aiyokoya-no-sama　合横矢の狭間

KEY WORD :　architecture / castles

Also aiyokoya 合横矢. Lit. loophole for opposing lateral arrows. A loophole constructed in a castle wall or rampart to catch an advancing enemy in a crossfire counterattack. The castle planners carefully designed the bends and turns in the ramparts such that members of the defending army situated on opposing walls, aiyoko 合横, that jut out on two sides with built-in loopholes *sama 狭間, could shoot arrows or muskets in a crossfire. The heights and angles of the loopholes vary to reduce the chance of defenders accidentally shooting one another.

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