Stone walls

From Jcastle.info
(Redirected from Stone Walls)

Stone Walls / 石垣

This is a subtype of Features

Ishigaki are one of the most impressive features of any castle. The skill it took to make them from cutting and collecting the stones to actually building the walls in a myriad of shapes, terrains, and locations, is truly remarkable. The fact that there are still so many stone walls remaining after hundreds of years attests to the skill of their builders too. You can even read the history of a castle from its ishigaki. The type of stone tells you where it came from, markings on the stones tell you who it was cut or gathered for, and the method of building the walls can also tell you in what period they were constructed or by whom. Even in the same castle, you may see walls constructed with different methods indicating who built them and when. You can also find unique stories buried in the stone walls at many castles like the old woman who donated her grinding stone or Buddhist statues that were procured from temples to fill in the walls.

Below is a description of the main styles and types of stone walls. There are also a few sub-categories and rare types not discussed here that I may put together for a future page.


Basic Structure

The pictures below are from a display at Kanazawa Castle that show how the stone walls are constructed. You can see that the stones are much longer and larger than they appear from the outside. Smaller stones are filled in between the larger stones to stabilize them. Extra stones are backfilled behind them for drainage to help prevent erosion and smaller stones are also filled into the spaces in the front to stabilize the larger stones. Note that there is no mortar used. This allows the stone walls to have some flexibility which is what has helped them to survive for hundreds of years in earthquake prone Japan.

Kanazawa217.jpg Kanazawa216.jpg Kanazawa215.jpg


Style

The style of wall indicates the pattern of how the stones are arranged. These two patterns below are used with all of the different types explained in the next section.


Ranzumi (乱積み)

The stones used are of various sizes so that there is no particular pattern to the face of the stone wall.

Kofu16.jpg Takamatsu23.jpg Takeda15.jpg


Nunozumi (布積み)

Most of the stones are roughly the same size so that they line up across the face of the wall.

Kanazawa117.jpg Matsuyama18.jpg Marugame76.jpg


Types

Stone walls can be categorized by how much the stones are processed to fit together in the wall. Walls that use unprocessed stones tend to be older, while walls that make use of more highly shaped stones are newer making use of newer techniques and tools.


Nozurazumi (野面積み)

These walls use unshaped stones. They are either stones that were used in their natural shape or were split without any further shaping. This type of wall is comparatively weak and high walls cannot be built. It also provides many footholds and handholds making it relatively easy for attackers to climb.

Kofu16.jpg Komoro15.jpg Maruoka6.jpg Marugame60.jpg


Uchikomihagi (打込接ぎ)

The stones are pounded tightly into place and the corners and rough edges are smoothed some to help them fit together better. The face of the stone is also chipped away to make it more flat. The remaining holes are filled with smaller stones to tightly fill the gaps. This makes a stronger wall than Nozurazumi and these walls can be built higher.

Edo44.jpg Osaka33.jpg Ueda15.jpg Kanazawa87b.jpg


Kirikomihagi (切込接ぎ)

In this type of wall, all the stones are heavily processed and shaped to fit exactly with the surrounding stones. There are almost no holes or empty spaces and no smaller uncut stones filling the spaces between stones. Since water cannot seep out through the spaces they often needed to build in some holes for drainage.

Edo38.jpg Kanazawa150.jpg Edo81.jpg Shirakawa11.jpg


Kikkozumi

This is basically a special type of Kirikomihagi where all the stones are cut with five or six sides and fitted together.


Tanizumi / Otoshizumi

The stones are fit together at an angle so they have a diagonal pattern instead of horizontal. It takes advantage of the weight of the stones to hold them in place. This construction was actually comparatively easy and often used in the later Edo Period.


Tamaishizumi (玉石積み)

This method uses river stones that were naturally shaped by the river to be round. The only castle I know of that makes use of this is Yokosuka Castle in Shizuoka Pref.

