Keywords
Architecture
Castles
Lit. "inner horse exit." A defensive installation *umadashi 馬出 constructed to fortify the entrance of the inner compound of a larger multi-compound castle. It was originally constructed at the entrance of the outside compound. Usually, such installations were constructed at the entrances to the second compound *ni-no-maru 二の丸 or third compound san-no-maru 三の丸, but not at the main compound *honmaru 本丸. Nevertheless, they were sometimes erected at the entrance to the main compound when the topography and the castle plan so required.