23. ODAKA CASTLE RUINS

Odaka Castle, also known as Izumiyama Castle, was a Japanese medieval castle built at the tip of a river terrace at an altitude of 40 meters overlooking the Yonago Plain. 

尾高城、またの名を泉山城（いずみやまじょう）は、米子平野を見下ろす、標高４０ｍの河川段丘の先端に築かれた中世城郭です。

 

It was located on a hill extending eastward from the foot of Mt. Daisen, with about 20-meter cliffs on the west and north sides and a moat and earthworks on the east side leading to the foot of Mt. Daisen.

大山山麓から東に延びる標高40メートルの丘陵にあり、西及び北側は約20メートルの崖、大山山麓へ続く東側は堀と土塁（どるい）で防備をかためています。

 

The property of 400m north to south and 200m east to west was divided into several sections for different purposes. 

南北約４００ｍ、東西２００ｍの広大な敷地には、北側から二の丸、本丸、中の丸、天神丸の各郭が並び、東側には越の丸、南大首などが配置されていました。

 

The San’indo Route, the major east-west traffic route, runs through the castle town. Because of its geological location, it was a critical military point. During the Sengoku period (late 16th century to late 17th century), the Amago clan and Mori clans fought many battles over it.

城下を東西交通の要である山陰道が走り、軍事上の要衝で、戦国時代には尼子・毛利氏の攻防戦が繰り広げられていました。

 

Yonago Castle was newly built in the early Edo period, and Odaka castle was abandoned.

江戸時代初期には、米子城築城を経て廃城となりました。

 

Currently, the area serves locals as a multi-purpose park, where you can enjoy seasonal flowers such as plum and cherry blossoms and play sports such as tennis, gate ball, and so on.

現在は、尾高城跡梅園、桜の園、武家屋敷跡基礎復元、日本庭園、自由広場、体育館、テニスコート、ゲートボール場、宿泊施設など、四季折々の自然を楽しむことのできる、憩いの場として整備されています。

 

【年代（ねんだい）】

Kamakura Period to Edo Period　鎌倉時代（かまくらじだい）～江戸時代（えどじだい）

 About 800 to 420 years ago　約 800 年前～420 年前

【Correct Answer】A. Kazutada Nakamura（中村一忠）

 

＊Odaka Castle used to be a military strategic point controlling the east-west traffic route in the Muromachi period. 

＊尾高城は室町時代、東西の交通路を抑える軍事的に重要な拠点でした。

 

Mori and Amago clans had numerous fierce battles to acquire this base.

毛利氏と尼子氏がこの拠点を抑えようと、熾烈な戦いを繰り返していました。

 

The date of construction is unknown, but it is said that the Yukimatsu family on the Mori side built it. 

建城時期は定かではありませんが、毛利氏側の行松氏が建てたとされています。

 

In 1524, Korin Yoshida, Amago’s military commander, defeated the Masamori Yukimatsu, lord of the castle at that time, and took over. 

1524年、尼子氏の武将吉田光輪が行松正盛を倒し、尾高城を手に入れました。

 

He ruled the castle and the area for about thirty-eight years, but the former ruler, Yukimatsu Masamori, took back control of it in 1562.

吉田家は約38年間この地を治めましたが、1562年以前の城主行松正盛がこの城を奪還しました。

 

After Yukimatsu died in 1564, his retainer Morishige Harima-no-Kami Sugihare acquired the castle, becoming a stronghold of the Mori clan for nearly fifty years.

1564年の行松の死後、彼の部下である杉原播磨守盛重がこの城を受け継ぎ、それから50年は再び毛利氏の支配下に置かれます。

 

At the beginning of the Edo period, Odaka Castle was abandoned during the construction of Yonago Castle. 

江戸時代初期、米子城築城により、尾高城は廃城となりました。

 

The future lord of Yonago Castle, Kazutada Nakamura, stayed at Odaka Castle until the completion of his new castle.

後の米子城城主、中村一忠は、建城中尾高城に滞在したと言われています。

 

＊The medieval period in Japan refers to the time from Kamakura to Muromachi (that is, Sengoku) periods.

＊中世とは、鎌倉時代～室町（戦国）時代を指します。

 

＊Odaka Castle is a Japanese medieval castle built on a hill. This type of castle could serve both defensive and governmental functions.

＊尾高城は、中世時代の平山城郭です。平山城郭とは、丘陵などに築かれた城のことで、防衛的な機能と政庁的な機能を兼ね備えていました。

 

＊Like Odaka Castle, there were three characteristics of the Japanese medieval castle built on the hill. First, it consisted of earthen walls and dry moats. Second, simple and more functional buildings were built. Third, unlike castles in the Edo period, there was not much distinctive separation for each section of the property. (During the Edo period, the usages of these sections were clearer. For example, Honmaru was used for the lord’s residence and where politics were discussed, and San-no-Maru was used for the home of retainers).

＊中世城郭の特徴は、土塁と空堀（水が貯められていない堀）構成されている、簡素な建物、本丸と他の曲輪（後に〇の丸と呼ばれる）の上下関係が明確でない、の３つです。