Seto

Lord Seto was a minor daimyo who built Kyuden Kurogane-Hana, the Iron-Flower Castle, around the Temple to Emma-O.

Temple to Emma-O
Seto was the lord of a remote valley where the Temple to Emma-O sat. It attracted many visitors, becoming a site of political importance. His lands bordered the domain of his rival, Lord Ieyasu. Ieyasu was stronger and his lands larger, but he was forbiiden to attack by Imperial Edict, so Ieyasu began political manoeuvring at winter court, seeking legal reasons to invade these lands, intent on taking the Temple to Emma-O.

Protecting his Lands
Seto ordered his courtiers to hold off the political offensive of Lord Ieyasu as long as possible. In the meantime hired Kaiu Engineers built a castle around the temple. Three years later the state of the defenses left much to be desired, and his courtiers were having a harder and harder time withstanding Lord Ieyasu's efforts. After praying in the shrine, the Emperor died during winter court, and feuding lords were forgotten by Court, turned to the matter of Imperial succession.

Imperial Visit
The new Emperor declared his father would have his funeral in the Temple to Emma-O. The castle was military-based and incomplete, inadecuate to host the Imperial retinue and Son of Heaven, which could be seen as insulting the new Emperor. New architects were hired and worked through the entire winter season to convert his castle into a courtly palace worthy of being called a Kyuden. Everything the Emperor saw only served to further please him, a place which combined military aspects with those of a courtly palace.

Aftermath
Seto became famous throughout the land for his unique vision, Lord Ieyasu visited the castle from time to time thereafter, becoming friends with Lord Seto. When the Emperor compared the castle to a piece of raw iron re-worked into the shape of a blossom, Lord Seto decided the castle to be known as Kyuden Kurogane-Hana, the “Iron-Flower Castle.”