Stone walls

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Stone Walls / 石垣

This is a subtype of Features

Ishigaki are one of the most impressive features of any castle. The skill it took to make them from cutting and collecting the stones to actually building the walls in a myriad of shapes, terrains, and locations, is truly remarkable. The fact that there are still so many stone walls remaining after hundreds of years attests to the skill of their builders too. You can even read the history of a castle from its ishigaki. The type of stone tells you where it came from, markings on the stones tell you who it was cut or gathered for, and the method of building the walls can also tell you in what period they were constructed or by whom. Even in the same castle, you may see walls constructed with different methods indicating who built them and when. You can also find unique stories buried in the stone walls at many castles like the old woman who donated her grinding stone or Buddhist statues that were procured from temples to fill in the walls.

Below is a description of the main styles and types of stone walls. There are also a few sub-categories and rare types not discussed here that I may put together for a future page.


Basic Structure

The pictures below are from a display at Kanazawa Castle that show how the stone walls are constructed. You can see that the stones are much longer and larger than they appear from the outside. Smaller stones are filled in between the larger stones to stabilize them. Extra stones are backfilled behind them for drainage to help prevent erosion and smaller stones are also filled into the spaces in the front to stabilize the larger stones. Note that there is no mortar used. This allows the stone walls to have some flexibility which is what has helped them to survive for hundreds of years in earthquake prone Japan.

Kanazawa217.jpg Kanazawa216.jpg Kanazawa215.jpg


Style

The style of wall indicates the pattern of how the stones are arranged. These two patterns below are used with all of the different types explained in the next section.


Ranzumi (乱積み)

The stones used are of various sizes so that there is no particular pattern to the face of the stone wall.

Kofu16.jpg Takamatsu23.jpg Takeda15.jpg


Nunozumi (布積み)

Most of the stones are roughly the same size so that they line up across the face of the wall.

Kanazawa117.jpg Matsuyama18.jpg Marugame76.jpg


Types

Stone walls can be categorized by how much the stones are processed to fit together in the wall. Walls that use unprocessed stones tend to be older, while walls that make use of more highly shaped stones are newer making use of newer techniques and tools.


Nozurazumi (野面積み)

These walls use unshaped stones. They are either stones that were used in their natural shape or were split without any further shaping. This type of wall is comparatively weak and high walls cannot be built. It also provides many footholds and handholds making it relatively easy for attackers to climb.

Kofu16.jpg Komoro15.jpg Maruoka6.jpg Marugame60.jpg


Uchikomihagi (打込接ぎ)

The stones are pounded tightly into place and the corners and rough edges are smoothed some to help them fit together better. The face of the stone is also chipped away to make it more flat. The remaining holes are filled with smaller stones to tightly fill the gaps. This makes a stronger wall than Nozurazumi and these walls can be built higher.

Edo44.jpg Osaka33.jpg Ueda15.jpg Kanazawa87b.jpg


Kirikomihagi (切込接ぎ)

In this type of wall, all the stones are heavily processed and shaped to fit exactly with the surrounding stones. There are almost no holes or empty spaces and no smaller uncut stones filling the spaces between stones. Since water cannot seep out through the spaces they often needed to build in some holes for drainage.

Edo38.jpg Kanazawa150.jpg Edo81.jpg Shirakawa11.jpg


Kikkozumi

This is basically a special type of Kirikomihagi where all the stones are cut with five or six sides and fitted together.


Tanizumi / Otoshizumi

The stones are fit together at an angle so they have a diagonal pattern instead of horizontal. It takes advantage of the weight of the stones to hold them in place. This construction was actually comparatively easy and often used in the later Edo Period.


Tamaishizumi (玉石積み)

This method uses river stones that were naturally shaped by the river to be round. The only castle I know of that makes use of this is Yokosuka Castle in Shizuoka Pref.

