Building a Castle:
To begin the process, first a chosen site would be surveyed. An architect would design a sketch with the best layout and style he would determine based on elements such as topography and location. After the design was approved, a religious ceremony would be performed by the Shinto priest. During this ceremony, there would be a religious ceremonial offering. During these offerings, rice and salt would typically be made as an offer. After the religious ceremony, the building process would begin. The initial step would be to set up the land. Often times mountains would be carved up. During this step, there would be preliminary ground breaking. After this, the site would be excavated, and stones would be delivered. The stone base would then be completed (see Castle Walls). After this, poles would be added and a timber framework would be made. Plaster was then applied to the framework,and "...eventually the surface would be painted, tiled, decorated, or gilded" (Elements and Features 159)
To begin the process, first a chosen site would be surveyed. An architect would design a sketch with the best layout and style he would determine based on elements such as topography and location. After the design was approved, a religious ceremony would be performed by the Shinto priest. During this ceremony, there would be a religious ceremonial offering. During these offerings, rice and salt would typically be made as an offer. After the religious ceremony, the building process would begin. The initial step would be to set up the land. Often times mountains would be carved up. During this step, there would be preliminary ground breaking. After this, the site would be excavated, and stones would be delivered. The stone base would then be completed (see Castle Walls). After this, poles would be added and a timber framework would be made. Plaster was then applied to the framework,and "...eventually the surface would be painted, tiled, decorated, or gilded" (Elements and Features 159)