. Its six-story donjon adorned with gold-leaf roof tiles proclaimed Nobunaga's authority. Jesuit missionary Luis Frois visited here, blending Sengoku Japan with European culture. Destroyed after the Honnoji Incident in 1582, the site is now a National Special Historic Site.

Origins

In 1576, Oda Nobunaga began construction on Mt. Azuchi on the eastern shore of Lake Biwa. The grand tower of six stories plus basement amazed people with gold-leaf tiles and magnificent interiors. Destroyed by fire after the 1582 Honnoji Incident, it lasted only six years but revolutionized Japanese…

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記
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Nobunaga and Nohime: The Warlord's True Face Seen by the Viper's Daughter

In 1548, Oda Nobunaga wed Kicho (Nohime), daughter of the warlord Saito Dosan, in a political marriage. Though she may have been the first to recognize her husband's genius beneath his reputation as the 'fool of Owari,' her life remains shrouded in mystery due to scarce historical records.

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Nobunaga's Sokenji and Daitokuji: The Warlord's Spiritual World

Oda Nobunaga is often called an enemy of Buddhism, yet he built Sokenji within Azuchi Castle and organized a grand memorial at Daitokuji. This article explores the spiritual world Nobunaga sought in Zen architecture and religious patronage.

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The Battle of Sekigahara and Ishida Mitsunari — The Life of the Western Army's Commander Who Upheld Loyalty

Ishida Mitsunari served as Toyotomi Hideyoshi's loyal administrator. After Hideyoshi's death he challenged Tokugawa Ieyasu at the Battle of Sekigahara but was defeated by the defection of Kobayakawa Hideaki. This article tells the story of his life and the battle.

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もっと詳しく · 2

史
Related Historical Events
— 1

1576

Construction of Azuchi Castle

In 1576, Oda Nobunaga began construction of Azuchi Castle on the eastern shore of Lake Biwa — a magnificent seven-story keep adorned with gold leaf, representing the pinnacle of contemporary Japanese castle architecture. Nobunaga used it as his base for national unification and promoted free markets (rakuichi-rakuza) in the castle town. Azuchi Castle burned in 1582 after the Honnōji Incident, but its grand vision influenced subsequent castles including Osaka and Edo.