Japanese Castle – Nagoya Castle 名古屋城 Part 3

THE CUNNING WAY NAGOYA CASTLE WAS BUILT AND WHY THE DAIMYO HELPED
名古屋城築城に、敵方の大名を使った理由とは・・・

Work on what was to become the nations
biggest and most imposing fortress began
in 1610, and was completed two years later.

The wily Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu ensued
that this most splendid castle was built at
next to no personal cost. He ordered the
nations daimyo, the nobility, to supply stones
for the walls, timbers for the buildings, and
great numbers of laborers to complete the
massive construction. Sourcing and
transporting the many tons of huge stones
and construction materials, not to mention
timber, and labor costs put considerable
financial strain on the various nobles. A strain
that prevented them from spending on arms,
armor and armies, thus lessening any potential
for insurrection.

1610年からはじまった名古屋城の建築には、
約20名の大名たちが関わっている。その大名
とは、かつて豊臣方（敵方）だった大名たち。
天下を取った徳川家康は、豊臣方（敵方）の
大名たちに名古屋城を築城させることで、
徳川家への忠誠心を競わせたのだ。それぞれ
の持ち場を任された大名は、人材も金も使い、
この名古屋城の築城に全勢力を使った。

THE STRANGE MARKS FOUND ON THE STONE WALLS…
石垣に落書き発見!　石に刻まれたマークの秘密

Any daimyo refusing to comply would be destroyed, and in an effort to show compliance, many
would carve a crest in the stones they supplied to prove their allegiance. These crests can still be
seen along the stone walls and makes for an enjoyable side attraction of trying to find them,
and looking at the many varied marks made.

名古屋城を歩くと、石垣にさまざまなマークがついているのを見ることができる。自分たちで運んだ貴重な石を
誤ってもっていかれないためにつけた印（刻紋）だ。どのエリアをどの大名が作ったのかを見ながら歩くのも、
なかなか興味深い。

One of the biggest rocks used in the walls is known as the Kiyomasa Stone after the samurai architect,
Kato Kiyomasa, who was enlisted to use his considerable castle building skills to make Nagoya one
of the most impenetrable fortresses in Japan. His statue can also be seen standing atop a large stone,
as he was said to have done when encouraging the workers.

石垣を見ながら歩くのならば、名古屋城の石垣の中でも、ひときわ大きい「清正石」もチェックしよう。
戦国武将の加藤清正が、この石を運んだと言われたところから「清正石」と命名されたようだが、実際には
清正ではなく、黒田長政の担当エリアだったらしい。

Other features to note are the anti-ninja “Wall of Swords”, rows of spikes around the outer roof
edge of the open walkway connecting the two keeps and around the Fumei Gate. Of interest to
hard core castle fans is the site of the original Nagoya Castle, where Oda Nobunaga is said to
have been born. The former castle stood in what is now the Ni no Maru, or Second Citadel,
and is acknowledged by a signpost and memorial stone.