Keywords
Architecture
Castles
A stone loophole used to fire a gun through a castle wall. Unlike the usual loopholes *sama 狭間, that are bored through walls in the keep or other castle buildings themselves, ishisama openings are made through the top of the foundation walls *ishigaki 石垣 below. As is usual for loopholes, the inside of the opening is cut wider than the outside. Ishisama were employed at Edojō 江戸城 Hirakawamon 平川門 and Kyoto's Nijōjō 二条城. Good examples can still be seen at Osakajō 大阪城.