観光英語―二条城2

番所

入ってすぐのところに「番所」ってのがあるのよね。まあ、言ってみれば、今の「守衛さん」みたいなもんよ。「二条在番」とか呼ばれて、ここの藩士たちは江戸から派遣されていたんだって。こういう藩士たちが50人1組で2組いたらしいわよ。

1組が最初の年に担当して、次の年の4月になると、もう1組と交替したらしいのね。50人っていうから、すごいわねえ。お城のあちこちにこんな「詰め所」があったらしいから、ま、それくらい必要だったかもしれないわね。この門番所は正面十間、つまり19.6mの細長い建物で、前のほうの畳のところに門番が座っていたってわけね。

それでね、こういう「番所」みたいな建物で、現存してるのはすごくめずらしいんだって。だから、これは貴重な資料らしいわよ。へえ～。

Guardhouse

Passing through the Eastern Main Gate (Higashi Ote Mon), there is a long (19.6 m) and narrow building with some mannequins (posing as guards) sitting or standing upright. Called Bansho in Japanese, the building functioned as a guardhouse where stationed staff regulated and welcomed the visitors to the castle.

The guards were called Nijo Zaiban or "Nijo Guards," and dispatched from Edo (presently Tokyo). A hundred of them in total were assigned for the job by splitting into two group units each of which consisted of 50. The units worked on yearly shifts: one replacing another every April.

Once there were many such guard stations throughout the castle, but the one near the Eastern Main Gate is the only one remaining today. For its rarity, the house serves as an important historical reference.

二条城 Nijo Castle (2)

番所

Guardhouse

二条城
Nijo Castle (2)