Nijo Castle

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Nijo Castle

二条城 (Nijoo-joo)




While Nijô Castle (located at Horikawa and Nijô in central Kyoto) can be classified as a hirajiro ("plains castle"), it is much more of a palace than other existing Japanese castles. Shortly after his victory over the forces of the West at the Battle of Sekigahara, Tokugawa Ieyasu began to make preparations for the construction of a castle at Nijô in 1601. Actual construction began in 1602 and was completed in 1603. It was built on the site of Oda Nobunaga’s Nijô palace.
The castle was later used as the headquarters of the Shoshidai (Governor) of Kyoto, and also as the shogunal residence in Kyoto. The Shoshidai was responsible for monitoring the behavior of the 33 western provinces under his control, but his real function was to enforce the Tokugawa policy of keeping the Imperial family under control and preventing them from interfering in politics.

The castle was extensively renovated from 1624 to 1626.

Tokugawa Iemitsu later returned to the castle in 1634 with 300,000 men as a show of force to the western provinces and also to reinforce his power over the Imperial Court. It was to be the last visit of any reigning shogun to the Imperial Court for 230 years.

Ironically, the final Tokugawa shogun, Tokugawa Yoshinobu, made the decision to transfer power back to the Emperor here.

The Ninomaru Palace
The Honmaru Palace
Mi-kurumayose (carriage house)
The Shikidai contains three chambers for shogunal ministers.
Ohiroma
Kuro-Shoin, Shiro-Shoin
Gardens
source : wiki.samurai-archives.com



Go-Shikidai 御式台
Shikidai-no-ma (Reception Room)




The outer wall has three gates while the inner wall has two. In the southwest corner of the inner wall, there are foundations of a five-story keep, destroyed by a fire in 1750. The inner walls contain the Honmaru Palace with its garden. The Ninomaru Palace, Kitchens, Guard House and several gardens are located between the two main rings of fortifications.
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H A I K U

初雪やほのぼのかすむ御式台
hatsu yuki ya hono-bono kasumu Go-Shikidai

first snow !
the Shikidai hall
all in the mist

Kobayashi Issa, 1810
Tr. Gabi Greve


shikidai can also refer to a step in a Japanese entryway or entrance to a room.
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uguisubari 鴬張り nightingale floor



late autumn -
the nightingale floors
in Nijo castle

　　　晩秋の鴬張りの二条城


every step of the way
squeaking like a nightingale -
castle in autumn

　　　歩くたび床キュツと鳴る秋の城　

The floor of the Ninomaru Palace is constructed in a way that it makes a sound when you step on it, to give alarm of intruders and increase the security around the Shogun.

source : Fukko-Haiku, 2006


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. Kobori Enshu and Japanese Gardens
小堀遠州 (1579 - 1647)



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