Tenshukaku(Architecture) Essay, Research Paper

Tenshukaku

Architecture differs all over the world. Each country differed in styles used to express themselves. Japan is known for their great feudal castles. One such castle, Tenshukaku thrives today. In this paper the structure and who built the castle, technology used in building the castle and the physical structure will be described.

Japan’s many castles includes the Himeji Castle. The castle Tenshukaku is located in “Himeji City of Hyogo prefecture about 50 km west Osaka.”(www.history/himeji.com) All castles in Himeji looked the same except for the style of the interior design. Tenshukaku originates not a castle, but an actual stronghold. This castle changed with all the other castles of the 16th century. Changing from the mountain castle to the flat hill castle. Yet during the century, the introduction of matchlocks changed the width, needed for moats and the thickness of walls to stop bullets. In 1346 the first Himeji castle appeared. The construction exhibited nothing more than a fort and mansion combined. Sadanori Akamatsu maintained the security for the area. “230 years later Hideyoshi Toyotomi designed the basic layout for the castle including a three-storied tower.” (www.yahoo/himeji/castles/bin.com)

Secondly, technology used in building the castle separates this castle from others of the time period. A man named Terumasa Ikeda appointed Tadashige Igi to the role of general magistrate for the construction of Himeji Castle. Igi organized many staffs such as, manager of engineering works, manager of construction works, and many others. Nawabari became a vital point of castle construction. It became so vital, that a group of technicians called “Chikujoshi”(fortifier) joined the effort. The castle balances four sections each being a defense measure against attacking forces. A measure called the plot plan included a threefold moat and “Soto kuruwa”(houses) existed in the castle.

The physical structure of the castle can be considered one of the most beautiful aspects of the castle. The stone wall of the castle expresses the beauty of the culture. “This wall has a deep, arc-shaped warp, while curves of earlier castle stone wall are shallow.” (www.ja.castles/himeji) Samurai enforced a Nedori gumen. This best describes the stone working of the castle. Footing stone called “Nishi” laid as a fundamental working stone. “All of the castle work was aimed at preventing ground sinking and also bolstered earthquake protection.”(www.travel.co.jp.com) Many explorers expressed surprise at how well the castles looked and functioned.

In conclusion, architecture expresses the inner beauty and imagination of people. Everything in life is existent on architecture; nothing can exist without a building block before it.