Castle Towers:
Towers were often located at corners to be used as look outs. These towers were often two or three stories high and I very important element of the overall castle design. Corner towers were fitted with stone droppers. (Elements and Features 156). Some castles with interesting examples of towers are Osaka Castle and Matsumoto Castle. Osaka Castle has two towers of the same size story. This uniformity gives the castle a unique look. Matsumoto Castle has the beautiful Tsukimi Tower that is made for moon viewing. Towers are built on stone bases. These stone bases are built on moats; the moats can be either wet or dry. By building the stone bases on these moats, the towers have a "formidable appearance" (Elements and Features 156).
The Castle's Keep:
The keep is the largest tower of the castle, and height is normally the first characteristic that it noticed about the keep. Because the keep is sto tall, many times the keep is the only remaining part that has survived from Japanese castles. A typical keep was normally three storey, however they varied depending on the castle. Some keeps got up to seven storeys tall. The amount of storeys did not always determine how big a keep was, as many had underground rooms or cellars. The windows and roof of keeps were arranged in intricate patterns. "The shape of the keep's roof was in the ornate style" (Elements and Features 157). Roofs were often in two different styles; the first being a triangular roof, and the second was a curved roof. An example of a curved roof can be seen at Himeji. "Roofs were almost always tiled with Japanese tiles" (Elements and Features 157). A keep's windows were generally square. Other features that were often seen in keeps were balconies. The highest storey often had an exterior balcony.
Purpose of Keeps:
1. To act as a point of reference for a castle
2. To act as a final resort of defence
3. To show the daimyo's wealth and power
4. To provide storage
5. To intimidate or impress the enemy
(Elements and Features, 156)
Towers were often located at corners to be used as look outs. These towers were often two or three stories high and I very important element of the overall castle design. Corner towers were fitted with stone droppers. (Elements and Features 156). Some castles with interesting examples of towers are Osaka Castle and Matsumoto Castle. Osaka Castle has two towers of the same size story. This uniformity gives the castle a unique look. Matsumoto Castle has the beautiful Tsukimi Tower that is made for moon viewing. Towers are built on stone bases. These stone bases are built on moats; the moats can be either wet or dry. By building the stone bases on these moats, the towers have a "formidable appearance" (Elements and Features 156).
The Castle's Keep:
The keep is the largest tower of the castle, and height is normally the first characteristic that it noticed about the keep. Because the keep is sto tall, many times the keep is the only remaining part that has survived from Japanese castles. A typical keep was normally three storey, however they varied depending on the castle. Some keeps got up to seven storeys tall. The amount of storeys did not always determine how big a keep was, as many had underground rooms or cellars. The windows and roof of keeps were arranged in intricate patterns. "The shape of the keep's roof was in the ornate style" (Elements and Features 157). Roofs were often in two different styles; the first being a triangular roof, and the second was a curved roof. An example of a curved roof can be seen at Himeji. "Roofs were almost always tiled with Japanese tiles" (Elements and Features 157). A keep's windows were generally square. Other features that were often seen in keeps were balconies. The highest storey often had an exterior balcony.
Purpose of Keeps:
1. To act as a point of reference for a castle
2. To act as a final resort of defence
3. To show the daimyo's wealth and power
4. To provide storage
5. To intimidate or impress the enemy
(Elements and Features, 156)