Artifacts and excavation status

Information on artifacts and excavation status

Reconstruction work of Honmaru Ichimonji-mon gate stone wall

The Honmaru Ichimonji-mon gate stone wall was reclaimed during the Meiji era, and excavation work began in Heisei 8 (1996). Stone wall restoration work began in Heisei 10 (1998), and the photo shows the stone being restored to its original position after it was removed.

Before reconstruction of Honmaru Ichimonji-mon gate Ote-bashi bridge

The Honmaru Ichimonji-mon Ote-bashi bridge was a wooden bridge connecting Ichimonji-mon and Ninomaru, and its piers were excavated from the moat. The bridge girders were supported by three pillars, and according to old drawings, the length of the bridge was "12 ken" (approximately 22 meters).

Completion of reconstruction of Honmaru Ichimonji-mon gate Ote-bashi bridge

In the reconstruction of the Ote-bashi bridge, the pillars were built at the original pier locations, and the upper part was designed as a giboshi railing. The materials used were cedar, pine, and chestnut, based on an evaluation of the wood found during the excavation.

'Red shachi-gawara (tiles)' excavated from the moat site around Honmaru Ichimonji-mon gate — *"Red shachi-gawara (tiles)" excavated from the moat site around Honmaru Ichimonji-mon gate* A shachi-gawara (orca-shaped tile) approximately 44 cm in height and weighing 7.2 kg and coated with a red glaze. The shachi (killer whale) has a tiger face and a fish body, and was used on the tops of the roofs of turrets and gates in castles. The red glaze is used to prevent the tiles from cracking due to freezing in winter. The tail and fins of this shachi tiles were made separately, but have not been discovered. They were made after the 18th century.

Artifacts from the moat site around Honmaru Ichimonji-mon gate 'Red oni-gawara (red demon ridge-end tile)' — *Artifacts from the moat site around Honmaru Ichimonji-mon gate "Red oni-gawara (red demon ridge-end tile)"* A red oni-gawara tile approximately 58 cm in height and weighing 6 kg and coated with a red glaze. The center of the tile is decorated with the Hotta family crest, a vertical gourd design. The Hotta clan became the lords of the Yamagata Domain in Genroku 13 (1700), and occupied Yamagata Castle for 47 years.

*Development status of the Honmaru Goten (main palace) site and Honmaru Ichimonji-mon gate (Aerial photography)* The center of the picture is the remains of the Honmaru Goten (main palace). The restored stone wall of Honmaru Ichimonji-mon gate, Korai-mon gate, and the masugata-dobei (square shaped earthen wall) can be seen at the back left. At the back of the screen, the symbol tower of modern Yamagata City, Kajo Central, and the mountain of worship, Ryuuzan, are located.

*Survey of the central moat of the Honmaru Goten site* This is the remains of the central moat of the Honmaru Goten site. The moat is rectangular, with stone walls built all around, and is about 4 m in width, about 1.8 m in depth, and about 50 m in total length. A large amount of roof tiles were excavated from the upper layer of reclaimed soil in the moat. Half of them were tiles that had been damaged by fire, including many gilded tiles coated with gold leaf as well. Gold leaf tiles became popular around the end of the 16th century. They date back to the time of MOGAMI Yoshiaki, lord of Yamagata Castle.

*Artifacts from Central Moat site in Honmaru Goten (main palace) site, Arrowhead Crest Gilded Oni-gawara (red demon ridge-end tile)* A black oni-gawara covered in gold leaf, approximately 31 cm in height and 7.3 kg in weight. It represents a leaf of a plant called "omodaka" or arrowhead. Although it is not a family crest, it represents a wish for the prosperity of the samurai family. It was made from the end of the 16th century to the beginning of the 17th century, around the time of MOGAMI Yoshiaki, lord of Yamagata Castle.

*Artifacts from the Water Well site in Honmaru Goten (main palace) site, gilded shachi-gawara (orca-shaped tile) tail piece* A black shachi-gawara tile covered in gold leaf, approximately 42 cm in height and 7.3 kg in weight. Originally thought to be over one meter tall, it has scaly stamps on its body. There is also a round hole and the Chinese character for "three" engraved on the bottom of the photo body. There is a thin layer of gold leaf on the tail fin, but it is thought that it was originally applied to the entire fin area, and there is no gold leaf on the body part. This tile was discarded in a well because orca was a mythical creature associated with water.

Artifacts from the Central Moat site in Honmaru Goten (main palace) site, gilded Nokimaru-gawara eave-end roof tile, 'Yamamon' — *Artifacts from the Central Moat site in Honmaru Goten (main palace) site, gilded Nokimaru-gawara eave-end roof tile, "Yamamon"* A guilded black Nokimaru-gawara eave-end roof tile, approximately 15.1 cm in height and 2.4 kg in weight. The surface design is the Chinese character for "mountain," and gold leaf is applied only to the character for "mountain" and the band of the periphery. The mountain design is thought to symbolize Yamagata. This tile was made from the end of the 16th century to the beginning of the 17th century, around the time of MOGAMI Yoshiaki, lord of Yamagata Castle.

*Artifacts from the Central Moat site in Honmaru Goten (main palace) site, gilded Nokihira-gawara eave-end roof tile, Hojumon* A gilded black Nokimaru-gawara eave-end roof tile, approximately 25 cm wide and 2.9 kg in weight, with an arabesque pattern on the left and right sides and with a jewel in the center. The reason why there is no gilding on both ends is that they are hidden by the Nokimaru-gawara eave-end roof tiles. Urushi lacquer was used as an adhesive for applying the gold leaf. It was made from the end of the 16th century to the beginning of the 17th century, around the time of MOGAMI Yoshiaki, lord of Yamagata Castle.

Watch Video Image of Honmaru Goten (main palace) site

This video introduces Yamagata Castle Honmaru site, including the stone walls, Ote-bashi bridge, Korai-mon gate, Honmaru Ichimonji-mon gate with restored Masugata-dobei (square shape earthen wall) and Honmaru Goten (main palace) site (Honmaru Goten Square).

Survey of tile dumping site of Honmaru Nishi-bori west moat earthen mounds

A tile dumping site was found at the site of the Honmaru Nishi-bori west moat. It is assumed that the tiles were discarded in the mid-Edo period, as most of them are black and few are red. The area was reclaimed in the Meiji era, so the tiles were found intact. There used to be a two-story building called Honmaru Tsukimi-yagura or moon viewing tower in this area, and the tiles originated from this building. At the same time, stone materials from the stone wall of the moon viewing tower were also unearthed.

Survey of Honmaru Nishibori west moat Uzumimon-dobashi bridge

The remains of ancient structure called Uzumimon-dobashi bridge were discovered at the center of Honmaru Nishibori west moat. It is approximately 3 meters high and has a maximum width of 12 meters. Uzumimon is one of the gates; it was not a regular gate, but an emergency exit. This dobashi bridge protruded from the Ninomaru side, and is thought to have been constructed as a wooden bridge, not connected to the Honmaru side. It was constructed after the Torii clan of lord of Yamagata Castle in the first half of the 17th century.