Stone walls

From Jcastle.info

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