masugata koguchi　桝形虎口

KEY WORD :　architecture / castles

A type of castle entrance *koguchi 虎口 protected by a square enclosure *masugata 桝形. The masugata usually consisted of an earthen embankment or stone walls with an additional gate at right angles to the main gate. This prevented direct entry to the castle, and also provided a place to gather troops out of sight of the enemy . The outer gate was usually called ichi-no-mon 一の門, and the inner gate ni-no-mon 二の門.

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