Japanese Castles

[ODA-NOBUNAGA]

Saw this and thought it may be inspirational and useful to you guys

http://www.shirofan.com/english.html

:)

[ToshiMaru]

nice looking castles

[ShininShado]

Shiro is the term used for a Japanese Castle, and was a major part of Feudal Japan.
The need for castles arouse after the central government's authority had weakened in the 15th century and Japan had fallen into the chaotic era of warring states (sengoku jidai). During that era, Japan consisted of dozens of small independent states which were fighting each other and, for defense purposes, were building small castles on top of mountains. (Website http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2296.html)

Shiro’s were built on strategic sites to take advantage of the position itself (eg. height advantage, difficult access for an aggressor, water and supply availability, ease of communication and control of transport routes). The three main situations shiro’s were built were;

1) on the top of a hill (yamajiro);

2) and on a hill surrounded by a flat plain (hirayamajiro);

3) on a flat plain (hirajiro).

A yamajiro (J. mountain castle) was usually built on a mountain top or some other elevated position, constructed using walls of rocks and earth to reinforce the natural defences of the site, a moat was optional. This form of castle was the favoured form prior to the latter half of the 16th century, were the lessening of civil strife began to show an effect.

A hirayamajiro (J. flatland hill castle) was constructed on a hill on a plain, thus taking the positional advantage of the surrounding area.

A hirajiro (J. flatland castle) was developed after the necessity of the yamajiro fortification declined with the cessation of civil war in the 17th century. These castles were built on the plains and served as administration centres of the surrounding area.

The basic design of a shiro consists four main elements:

1) Moats or hori;

2) Walls or ishigaki;

3) Gates or mon;

4) and Towers or tenshu. (Website http://www.angelfire.com/wy/svenskildbiter/shiro.html)

More about construction of the shiro. The typical, large castle consisted of three rings of defense, with the so called honmaru ("main circle") in the center followed by the ninomaru ("second circle") and sannomaru ("third circle"). The castle tower stood in the honmaru, while the lords usually lived at a more comfortable residence in the ninomaru.

In the town around the castle, the samurai were residing. The higher their rank, the closer they lived to the castle. Merchants and artisans lived in special areas, while temple and entertainment districts were usually located just outside the city. Tokyo and Kanazawa are two good examples among many Japanese cities which evolved as castle towns.
The main construction material for castle buildings used to be wood, as can be witnessed when visiting the interior of one of the surviving original castles. Most newer reconstructions, however, are made of concrete, and their interiors are modern. Most castles now house a museum. (Website http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2296.html)

[Leluu]

Great website. Thanks for the link.