Yokosuka7.jpg

Castles with Stone Walls
  1. Aizu Wakamatsu Castle
  2. Akashi Castle
  3. Aki Castle
  4. Akiyoshi Fort
  5. Akizuki Castle
  6. Akizuki Domain South Detached Palace
  7. Ako Castle
  8. Akutagawasan Castle
  9. Amagajo
  10. Amagasaki Castle
  11. Anrakuji Yakata
  12. Aoyagi Castle
  13. Aoyagi Yakata
  14. Aoyama Castle (Nagato)
  15. Arato Castle
  16. Arikoyama Castle
  17. Asahiyama Castle
  18. Asaka Castle (Chikuma)
  19. Asakura Yakata
  20. Asama Palace
  21. Ashimori Jin'ya
  22. Ashinoya Jin'ya
  23. Asou Castle (Mikawa)
  24. Awaya Yakata
  25. Aya Castle
  26. Azuchi Castle
  27. Bitchu Matsuyama Castle
  28. Chausuyama Castle (Nukata)
  29. Chiba Castle
  30. Chimura Yashiki
  31. Chinen Castle
  32. Chiran Castle
  33. Do Castle (Mikawa)
  34. Echizen Katsuyama Castle
  35. Echizen Ohno Castle
  36. Edo Castle
  37. Enryakuji Higashitani Fort
  38. Fukuchiyama Castle
  39. Fukui Castle
  40. Fukuoka Castle
  41. Fukuyama Castle
  42. Funai Castle
  43. Furukawa Castle
  44. Fushimi Castle
  45. Futamata Castle
  46. Ganjaku Castle
  47. Ganshouin Yakata
  48. Gassan Toda Castle
  49. Gifu Castle
  50. Goryokaku Fort
  51. Goryu Castle
  52. Gujo Hachiman Castle
  53. Gushikawa Castle (Itoman Okinawa)
  54. Hachigata Castle
  55. Hachioji Castle
  56. Haga Castle
  57. Hagi Castle
  58. Hagiwarasuwa Castle
  59. Haibara Castle
  60. Hakoyanagi Castle
  61. Hamada Castle
  62. Hamamatsu Castle
  63. Hanagoya Castle (Murakami Clan Fort Network)
  64. Hanakuma Castle
  65. Hanamaki Castle
  66. Hanazono Castle
  67. Hayashikojo Castle
  68. Hayashiohjo Castle
  69. Hikida Castle
  70. Hikobe Yashiki
  71. Hikone Castle
  72. Himeji Castle
  73. Hirado Castle
  74. Hirai Kanayama Castle
  75. Hirase Noroshidai
  76. Hirosaki Castle
  77. Hiroshima Castle
  78. Hishakuyama Castle
  79. Hitoyoshi Castle
  80. Hizen Nagoya Castle
  81. Hokkyu Jin'ya
  82. Honshouji Castle
  83. Hoshigasaki Castle
  84. Houshouji Fort
  85. Hyakusaiji Castle
  86. Iba Castle
  87. Iba Palace
  88. Ibuka Castle
  89. Ichijodani Castle
  90. Ichijodaniyama Castle
  91. Ichinomiya Castle
  92. Ide Yakata
  93. Iga Ueno Castle
  94. Iida Castle
  95. Iimori Castle
  96. Iiyama Castle
  97. Imabari Castle
  98. Inawashiro Castle
  99. Innoshima Suigun Castle
  100. Inuyama Castle
  101. Ioyama Castle
  102. Isezaki Castle (Sanada)
  103. Ishibayama Castle (Omi)
  104. Ishigakiyama Ichiya Castle
  105. Ishikawa Jouzan Yashiki
  106. Itami Castle
  107. Itoi Jin'ya
  108. Itokazu Castle
  109. Iwahara Castle (Azumi)
  110. Iwaki Taira Castle
  111. Iwakuni Castle
  112. Iwamura Castle
  113. Iwato Castle (Mikawa)
  114. Iyo Matsuyama Castle
  115. Izuki Jin'ya
  116. Izushi Castle
  117. Joujou Castle
