Inside a Japanese castle
We find out how Himeji Castle - a 17th-century fortification - has stood firm despite several centuries of conflict and natural disasters
As is typical of traditional Japanese architecture, Himeji Castle is an elevated wooden structure featuring ornate tiling and embellishment. As well as gates, walls and other protective fixtures, Himeji and many other castles were equipped with a number of defensive devices to stall advancing foes.
Before they could even think about breaching the defences, the enemy would first have to navigate a frustrating maze of steep, snaking paths laid out around the castle walls. The physically demanding paths that seemed to lead directly to the main keep - but which often led instead to a dead-end - would disorientate and tire invaders. And even if they made it
Castle to attack
Main keep
Located in a large courtyard the main keep, or tenshu, is the highest tower in the complex. Due to its vulnerable wooden construction, it's covered with thick, fireproof plaster.
Rock chute
Many keeps have ishi-otoshi devices, or rock chutes, protruding from the walls. From here the defence can hurl rocks or boiling liquids like oil onto invaders.
Hip roof
All reconstructed Japanese castles have an elegant style of roof called irimoya, which features a hip-and-gable structure. Himeji has a rectangular hip roof, whereby the longer two sides slope down toward the walls and then turn up slightly.
Gable
The two shorter opposing sides of the rectangle slope too, but they also feature a decorative gable (the triangular bit) part of the way up.
Gates
There are many gates among the maze-like courtyards and pathways of Himeji, but all have similar construction, consisting of two columns connected by a crossbeam.
Bailey
Encircling the main keep is usually a series of three baileys (extra areas of defensive ground). The main, or first, bailey directly encircles the tenshu, while the second bailey surrounds the first, and the third surrounds the second.
Built on a hill 45 metres (150 feet) above sea level in southern-central Japan, Himeji Castle has survived innumerable feudal battles, sieges, earthquakes and even a WWII bombing. While today it's famed as Japan's largest castle, construction of the original site began in 1333 with the building of a small fort. The fort wasn't turned into a castle stronghold until nearly 250 years later, towards the end of the civil war era. The addition of three moats and dozens of extra buildings - including three large towers and a huge, six-storey main keep, or tenshu - saw the striking white complex become one of the greatest Japanese castles ever built.
World History
