The moat of Matsue Castle
Matsue Castle is located on a hill overlooking the Shinjiko surrounded by the moats with water guided from the lagoon.
Izumo used to be part of the Mouri (毛利氏) territory until the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600. The Mouri sided with the defeated Toyotomi side, and their territory was reduced to the Yamaguchi prefecture after the battle. Izumo was given to the Horio family (堀尾氏) who sided with the Tokugawa although the family had been a vassal of the Toyotomi.
This type of Daimyou (大名 literally "big name" meaning local rulers) like the Mouri and the Horio was called Tozama (外様 outsider) as compared to Shinpan (親藩), relatives of the Tokugawa, and Fudai (譜代), hereditary vassals of the Tokugawa.
The knowhow to control Tozama Daimyou had been crucial for the Tokugawa rule over Japan, which lasted 265 years.
The moat of Matsue Castle
Matsue Castle is located on a hill overlooking the Shinjiko surrounded by the moats with water guided from the lagoon.
Izumo used to be part of the Mouri (毛利氏) territory until the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600. The Mouri sided with the defeated Toyotomi side, and their territory was reduced to the Yamaguchi prefecture after the battle. Izumo was given to the Horio family (堀尾氏) who sided with the Tokugawa although the family had been a vassal of the Toyotomi.
This type of Daimyou (大名 literally "big name" meaning local rulers) like the Mouri and the Horio was called Tozama (外様 outsider) as compared to Shinpan (親藩), relatives of the Tokugawa, and Fudai (譜代), hereditary vassals of the Tokugawa.
The knowhow to control Tozama Daimyou had been crucial for the Tokugawa rule over Japan, which lasted 265 years.