  118. Joukouin Yakata
  119. Junhanshi Yashiki
  120. Jurakudai
  121. Kagikakemonomi Fort
  122. Kagoshima Castle
  123. Kajiya Castle
  124. Kakegawa Castle
  125. Kakiage Castle (Chikuma)
  126. Kakimi Castle (Omi)
  127. Kakinohana Castle
  128. Kamagatake Castle
  129. Kamaha Castle
  130. Kameda Castle
  131. Kamei Castle
  132. Kameyama Battery
  133. Kameyama Castle
  134. Kaminoyama Castle
  135. Kamioka Castle
  136. Kanaiyama Castle
  137. Kanayama Castle
  138. Kanazawa Castle
  139. Kanbe Castle
  140. Kaneyama Castle (Mino)
  141. Kaneyama Castle (Mutsu)
  142. Kannonji Castle
  143. Kano Castle
  144. Kanzou Yashiki
  145. Karasawayama Castle
  146. Karasuyama Castle
  147. Karatsu Castle
  148. Karidako Castle
  149. Karidaoh Castle
  150. Kasama Castle
  151. Kashima Castle (Hizen)
  152. Kashiwabara Castle (Omi)
  153. Kasumi Castle
  154. Katsumoto Castle
  155. Katsunumashi Yakata
  156. Katsurao Castle (Hanishina)
  157. Katsuren Castle
  158. Katsuyama Castle (Nagato)
  159. Katsuyama Castle (Tsuru)
  160. Katsuyama Palace
  161. Kawahara Castle
  162. Kawanoe Castle
  163. Kawashima Castle
  164. Keirozan Castle
  165. Kemurino Castle (Murakami Clan Fort Network)
  166. Kikkawa Motoharu Yakata
  167. Kinojo
  168. Kirihara Castle
  169. Kishiwada Castle
  170. Kiso Daikansho
  171. Kitanosho Castle
  172. Kitsuki Castle
  173. Kiyosu Castle
  174. Kochi Castle
  175. Kofu Castle
  176. Kojima Castle (Hida)
  177. Kokokuji Castle
  178. Kokura Castle
  179. Kokuzousan Castle (Aida)
  180. Komaki Castle
  181. Komatsu Castle
  182. Komesu Castle
  183. Komono Castle
  184. Komoro Castle
  185. Koori Nishiyama Castle
  186. Koraku Castle
  187. Koriyama Castle (Hiroshima)
  188. Koromo Castle
  189. Koromogawa Date
  190. Koshikou Castle (Chikuma)
  191. Kounomine Castle
  192. Koya Castle (Chikuma)
  193. Koyama Castle
  194. Kozutsumi Castle
  195. Kuboe Castle (Omi)
  196. Kubota Castle
  197. Kubota Castle (Nukata)
  198. Kukuri Castle
  199. Kuma Castle
  200. Kumamoto Castle
  201. Kuniyoshi Castle
  202. Kunou Castle
  203. Kurahone Castle
  204. Kuroi Castle
  205. Kurokawashi Castle (Koka)
  206. Kuruma Castle (Hanishina)
  207. Kurume Castle
  208. Kushima Castle
  209. Kushizaki Castle
  210. Kutsuki Izuminokami Jin'ya
  211. Kuwana Castle
  212. Maebashi Castle
  213. Marugame Castle
  214. Maruoka Castle
  215. Masugata Castle (Takai)
  216. Masujima Castle
  217. Matsuda Yakata
  218. Matsudaira Yakata
  219. Matsue Castle
  220. Matsukura Castle
  221. Matsumae Castle
  222. Matsumoto Castle
  223. Matsuo Castle
  224. Matsusaka Castle
  225. Matsushiro Castle
  226. Mie Castle
  227. Mihara Castle
  228. Miharu Castle
  229. Mikumo Castle (Koka)
