Genbao Castle

Genbao Castle (玄蕃尾城, Genbao-jō) was a Sengoku period yamashiro-style Japanese castle located in the border area of what is now part of the cities of Tsuruga, Fukui Prefecture and Nagahama in Shiga Prefecture in the Hokuriku region of Honshu, Japan. It has been protected by the central government as a National Historic Site since 1999.[1]

Genbao Castle
玄蕃尾城
Tsuruga, Fukui Prefecture, Japan
　Genbao Castle ruins
Genbao Castle
Genbao Castle
Coordinates35°35′54.2″N 136°10′35″E
Typeyamashiro-style Japanese castle
Site information
Open to
the public		yes
Conditionruins
Site history
BuiltSengoku period
Built byShibata Katsuie
In useSengoku period
Demolished1583

Background

Genbao Castle was built in 1583 on the peak of Mt. Uchinakao (460 meters) at the border of Ōmi Province and Echizen Province. The area controlled the entrance into Hokuriku region from Kansai region, but had many steep mountains with deep valleys. From the Ōmi side, two main roads passed through the mountains, joining at the location of Genbao Castle.

The castle spread across 150 meters a mountain ridge orientated from north-to-south. The inner bailey at the highest point on the mountain, was a square shaped area approximately 60 meter long with a tower in its northeastern corner. As the castle was orientated against an attack from the south, two narrow buffer areas protected the inner bailey in this direction to delay any attackers. The bailey was also protected by earthen ramparts, dry moats and secondary enclosures. In the north was a large flat area, also about 60 meters square, used as a storage of supplies. As it was intended as only a temporary frontline base, Genbao Castle did not have massive stone walls or a huge donjon. Nothing remains of the castle today except for overgrown remnants of the moats and earthenworks.

The castle served as the headquarters for Shibata Katsuie during the Battle of Shizugatake, after the broke with Toyotomi Hideyoshi of the question of the succession to Oda Nobunaga.

The castle was listed as one of the Continued Top 100 Japanese Castles in 2017.[2]

See also

References
  1. "玄蕃尾城（内中尾山城）跡". Cultural Heritage Online (in Japanese). Agency for Cultural Affairs. Retrieved 25 December 2016.
  2. "続日本100名城" (in Japanese). 日本城郭協会. Retrieved 25 July 2019.
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