you-no-koguchi　陽の虎口

KEY WORD :　architecture / castles

Literally 'positive castle entrance' or 'Yang' entrance. A generic term for various types castle entrance, *koguchi 虎口, considered to be suitable for easy exit of outgoing sorties. Most Edo-period castles built on mountain foothills *hirayamajiro 平山城, flatland castle residences kyojou hirajiro 居城平城 had entrances belonging to this category, for example the 'box-shaped gate' *masugata koguchi 桝形虎口 and the 'gate with protective barrier' *umadashi koguchi 馬出虎口. These designs included a protected enclosed space or compound where troops may have gathered before going out on sorties. The term you-no-koguchi is used in contrast with *in-no-koguchi 陰の虎口, a defensive entrance.

REFERENCES:

*in'you-no-kuruwa 陰陽の郭.

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NOTES:

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