Exhibition of the History of the Fukuoka Domain as Seen Through Archives and Records vol. 8

Exhibition of the History of the Fukuoka Domain as Seen Through Archives and Records vol. 8

Period:  October 22nd 2026 ～ January 11th 2027
Venue:  Feature Exhibition Room 4
Opening Hours:  9:30am - 5:30pm (last admission 5:00pm)
Closed:  Mondays
Charge: 
    ・Adults: 200 yen
    ・High School Students: 150 yen
    ・No Charge for Junior high school students and younger

                                                                                 8. Portrait of Kazunari Noguchi (cutout)

Since 1998, Fukuoka City Museum has presented a series of exhibitions titled "The History of the Fukuoka Domain as Seen Through Archives and Records," which explore the history and culture of the Fukuoka Domain during the Edo period (1603 – 1868) by drawing on the historical documents and records in our collection.

In this eighth exhibition, we focus on the construction of Fukuoka Castle and its surrounding castle town—a project initiated by the Kuroda clan, lords of the Fukuoka Domain, upon their arrival in Chikuzen Province (present-day northwestern Fukuoka Prefecture).

We shall trace the progress of the castle’s construction using sources such as the “Kuroda Kafu” (a record of the Kuroda clan’s history and achievements) and the “Chikuzen no Kuni Zoku Fudoki” (a topography documenting the history, geography, and culture of Chikuzen Province during the Edo period (1603 – 1868)). Construction began in 1601 and was carried out alongside other infrastructure projects, including the development of subsidiary castles within the domain. According to the “Kuroda Kafu” and the “Chikuzen no Kuni Zoku Fudoki”, the entire undertaking took approximately seven years to complete.

11. Letter from Kuroda Nagamasa

    

    We shall introduce the actual process behind the construction of Fukuoka Castle and its surrounding castle town through documents such as letters addressed to retainers from Kuroda Nagamasa—the first lord of the Fukuoka Domain—and his father, Kuroda Josui (also known as Yoshitaka or Kanbei).

    These documents reveal several key details: first, that the construction of Fukuoka Castle began in August 1601, with plans to commence the building of stone walls on August 12^th; second, that the construction of the stone walls began with those closest to the “tenshu” (castle keep), as there was an intention to complete the “tenshudai” (foundation of the castle keep) at an early stage; and third, that the “tenshudai” (foundation of the castle keep) was completed by February 1602, and preparations were in place to erect the pillars for the “tenshu” (castle keep).