  230. Minakuchi Castle
  231. Minakuchi Okayama Castle
  232. Minowa Castle
  233. Mizuban Castle
  234. Mochikoshi Castle (Murakami Clan Fort Network)
  235. Moji Castle
  236. Morioka Castle
  237. Moriyama Castle
  238. Motodoriyama Castle
  239. Motodoriyamako Castle
  240. Motosu Castle
  241. Motoyama Yakata
  242. Mukade Castle
  243. Mukaihaguroyama Castle
  244. Murakami Castle
  245. Naegi Castle
  246. Nagahama Castle
  247. Nagayama Castle (Ina)
  248. Nagoya Castle
  249. Najima Castle
  250. Nakagusuku Castle
  251. Nakahokkyu Castle
  252. Nakamura Castle
  253. Nakanojin Castle
  254. Nakatsu Castle
  255. Nakijin Castle
  256. Nanao Castle
  257. Nanzan Castle
  258. Natsukawa Castle
  259. Natsumichi Fort
  260. Nechi Castle
  261. Negoya Castle (Sanada)
  262. Nihonmatsu Castle
  263. Niitakayama Castle
  264. Nijo Castle
  265. Nijo Castle (Tochigi)
  266. Nijoko Castle
  267. Nishio Castle
  268. Niwase Castle
  269. Nobeoka Castle
  270. Nochiseyama Castle
  271. Numata Castle
  272. Obama Castle
  273. Obama Castle (Mutsu)
  274. Obaraichiba Castle
  275. Obata Jin'ya
  276. Obi Castle
  277. Oda Castle
  278. Odani Castle
  279. Odawara Castle
  280. Ogaki Castle
  281. Oguchi Castle
  282. Ogura Castle
  283. Ogurayama Castle
  284. Ogyu Castle
  285. Oh'iwa Castle
  286. Ohga Castle
  287. Ohhira Higashiohmori Castle
  288. Ohkawarashi Castle (Koka)
  289. Ohkubo Jin'ya (Mikawa)
  290. Ohmine Castle
  291. Ohno Fort
  292. Ohtsu Castle
  293. Ojima Jin'ya
  294. Oka Castle
  295. Okayama Castle
  296. Okazaki Castle
  297. Oko Castle
  298. Okushima Yakata
  299. Okutono Jin'ya
  300. Omi Hachiman Castle
  301. Omifuru Castle
  302. Omono Castle
  303. Ono Castle
  304. Oogo Castle
  305. Oohara Castle
  306. Oomizo Castle
  307. Ori Castle
  308. Osada Castle (Omi)
  309. Osaka Castle
  310. Osaka Castle (Sarashina)
  311. Oshi Castle
  312. Otaki Castle
  313. Ozu Castle
  314. Rikan Castle
  315. Rokugawa Jin'ya
  316. Saga Castle
  317. Sagaki Jin'ya
  318. Saiki Castle
  319. Sakaki Jin'ya
  320. Sakamoto Castle
  321. Sakura Castle (Aichi)
  322. Sakurabora Castle
  323. Sakurasawa Fort
  324. Samegai Castle
  325. Sanada Palace
  326. Sanadahonjo Castle
  327. Sannohe Castle
  328. Sano Castle
  329. Sarugajou Noroshidai
  330. Sasayama Castle
  331. Sashiki Castle
  332. Sasou Castle
  333. Seiryuin
  334. Sekiyado Castle
  335. Sendai Castle
  336. Sengoku Yakata
  337. Shibata Castle
  338. Shiga Castle
  339. Shiga Yakata
  340. Shigetsu Fushimi Castle
  341. Shigiyama Castle
  342. Shimabara Castle
  343. Shimashi Ozato Castle
  344. Shimizu Jin'ya
  345. Shimotsui Castle
  346. Shimowada Castle
  347. Shinagawa Battery Islands
  348. Shingen Yashiki
  349. Shingu Castle