Yokosuka7.jpg

Castles with Stone Walls
  1. Aizu Wakamatsu Castle
  2. Akashi Castle
  3. Aki Castle
  4. Akiyoshi Fort
  5. Akizuki Castle
  6. Akizuki Domain South Detached Palace
  7. Ako Castle
  8. Akutagawasan Castle
  9. Amagajo
  10. Amagasaki Castle
  11. Anrakuji Yakata
  12. Aoyagi Castle
  13. Aoyagi Yakata
  14. Aoyama Castle (Nagato)
  15. Arato Castle
  16. Arikoyama Castle
  17. Asahiyama Castle
  18. Asaka Castle (Chikuma)
  19. Asama Palace
  20. Ashimori Jin'ya
  21. Awaya Yakata
  22. Aya Castle
  23. Azuchi Castle
  24. Bitchu Matsuyama Castle
  25. Chiba Castle
  26. Chimura Yashiki
  27. Chinen Castle
  28. Chiran Castle
  29. Echizen Katsuyama Castle
  30. Echizen Ohno Castle
  31. Edo Castle
  32. Enryakuji Higashitani Fort
  33. Fukuchiyama Castle
  34. Fukui Castle
  35. Fukuoka Castle
  36. Fukuyama Castle
  37. Funai Castle
  38. Furukawa Castle
  39. Fushimi Castle
  40. Futamata Castle
  41. Ganjaku Castle
  42. Ganshouin Yakata
  43. Gassan Toda Castle
  44. Gifu Castle
  45. Goryokaku Fort
  46. Goryu Castle
  47. Gujo Hachiman Castle
  48. Gushikawa Castle (Itoman Okinawa)
  49. Hachigata Castle
  50. Hachioji Castle
  51. Haga Castle
  52. Hagi Castle
  53. Hagiwarasuwa Castle
  54. Haibara Castle
  55. Hamada Castle
  56. Hamamatsu Castle
  57. Hanakuma Castle
  58. Hanamaki Castle
  59. Hanazono Castle
  60. Hayashikojo Castle
  61. Hayashiohjo Castle
  62. Hikida Castle
  63. Hikobe Yashiki
  64. Hikone Castle
  65. Himeji Castle
  66. Hirado Castle
  67. Hirai Kanayama Castle
  68. Hirase Noroshidai
  69. Hirosaki Castle
  70. Hiroshima Castle
  71. Hishakuyama Castle
  72. Hitoyoshi Castle
  73. Hizen Nagoya Castle
  74. Honshouji Castle
  75. Hoshigasaki Castle
  76. Houshouji Fort
  77. Hyakusaiji Castle
  78. Iba Castle
  79. Iba Palace
  80. Ibuka Castle
  81. Ichijodani Castle
  82. Ichinomiya Castle
  83. Ide Yakata
  84. Iga Ueno Castle
  85. Iida Castle
  86. Iimori Castle
  87. Iiyama Castle
  88. Imabari Castle
  89. Inawashiro Castle
  90. Innoshima Suigun Castle
  91. Inuyama Castle
  92. Ioyama Castle
  93. Isezaki Castle (Sanada)
  94. Ishibayama Castle (Omi)
  95. Ishigakiyama Ichiya Castle
  96. Itami Castle
  97. Itoi Jin'ya
  98. Itokazu Castle
  99. Iwahara Castle (Azumi)
  100. Iwaki Taira Castle
  101. Iwakuni Castle
  102. Iwamura Castle
  103. Iyo Matsuyama Castle
  104. Izuki Jin'ya
  105. Izushi Castle
  106. Joujou Castle
  107. Joukouin Yakata
  108. Junhanshi Yashiki
  109. Jurakudai
  110. Kagikakemonomi Fort
  111. Kagoshima Castle
  112. Kakegawa Castle
  113. Kakiage Castle (Chikuma)
  114. Kakimi Castle (Omi)
  115. Kakinohana Castle
  116. Kamagatake Castle
  117. Kamaha Castle
  118. Kameda Castle
  119. Kamei Castle
  120. Kameyama Battery
  121. Kameyama Castle
  122. Kaminoyama Castle
  123. Kamioka Castle
  124. Kanaiyama Castle
  125. Kanayama Castle
  126. Kanazawa Castle
  127. Kanbe Castle
  128. Kaneyama Castle (Mino)
  129. Kaneyama Castle (Mutsu)
  130. Kannonji Castle
  131. Kano Castle
  132. Kanzou Yashiki
  133. Karasawayama Castle
  134. Karasuyama Castle
  135. Karatsu Castle
  136. Karidako Castle
  137. Karidaoh Castle
  138. Kasama Castle
  139. Kashima Castle (Hizen)
  140. Kashiwabara Castle (Omi)
  141. Kasumi Castle
  142. Katsumoto Castle
  143. Katsunumashi Yakata
  144. Katsuren Castle
  145. Katsuyama Castle (Nagato)
  146. Katsuyama Castle (Tsuru)
