nakajō 中城

Also *ni-no-maru 二の丸, ni-no-kuruwa 二の郭, naka-no-maru 中の丸. Term used in the Kantō 関東 region to mean the middle compound in a medieval castle、which was divided into three compounds. In the 15th century, Edo-jō 江戸城 for example, was divided into three sections called shijō 子城, nakajō and sotojō 外城. In the early modern period nakajō became known as ni-no-maru, and was considered second in importance to the main ward *honmaru 本丸. Nakajō housed the owner's close relatives and retainers. Storehouses, kura 倉, were also built there. In the Edo period many castle owners themselves transferred their personal residence to the nakajō.