  350. Shioda Castle
  351. Shioda Koubouyama Fort
  352. Shiozaki Castle
  353. Shirakawa Castle
  354. Shiroishi Castle
  355. Shishiku Castle
  356. Shoryuji Castle
  357. Shou Castle
  358. Shuri Castle
  359. Shuuchi Castle
  360. Shuzan Castle
  361. Sonobe Castle
  362. Soudai Castle
  363. Souma Nakamura Castle
  364. Sukegawakaibou Castle
  365. Sumoto Castle
  366. Sunomata Castle
  367. Sunpu Castle
  368. Suzaka Jin'ya
  369. Suzaki Battery
  370. Taguchi Castle
  371. Tahara Castle
  372. Takada Castle (Niigata)
  373. Takaino Jin'ya
  374. Takamatsu Castle
  375. Takanashi Yakata
  376. Takano Castle (Omi)
  377. Takano Yakata
  378. Takaoka Castle
  379. Takasaki Castle
  380. Takashima Castle
  381. Takatori Castle
  382. Takatsuki Castle
  383. Takayama Castle (Hida)
  384. Takayama Castle (Hiroshima)
  385. Takayama Jin'ya
  386. Takeda Castle
  387. Takedashishugo Yakata
  388. Takenaka Jinya
  389. Takeyama Castle (Hanishina)
  390. Takinoiri Castle
  391. Tamagusuku Castle
  392. Tamaru Castle
  393. Tanabe Castle
  394. Tanabe Castle (Wakayama)
  395. Tanba Kameyama Castle
  396. Tarui Castle
  397. Tateyama Castle (Yamagata)
  398. Tatsuno Castle
  399. Tatsuoka Castle
  400. Tawada Castle
  401. Tayasu Jin'ya
  402. Tedori Castle
  403. Tenjin'yama Castle (Musashi)
  404. Tenpaku Castle
  405. Toba Castle
  406. Tobayama Castle
  407. Toishi Castle
  408. Tokushima Castle
  409. Tomioka Castle
  410. Tomokyu Castle (Mikawa)
  411. Tottori Castle
  412. Toyama Castle
  413. Toyoda Castle
  414. Tsu Castle
  415. Tsuchiura Castle
  416. Tsuda Castle (Omi)
  417. Tsukikuma Castle
  418. Tsukui Castle
  419. Tsumagi Castle
  420. Tsutsuhata Castle II
  421. Tsutsuhata Castle III
  422. Tsutsuhata Castle IV
  423. Tsutsuhata Castle V
  424. Tsutsujigasaki Palace
  425. Tsuwano Castle
  426. Tsuyama Castle
  427. Uda Matsuyama Castle
  428. Ueda Castle
  429. Ueno Yashiki
  430. Urado Castle
  431. Urasoe Castle
  432. Usayama Castle
  433. Usuki Castle
  434. Utsuyama Castle
  435. Uwajima Castle
  436. Wada Castle (Ina)
  437. Wagou Castle (Murakami Clan Fort Network)
  438. Wakayama Castle
  439. Washio Castle
  440. Yagi Castle
  441. Yagi Castle (Tanba)
  442. Yamabe Castle
  443. Yamabukioh Castle
  444. Yamagata Castle
  445. Yamaguchi Castle
  446. Yamaguchi Yashiki
  447. Yamamoto Jin'ya
  448. Yamato Koriyama Castle
  449. Yamazaki Castle
  450. Yanagawa Castle
  451. Yashima Castle
  452. Yashiro Castle
  453. Yatsushiro Castle
  454. Yatsushiro Yashiki
  455. Yazawa Castle (Sanada)
  456. Yodo Castle
  457. Yogaisan Castle
  458. Yokosuka Castle
  459. Yonago Castle
  460. Yoshida Castle
  461. Yumurayama Castle
  462. Zakimi Castle
  463. Zeze Castle
Loading map...