Mausoleum of MAEDA Toshinaga

Mausoleum of MAEDA Toshinaga

Heading south from Takaoka Station, I found the mausoleum of MAEDA Toshinaga (1562 - 1614) , the first feudal lord of the Kaga Domain, located in a residential area.

MAEDA Toshinaga was the eldest son of MAEDA Toshiie (1539 - 1599) . MAEDA Toshiie served as a retainer to ODA Nobunaga (1534 - 1582) and later to TOYOTOMI Hideyoshi (1537 - 1598) , expanding his territory into, present-day, Ishikawa and Toyama Prefectures. By the Edo period, the MAEDA family's holdings amounted to one-quarter of the TOKUGAWA shogunate's own territory, making them the largest landowners among the more than 200 feudal lord families.

Maeda Toshiie built Kanazawa Castle in 1587, and it subsequently became the headquarters of the Kaga Maeda clan.

Please refer the page of "Ruins of Kanazawa Castle":
http://cf916626.cloudfree.jp/HandE_Japan/TravelDestinations/Chubu/KanazawaCastle_E.html

MAEDA Toshiie passed away in 1599, having handed over the headship of the family to Toshinaga the previous year. After Toshiie's death, TOKUGAWA Ieyasu (1543 - 1616) reportedly plotted to bring about the downfall of the MAEDA clan. However, Toshinaga successfully averted this threat and laid the foundation for the Kaga Domain's prosperity.

The mausoleum was surrounded by a grove of dense trees and enclosed by a weathered wooden fence, beyond that lay a small moat.

The scene itself conveyed an air of solemn dignity.

This moat and fence encircled the entire perimeter of the mausoleum. The moat widened on the southern side, where a bridge spanned the moat to provide access to the mausoleum grounds.

The below picture shows a view of the mausoleum's entrance.

MAEDA Toshinaga died at Takaoka Castle in 1614. The mausoleum was constructed in 1646 by MAEDA Toshitsune (1594 - 1658) , the fourth son of MAEDA Toshiie and the second lord of Kaga feudal domain, to mark the 33rd anniversary of Toshinaga's death.

A "torii" gate stands in front of the mausoleum of MAEDA Toshinaga, reflecting the fact that Toshinaga was interred with the status of a deity.

The stone pagoda within the mausoleum stands 11.9 meters tall. The sides of its base are said to feature carvings of lotus flowers based on sketches by the artist KANO Tanyu (1602 - 1674) .

The mausoleum possessed a truly dignified atmosphere and served as a testament to the prosperity the Kaga Feudal Domain enjoyed at the time.

The approach to the mausoleum extends to the south. Further along, I turned right off the path and headed west.

Trees arched over the approach, forming a tunnel of foliage. I walked along this path toward Zuiryuji Temple.

How to get there
From Tokyo, take a "Kagayaki" or "Hakutaka" on the Hokuriku Shinkansen, to Shin-Takaoka. From Osaka and Kyoto, take a " Thunderbird" to TSuruga and change to a "Hokuriku Shinkansen" train to Shin-Takaoka. Take a train to Takaoka on the Jyohana Line. The mausoleum of MAEDA Toshinaga is located approximately fifteen minutes on foot from Takaoka Station.

Other Historical Sites near by:
Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route
Ruins of Toyama Castle
Toyama Bay
Yamacho Suji Historical District
Kanayamachi Historical District
ZuiryuJi Temple