Yagura (tower)
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Yagura (櫓, 矢倉[1]) is the Japanese word for "tower", "turret", "keep", or "scaffold".[2] The word is most often seen in reference to structures in Japanese castle compounds but can be used in other situations as well. The bandstand tower erected for Bon Festival is often called a yagura, as are similar structures used in other festivals.[3] Yagura-daiko (taiko drumming from atop a yagura) is a traditional part of professional sumo competitions.[4]
Etymology
There were signs that the first written form of kanji was (櫓) during ancient periods, simply being a character representing a tower before being changed to (矢倉) – in which the former replaced the latter once again. The term originally derives from the use of fortress towers as high/tall or arrow (矢, ya) storehouses (倉, kura), and was thus originally written as 矢倉. The term was used for a collection of towers.
Today, modern towers such as skyscrapers or communications towers are almost exclusively referred to or named using the English-derived word tawā (タワー) and not yagura.
Castle towers
Castle towers varied widely in shape, size, and purpose. Many served as watchtowers, guardtowers, and for similar military purposes. Arrows were often stored there, with other equipment. As castles served as the luxurious homes of Japan's feudal lords (the daimyō), it was not uncommon for a castle to have an astronomy tower or a tower that provided a good vantage point for enjoying the natural beauty of the scenery.
Japan has rarely feared invasion or maintained border forts. However, it is likely that guardtowers or watchtowers would have been kept, outside of larger castle compounds, at times and places throughout its history.
References
Literature
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- De Lange, William (2021). An Encyclopedia of Japanese Castles. Groningen: Toyo Press. pp. 600 pages. ISBN 978-9492722300.
- Turnbull, Stephen (2003). Japanese Castles 1540-1640. Oxford: Osprey Publishing.
- Motoo, Hinago (1986). Japanese Castles. Tokyo: Kodansha. p. 200 pages. ISBN 0-87011-766-1.
- v
- t
- e
- Abatis
- Acropolis
- Agger
- Broch
- Burgus
- Castellum
- Castra
- Castros
- Chengqiang
- Circular rampart
- City gate
- Crannog
- Ditch
- Defensive wall
- Dun
- Faussebraye
- Gatehouse
- Gord
- Hillfort
- Landwehr
- Limes
- Nuraghe
- Oppidum
- Palisade
- Pincer gate
- Promontory fort
- Rampart
- Ringfort (Rath)
- Refuge castle
- Schwedenschanze
- Stockade
- Sudis
- Trou de loup
- Vallum
- Wagon fort (Laager)
- Vitrified fort
- Advanced work
- Albarrana tower
- Alcazaba
- Alcázar
- Amba
- Arrowslit
- Barbican
- Bartizan
- Bastion
- Battery tower
- Battlement
- Bawn
- Bent entrance
- Bergfried
- Berm
- Boom
- Bretèche
- Bridge castle
- Bridge tower
- Burh
- Butter-churn tower
- Caer
- Caltrop
- Castle
- Chamber gate
- Chartaque
- Chashi
- Chemin de ronde
- Chemise
- Cheval de frise
- Citadel
- Coercion castle
- Concentric castle
- Corner tower
- Counter-castle
- Curtain
- Drawbridge
- Enceinte
- Embrasure
- Flanking tower
- Fortified buildings (church, house, Dzong)
- Fujian tulou
- Ganerbenburg
- Gate tower
- Gabion
- Glacis
- Guard tower
- Gulyay-gorod
- Gusuku
- Half tower
- Hoarding
- Inner bailey
- Kasbah
- Keep
- Kremlin (Detinets)
- Ksar
- Landesburg
- L-plan castle
- Machicolation
- Merlon
- Moat
- Motte-and-bailey
- Murder hole
- Neck ditch
- Outer bailey
- Outwork
- Peel tower
- Portcullis
- Postern
- Powder tower
- Qalat
- Reduit
- Ribat
- Ricetto
- Ringwork
- Roundel
- Quadrangular castle
- Shell keep
- Shield wall
- Shiro
- Toll castle
- Tower castle
- Tower house
- Turret
- Viking ring fortress
- Wall tower
- Bailey (or ward)
- Watchtower
- Witch tower
- Yagura
- Yett
- Zwinger
- Castle town
- Château
- Dungeon
- Festung
- Fortified gateway
- Gatekeeper
- Loophole
- National redoubt
- Palas
- Picket
- Schloss
- Trench
- Vedette
- See also:
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