Japanese castle gates

Let's investigate castle gates. What is "Masugata" trick? And, "Yagura-mon" gate, "Kourai-mon" gate, and "Yakui-mon" gate?

In this article, we want to consider several castle-gates which were the defensive pivot for the Japanese castles. Hearing the word "Japanese castle" makes us think of gorgeous main towers. However, true Japanese castles had other appearances, walls covered their surroundings and installed solid gates at all of the entrances.

One of the gates of the Kanazawa castle

 So many gates were constructed all around the castle area to prevent the invasions of enemy soldiers. Consequently, Japanese castles' true colors were huge masses of complex structures.

This describes the castle area of the Himeji castle, one of the World Heritage Sites in Japan. Light blue color area is the Himeji castle we usually admit, however, the true area it was actually active was wider than that. Inside of the layered double moats was the true castle siting. Then, circles are representing the castle gates we want to mention here. 

The Okayama castle's gate

If someone hoped to visit the center of the castle, he must have passed several gates from any place. These gates were over 15 even though they were the only major gates. They were demolished by the development of the city. 
So, we can't find any traces now. 

This describes the inner area of the Himeji castle, same as the area we are considering the castle now. Many castle gates were installed in the key points to the center area. And also, this area was separated into many castle compounds (circled areas). Furthermore, these compounds were closed not to go back and forth for the security of this very important area.

Part of the inner area of the Okatama castle

At the route to the main tower, huge gates were made for defense against the enemy's attack. Major gates were over 15, when we pick up at the drawing. 
Other smaller gates would be countless.  

The Matsumoto castle's gate

One of the Himeji castle's great places is the originality of structures, earthen walls, gates and battle towers. These structures are survived. That is the fantastic feature other Japanese castles can't have. They have beautiful main tower remained or gates survived, but they are standing alone. 
Sometimes a few gates, earthen walls and battle towers were connected, however these are reconstructed later.    


Forms of castle gates

What were like the forms of castle gates? First of all, let's look at several famous Japanese castles' gates. These are the photos of the Himeji castle, the Edo castle and the Sumpu castle. Have you noticed these forms are quite similar? These are second stories, battle towers upon the gates. And, from battle towers upon the gates, defense soldiers could fire their guns.

The Himeji castle's gate

The Edo castle's gate

The Sumpu castle's gate

This castle gate is named 'Yagura-mon'. Its first floor is 'Mon' or a gate and upper space is 'Yagura' or a watching and shooting tower. However, there are very few examples of three-storied gates. Presently existing examples are only twoand both are in the Himeji castle.

Generally, both sides of this 'Yagura-mon' are touching high stone walls. Top of the stone walls, snipers' hiding houses and earthen walls with numerous gun-holes are placed. So, a castle gate is not stand-alone facility, but complex constructions of gates, stone walls, earthen walls and houses. These items are tightly and functionally connected. To tell the truth, Japanese castle-gates' defensive effects come from cooperation of these items. This trick mechanism is called 'Masugata'. At the beginning of the Edo era, almost all castle-gates adopted this fixed pattern. In the same period Japanese castle style was finalized.

The 'Masugata' zoning

'Masugata' gate area is consisted of two gates, a front gate and a second gate. 

'Yagura-mon' is placed in the backyard. Because this second gate should not be captured, so it was made quite stubbornly. By the way, a front gate was also made strongly. However, the planner of the castle predicted that it might be destroyed, if strong enemy forces concentrated. He planned a trick for the enemy forces captured the first gate. The enemy could invade the inside area, but this area was a narrow square and all 3 directions were covered with stone walls and houses. And the second gate was combined with these walls and houses. The invaders would have cross-fire from all 3 directions. So, further attack of the invaders would be very difficult.

Every castle gate had the same shape?

The Echizen-ono castle's gate

Then, all castle gates always adopted the same pattern? As we mentioned, 'Masugata' was the definitive edition. So, beginning editions were different.

This gate is another example. It is an entrance gate of the Echizen-ono castle. The Echizen-ono castle was constructed around 1580, and it was early example of so-called the Japanese castles. So, the castle gates were not sophisticated enough. This example was reconstructed one, but it had been there from the beginning of this castle.

The Echizen-ono castle's map

It was situated at the foot of the castle mountain. In front of this gate, there was a huge Ninomaru compound covered by numerous defensive facilities. Then, they thought it was very rare invaders could reach this gate. Furthermore, they believed making castle structures atop of the high mountain was important and gates in front of the mountain weren't critical. Discovery of the importance of the gate area was after quite a while. If the planner of this castle had the knowledge of 'Masugata' trick, they might have made it.  

The Kakegawa castle's gate

Next example is the Ote-mon gate of the Kakegawa castle. This castle was broadly renovated around 1590, and then this gate would be made. (We don't know exactly.) The construction date is not clear but the form is not 'Masgata' style. We suppose that the 'Masugata' gate was invented a little more later.

The Kakegawa castle's map

The 'Yakui-mon' gate and the 'Kourai-mon' gate

The Yakui-mon gate

By the way, one-story gates are not 'hook' to the invaders. They are also very important device. At first, front gate of the Masugata was made like this gate. This picture is a gate of a samurai residence but the composition of a castle gate was same. (It's only because we don't have an appropriate picture.) It's named the 'Yakui-mon' gate. It's consisted of pillars, beams, doors, walls, bracing struts and so on. And all of them were covered by one big gable roof for prevention of weathering.

However, this gate didn't be used for castle gates soon. And the 'Kourai-mon' gate became popular. What's the difference two of them? That is the big roof of 'Yakui-mon' gate. In the battle time, monitoring enemy soldiers movement is very important. Enemy soldiers can use the Yakui-mon gate's big roof for shelter, it's a big problem. 

Inside of Kourai-mon gate (Nagoya castle)

Then, people invented the 'Kourai-mon' gate. The difference is the roofs of it. It has 3 separated roofs. From the outside, it's difficult to find difference of them, but from the inside, gate area is clearly watchable. 'Kourai' means 'Korean'. 

However, there weren't these kind of gates in Korea. So, it is said that 'Kourai' means the timing and place. It was invented to improve the defense by Japanese soldier at Korea during the Imjin War. 

Like these examples, castles facilities were made from a practical view. As soon as effectiveness of devices proved, people at that time incorporated greedily. 

They could select the things practical. We also agree and admire. The beauty of the Sengoku era's remains are not only gorgeous but also high-tech and intelligence.