Types of Castle Structures

Types of Castle Structures

The Japanese castles were constructed with the prime intention of guarding the castle towns from external attacks. As there remained a constant threat of foreign invasion, the castles were structured so as to make it impossible for the enemy to access the heart of the empire.

The castles or 'shiro' were a complex network of a gates, watch towers, moats and walls arranged to guarantee a maximum protection to the township inside.

The central structure of the Japanese castles is the donjon or 'tenshu'. This pivotal building is the most defended one, as it houses the daimyo or the lord himself. A labyrinth of walls, moats and baileys run round the donjon to baffle any enemy trying to break in. A number of family quarters and storehouses further complicated the castle layout. The tenshu was usually placed on a high stone base built scientifically to withstand the earthquakes that frequent Japan The killer whale talismans or 'shachi' mounted on top of the donjons, were believed to protect the monument form the ravage of flames. The interiors of the castles were basically austere wooden structures, though the later lords chose to beautify their palaces with paintings and murals.

The castles were protected by a ring of baileys or 'maru,' or 'kuruwa' in Japanese. A minimum of three baileys, the 'honmaru' or main bailey, 'ninomaru' or second bailey and 'sannomaru' or third bailey cushioned the donjon to make it the safest structure in the castle.

The gates or 'mon' to the castle towns were placed to purposely wind the way to the inner grounds and thus confuse any intruder. Heavy metal plates strengthened the 'otemon' or front gate, and the rear gates acted as emergency escapes from the castles.

Store houses or 'yagura' were built not only to store weapons and other supplies, but also acted as additional watch towers. While the 'sumiyagura' were stationed in the corners, the 'tamon yagura' or one storied houses acted as strong defense walls.

'Hori' or ditches were constructed around the castles to make them more inaccessible. These motes also functioned as navigable canals to connect the forts to the nearby rivers.

Even the walls of the castles were strategic structures that ran around the buildings. Cavities called 'sama' dug on the walls worked as safe places for the lord's army to shoot any advancing enemy.

The donjons usually had obtruding rock chutes or 'ishi-otoshi' from which rocks or steaming water could be poured down to an enemy if he attempted to climb up to the donjon.

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