Keywords
Architecture
Castles
A main castle gate *koguchi 虎口 with a small barrier or compound *umadashi 馬出 constructed in front of it. Often earthen embankments are used in combination with a moat. One of the two main types of the more developed defensive installations for a main gate. The other main type of installation is the square courtyard inside the main gate *masugata 桝形. Additional defenses such as screening installations *shitomi 蔀 or staggered embankments kuichigai doi 喰違土居 are often added inside the gates.