Architectural History

Japanese castles did not always look like what we think of when they are mentioned today. The, “beginnings of the shapes and styles now considered to be the 'classic' Japanese castle design emerged in the fourteenth century” (Types and History of Castles). Almost all of the changes made to create this “classic” type of Japanese architecture were decided on in the, “last thirty years of the period of war” (Types and History of Castles), which accumulated and led to the construction of some amazing structures like the Himeji Castle. 

These Japanese castles originated as fortresses made primarily out of wood and stone, which were originally made of and evolved from wooden stockades, which are upright barriers put together and closely resembled the earlier basic wooden “castles” that were built. The evolution of architecture in castles and the castles in general, “parallels that of western castles, as their uses were almost identical: defence, strategic control, impressing people who might cause trouble, centre of government, and as residence for feudal lords and their families” (Types and History of Castles). As stated in the “changes in castles” section, the castles themselves were changed over time so that they could last multiple generations instead of being temporary structures. With this change came many strong defensive features, collapsing bridges, stronger building materials, large moats, and countless samurai guarding the gates to the complex. The castles started off as short-term structures, but evolved to become the homes of Daimyo, with new rooms being worked into the main donjon for living purposes. 

Eventually, the production of these impressive castles was slowed and eventually halted because of the more widespread use of firearms, much like the end of construction of western structures, which stopped because of the use of cannons.