Uzumimon

埋門

Uzumimon (埋門)

Uzumimon literally means buried gate. There are two types of uzumimon. In one type, a hole is literally cut through the middle of a completed stone wall. Unfortunately, I don't have any pictures of this type yet. In the second type, when the stone walls are constructed a narrow gap is left for a gate. Then the defensive wall atop the stone wall foundation is run across the gate evenly with the rest. An uzumimon was often used as an emergency exit or as a rear entrance to the castle. The best complete picture I have of this type is the one from Nagoya castle below.

Nagoya Castle