Keeps of Feudal Japan

In feudal Japan, the daimyo warlords were the equivalent to the noble lords of medieval Europe, building defensive castles in much the same manner. Just as the European lords built sturdy keeps in the most protected and fortified are of the castle, the daimyo also sought the highest ground for their tenshu-kaku, which were surrounded by the innermost courtyards. In these last areas, surrounding the keep, would be the quarters of the chief retainers and samurai, providing further defense for the tenshu-kaku itself after the maze of outer courtyards and wall defenses.

The tenshu-kaku functioned not only as a fortress for the daimyo and his family, but also as their palace. They were often three to seven stories tall, and tiered so that the bottom stories were much wider than the tops. All castle buildings were constructed with curved gables and covered with tiles. A pair of mythical dolphins called sanchi were set at the ridgepoles to ward off evil.

The floors floors of the palace were typically made of wood, laid out in uguisu-bari, or nightingale pattern. This style was designed to make noise when trod upon, to sneak attacks under the cover of darkness. The walls were often decorated with carvings and other artwork. From the fortified heights of the keep the daimyo would command his troops, and it served as a last line of defense in a siege. If the siege was successful and the castle overrun, the daimyo and his inner circle would often commit suicide in a special inner courtyard, set aside for this purpose.