  147. Katsuyama Palace
  148. Kawahara Castle
  149. Kawanoe Castle
  150. Kawashima Castle
  151. Keirozan Castle
  152. Kikkawa Motoharu Yakata
  153. Kinojo
  154. Kirihara Castle
  155. Kishiwada Castle
  156. Kiso Daikansho
  157. Kitanosho Castle
  158. Kitsuki Castle
  159. Kiyosu Castle
  160. Kochi Castle
  161. Kofu Castle
  162. Kojima Castle (Hida)
  163. Kokokuji Castle
  164. Kokura Castle
  165. Komaki Castle
  166. Komatsu Castle
  167. Komesu Castle
  168. Komono Castle
  169. Komoro Castle
  170. Koori Nishiyama Castle
  171. Koraku Castle
  172. Koriyama Castle (Hiroshima)
  173. Koromo Castle
  174. Koshikou Castle (Chikuma)
  175. Kounomine Castle
  176. Koya Castle (Chikuma)
  177. Koyama Castle
  178. Kozutsumi Castle
  179. Kuboe Castle (Omi)
  180. Kubota Castle
  181. Kukuri Castle
  182. Kuma Castle
  183. Kumamoto Castle
  184. Kuniyoshi Castle
  185. Kunou Castle
  186. Kurahone Castle
  187. Kuroi Castle
  188. Kurokawashi Castle (Koka)
  189. Kurume Castle
  190. Kushima Castle
  191. Kushizaki Castle
  192. Kutsuki Izuminokami Jin'ya
  193. Kuwana Castle
  194. Maebashi Castle
  195. Marugame Castle
  196. Maruoka Castle
  197. Masujima Castle
  198. Matsuda Yakata
  199. Matsudaira Yakata
  200. Matsue Castle
  201. Matsukura Castle
  202. Matsumae Castle
  203. Matsumoto Castle
  204. Matsuo Castle
  205. Matsusaka Castle
  206. Matsushiro Castle
  207. Mie Castle
  208. Mihara Castle
  209. Miharu Castle
  210. Mikumo Castle (Koka)
  211. Minakuchi Castle
  212. Minakuchi Okayama Castle
  213. Minowa Castle
  214. Mizuban Castle
  215. Moji Castle
  216. Morioka Castle
  217. Moriyama Castle
  218. Motosu Castle
  219. Motoyama Yakata
  220. Mukade Castle
  221. Mukaihaguroyama Castle
  222. Murakami Castle
  223. Murakami Hanagoya Castle
  224. Murakami Katsurao Castle
  225. Murakami Kemurino Castle
  226. Murakami Mochikoshi Castle
  227. Murakami Wagou Castle
  228. Naegi Castle
  229. Nagahama Castle
  230. Nagayama Castle (Ina)
  231. Nagoya Castle
  232. Najima Castle
  233. Nakagusuku Castle
  234. Nakamura Castle
  235. Nakanojin Castle
  236. Nakatsu Castle
  237. Nakijin Castle
  238. Nanao Castle
  239. Nanzan Castle
  240. Natsukawa Castle
  241. Natsumichi Fort
  242. Nechi Castle
  243. Negoya Castle (Sanada)
  244. Nihonmatsu Castle
  245. Niitakayama Castle
  246. Nijo Castle
  247. Nijo Castle (Tochigi)
  248. Nijoko Castle
  249. Nishio Castle
  250. Niwase Castle
  251. Nobeoka Castle
  252. Nochiseyama Castle
  253. Numata Castle
  254. Obama Castle
  255. Obama Castle (Mutsu)
  256. Obaraichiba Castle
  257. Obata Jin'ya
  258. Obi Castle
  259. Oda Castle
  260. Odani Castle
  261. Odawara Castle
  262. Ogaki Castle
  263. Oguchi Castle
  264. Ogura Castle
  265. Ogurayama Castle
  266. Ogyu Castle
  267. Oh'iwa Castle
  268. Ohga Castle
  269. Ohkawarashi Castle (Koka)
  270. Ohmine Castle
  271. Ohno Fort
  272. Ohtsu Castle
  273. Ojima Jin'ya
  274. Oka Castle
  275. Okayama Castle
  276. Okazaki Castle
  277. Oko Castle
  278. Okushima Yakata
  279. Omi Hachiman Castle
  280. Omifuru Castle
  281. Omono Castle
  282. Ono Castle
  283. Oogo Castle
  284. Oohara Castle
  285. Oomizo Castle
  286. Ori Castle
  287. Osada Castle (Omi)
  288. Osaka Castle
  289. Osaka Castle (Sarashina)
  290. Oshi Castle
  291. Otaki Castle
  292. Ozu Castle
  293. Rikan Castle
