renritsu tenshu　連立天守

KEY WORD :　architecture / castles

Lit. connected towers. Also termed renritsushiki tenshu 連立式天守. An extensive, highly-developed castle complex comprised of a large principal tower and two or more small subsidiary towers. These are linked together by connecting parapets, *watariyagura 渡櫓, enclosing an inner courtyard. The entrance is built into one of the watari yagura so any intruder had to first enter the inner courtyard to reach any of the *tenshu 天守, providing the castle with extra defensive protection. As at Himeji Castle, Himejijou 姫路城 (1609, Hyougo prefecture) the kitchen might be located in the inner courtyard, where it was protected from attack. The outward-facing walls of the complex were elaborately constructed with Chinese style gables *karahafu 唐破風 and ogival windows *katoumado 火灯窓, as well as defensive features like gunports, teppouzama 鉄砲挾間, and stone-drops, *ishiotoshi 石落し. The inner walls facing the courtyard were fitted with many windows, and had no defensive gunports.

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