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