  294. Rokugawa Jin'ya
  295. Saga Castle
  296. Sagaki Jin'ya
  297. Saiki Castle
  298. Sakaki Jin'ya
  299. Sakamoto Castle
  300. Sakura Castle (Aichi)
  301. Sakurabora Castle
  302. Sakurasawa Fort
  303. Samegai Castle
  304. Sanada Palace
  305. Sanadahonjo Castle
  306. Sannohe Castle
  307. Sano Castle
  308. Sasayama Castle
  309. Sashiki Castle
  310. Sasou Castle
  311. Seiryuin
  312. Sekiyado Castle
  313. Sendai Castle
  314. Sengoku Yakata
  315. Shibata Castle
  316. Shiga Castle
  317. Shiga Yakata
  318. Shigetsu Fushimi Castle
  319. Shigiyama Castle
  320. Shimabara Castle
  321. Shimashi Ozato Castle
  322. Shimizu Jin'ya
  323. Shimotsui Castle
  324. Shinagawa Battery Islands
  325. Shingen Yashiki
  326. Shingu Castle
  327. Shioda Castle
  328. Shioda Koubouyama Fort
  329. Shiozaki Castle
  330. Shirakawa Castle
  331. Shiroishi Castle
  332. Shishiku Castle
  333. Shoryuji Castle
  334. Shou Castle
  335. Shuri Castle
  336. Shuuchi Castle
  337. Shuzan Castle
  338. Sonobe Castle
  339. Souma Nakamura Castle
  340. Sukegawakaibou Castle
  341. Sumoto Castle
  342. Sunomata Castle
  343. Sunpu Castle
  344. Suzaka Jin'ya
  345. Suzaki Battery
  346. Taguchi Castle
  347. Tahara Castle
  348. Takada Castle (Niigata)
  349. Takaino Jin'ya
  350. Takamatsu Castle
  351. Takanashi Yakata
  352. Takano Castle (Omi)
  353. Takano Yakata
  354. Takaoka Castle
  355. Takasaki Castle
  356. Takashima Castle
  357. Takatori Castle
  358. Takatsuki Castle
  359. Takayama Castle (Hida)
  360. Takayama Castle (Hiroshima)
  361. Takayama Jin'ya
  362. Takeda Castle
  363. Takedashishugo Yakata
  364. Takenaka Jinya
  365. Takeyama Castle (Hanishina)
  366. Takinoiri Castle
  367. Tamagusuku Castle
  368. Tamaru Castle
  369. Tanabe Castle
  370. Tanabe Castle (Wakayama)
  371. Tanba Kameyama Castle
  372. Tarui Castle
  373. Tateyama Castle (Yamagata)
  374. Tatsuno Castle
  375. Tatsuoka Castle
  376. Tawada Castle
  377. Tayasu Jin'ya
  378. Tedori Castle
  379. Tenjin'yama Castle (Musashi)
  380. Tenpaku Castle
  381. Toba Castle
  382. Tobayama Castle
  383. Toishi Castle
  384. Tokushima Castle
  385. Tomioka Castle
  386. Tottori Castle
  387. Toyama Castle
  388. Toyoda Castle
  389. Tsu Castle
  390. Tsuchiura Castle
  391. Tsuda Castle (Omi)
  392. Tsukikuma Castle
  393. Tsukui Castle
  394. Tsumagi Castle
  395. Tsutsuhata Castle II
  396. Tsutsuhata Castle III
  397. Tsutsuhata Castle IV
  398. Tsutsuhata Castle V
  399. Tsutsujigasaki Palace
  400. Tsuwano Castle
  401. Tsuyama Castle
  402. Uda Matsuyama Castle
  403. Ueda Castle
  404. Ueno Yashiki
  405. Urado Castle
  406. Urasoe Castle
  407. Usayama Castle
  408. Usuki Castle
  409. Uwajima Castle
  410. Wada Castle (Ina)
  411. Wakayama Castle
  412. Washio Castle
  413. Yagi Castle
  414. Yagi Castle (Tanba)
  415. Yamabe Castle
  416. Yamabukioh Castle
  417. Yamagata Castle
  418. Yamaguchi Castle
  419. Yamaguchi Yashiki
  420. Yamamoto Jin'ya
  421. Yamato Koriyama Castle
  422. Yamazaki Castle
  423. Yanagawa Castle
  424. Yashima Castle
  425. Yashiro Castle
  426. Yatsushiro Castle
  427. Yatsushiro Yashiki
  428. Yazawa Castle (Sanada)
  429. Yodo Castle
  430. Yogaisan Castle
  431. Yokosuka Castle
  432. Yonago Castle
  433. Yoshida Castle
  434. Yumurayama Castle
  435. Zakimi Castle
  436. Zeze Castle
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