Also
called tenshukaku Vηt, tenshuyagura VηE. Also written Vε,
aε and aη. The principal tower-like structure at the center of a castle
complex *honmaru {Ϋ,
located in what is termed the honmaru (main circle or
inner compound). Corresponds to the keep or donjon of a western European
castle. The castle gradually evolved from a strictly military function as
a watchtower *bourougata
tenshu ]O^Vη placed atop a residence to that of primarily a symbol
of power and authority. The height of the tower may consist of three, five
of more stories *soutougata
tenshu w^Vη. Often there was a strategic variance between the number
of stories observable on the exterior, juu d or sou w, and
the actual number of floors inside the structure, kai K. Also, the
tenshu may be a single independent tower *dokuritsu
tenshu Ζ§Vη, or *daitenshu
εVη, a principal tower or large tenshu. It may be joined with one
or more subsidiary towers or smaller tenshu *kotenshu
¬Vη, and other structures such as a *watariyagura
nE, connecting gallery, to form a compound tower complex *fukugou
tenshu ‘Vη, a linked tower complex *renketsu
tenshu AVη and a tower grouping *renritsu
tenshu A§Vη. Many variations of these four basic tenshu types
were also constructed. For example, fukugou renketsu tenshu ‘AVη
compound linked tower complex, represents a combination of the compound
and link tower types. The tenshu was typically built on its own independent
raised foundation *tenshudai
Vηδ, the interior of which might hide one or more basement floors that could
not be observed from the outside. The multi-floored tenshu was a
timbered post-and-beam construction, with tiled roofs, as other towers *yagura
E. One distinctive structural feature was the use of one or two great pillars
*tenshu shinbashira
VηS, running from the ground floor to the topmost floor.
The origin of term tenshu is not clear, but the earliest reliable
source is GENKI NINENKI ³TρNL (Record of the Second year of
Genki, 1571), is found in a discussion of Oda Nobunaga's DcM· Castle
(begun 1569). |
