Castles and Palaces: Power of Political Authority …s3.amazonaws.com/prealliance_oneclass_sample/EryvLb2zAb.pdfMap of castles in late medieval and early modern periods • Red: built

Second half of the semester: political architectureCastles and Palaces: Power of Political Authority and Architecture

Time periods (16th-17th c.)•1568-1603: Azuchi-Momoyama period◦

Warlords:‣Oda Nobunaga•Toyotomi Hideyoshi: was •Nobunaga's vassalTokugawa Ieyasu: came to control •the country and established his regime

Also called "warring-states" period‣1603-1868: Edo period◦

Shoguns: Tokugawa family‣

The dark blue: where Nobunaga was from•Blue parts: extension of Nobunaga's •control; by brutal forceYellow and red: opposing forces to •Nobunaga

Map of castles in late medieval and early modern periods

Red: built Pre-Edo period•Blue: Edo period (1600-1868)•After 1600 and after Ieyasu became •shogun, major political interest was to subside any possible rebellions rising from the countrysideSo issued: 1615 Tokugawa Warrior •Aristocracy (Military Houses Regulations):

Pursuits of martial arts and classical literature◦Educated soldiers, or "warrior aristocrats," so creating wonderful military ‣bureaucracyThe word bushido (the way of samurai; loyalty to your ruler) came about ‣during this period

But such noble spirit perhaps only possible during the time of peace•

Han (domains) castles may be repaired, but no expansions allowed◦Each han: one warlord and one castle‣Tight control‣

Stockade: fenced space (no architectural structure)•For temporary battle; then dismantled and set up at other place◦Symbolic of political center◦At some point, this structure evolves into turrets◦

Turret: surrounded by moats•More stable, permanent seat of power◦

Three Types of Castles

Yamajiro ("mountain-castle"): on top of the •mountain

Ex. Bitchu-Matsuyama Castle◦Not sure when or how the space was ‣flattened to build a structure onApproximately 16th century‣

17th century donjon?•Pro: surveillance◦Con: enemies can stop the supply of ◦

food and waterSolution: separated the fortress and residence in case of emergency‣

"Castle" as political symbol/usage•"Palace": residential•

Hirajiro ("flatland-castle"): on the same level as the town•Ex. Matsumoto Castle (1593-94)◦Pro: easy transport of the supply◦Con: can be attacked easily◦

Hira-yamajiro ("hilltop-castle"): on modest hill•Ex. Himeji Castle (1601-10)◦Inbetween yamajiro and hirajiro◦

Castle Town Development

Four types of town:•Castle town: around the center of castle◦Temple town: around the center of ◦templePort town (Yokohama, Osaka, Tokyo, ◦etc.): near the port(Fourth one for next time)◦

The concept of town different from the •European sense: no rural area as the basic

unitMatsumoto Castle (1593-94) Town (Nagano Prefecture)

From outside: Moat, wall, then another •most, finally donjon (the tallest turret)Like island within island•

Toward castle town: three main precincts

1. Hon maru (main precinct): the castle•2. Ni mo maru (second precinct): the •palace, residence3. San no maru (third precinct): where the •vassals and servants livedHon maru and ni mo maru on the same •island; the cocooned center, protected by lower class of peopleFour different precinct arrangements•

Concentric: shape almost the same as spiral; but spiral preferred (takes ◦longer time to get to hon maruLadder: for a wide mountain; yamajiro◦Spiral: for a hill; hira-yamajiro?◦Chain: hirajiro like Matsumoto castle◦

Matsumoto castle donjon

No more green/red•Instead subdued colors◦

Different from the idea of "castle"; also •made of wood, not stone

Wood: the weather (humid, so stone is ◦no good); also easier to build

Previous model: Buddhist temple•As the previous power of authority◦Ex. hip-and-gable roof on top◦

Azuchi Castle (1576/1582)The first castle structure•Took three years to build, and burned down after three years•

Reconstructed based on the historical sources◦Yamajiro•

Nobunaga's castle•1543: arrival of Portuguese (shipwrecked in •a small island in Kyushu)

Oda became close to them◦Introduction of firearms: the ship had ◦many things, one of them musketsOda turned the muskets into useful ◦weapon for himselfThe small island began to produce even ◦better firearms

1573: Oda ousts Shogun Ashikaga; became the most powerful man•1576-9: Oda's construction of Azuchi castle•1582: Oda was assassinated•

By his closest vassal; became scandalous◦Died in the castle, and the castle was put on fire◦

The source for reconstruction

Historia de Japam by Lois Frois •(Portuguese, Jesuit missionary)

1563-1590s: Frois stayed in Japan and ◦was very influential1580: met Nobunaga at Azuchi castle◦

Putting this source together with other •Japanese sources:

Base: 12 ken (ca. 22 m)◦1st floor: 36 m x 31 m◦

Height: 46 m◦ The only thing preserved: stonework•

By Ano-group stonemasonry: 350 specially dressed stones from Mabechi ◦area (a little up north from the center of Japan)

Used about 4-5000 laborers ‣Azuchi Castle (1576-82)

Source: Luis Frois, History of Japan•Tenshu (donjon) in Honmaru (1569)•"Noble and splendid," "more dignified than •our castle towers"Seven-storied tenshu (from the outside, as •if five stories; two below not shown)Each story is differently colored•

Black lacquered wood, white plaster◦Red and gold at two top stories◦

Interior walls are painted•Five sides, but not a perfect pentagon•

Compare with: Golden Hall, Horyuji•Terminology of authority◦

Castle builders used to be temple builders•

The structure designed by Okabe •Matauemon, Shogun Ashikaga's hired carpenterHuge atrium in the center and pagoda in •the middle (if on story 2 or above, can look down on the pagoda)

Some scholars suggest: European ◦influence?But this kind of hollow center space ◦existed before, for example Horyuji

Two floors below not considered as basement, because this is raised structure•

Azuchi Castle, section view (Surce: Ota Gyuichi, Azuchi Diary)

Each floor has a function and related •interior and pictorial elements according to the functionThe top two floors: religious•6th floor: square room, Chinese figures on •gold; works by the Kano school painters

Kano school: very successful group of ◦artists

remember back to their work in the Daisenin hojo (reception room): ‣during this time, Zen temple as the best patrons and now shogunsWorked almost like salespeople; carrying around samples and showing ‣them to clients on the spot

5th floor: octagon in red; Buddhist images; zbuddha and his ten disciples, etc.•4th floor: un decorated (rectangular floor, closets)•

Watchtower point; occupied by the servicemen◦3rd floor: many rooms (Lord's residence); landscape paintings, tigers and •dragons

Bedroom, so subdued◦2nd floor: large rooms; birds-and-flowers; Daoist sages and immortals•

For entertainment purposes: lively◦1st floor: (uneven octagon) multiple rooms; ink painting of plums, birds; •landscape with temples; Confucian images

Like a waiting/reception area, so wanting to impress your guests◦Basement floor: (two story high) atrium to the third; unpainted•Like a layered cake with each layer having different flavor and function•