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Glossary
We know that trying to learn about Japanese castles may get frustrating at times because
there are just so many new words and terms to learn. This glossary is a quick reference so
you can find the meaning of many of the Japanese terms on our site. Hope it helps!
ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
arquebus -
the type of gun used in feudal Japan.
bakufu -
martial government controlled by the samurai.
bushi -
warriors
bushido -
the Way of the Warrior, the moral code by which samurai lived.
daimyo -
the feudal lord of a castle.
Emishi -
barbarians of northern Honshu.
fusuma -
wooden panel used to back paintings; usually separated rooms
hei -
earthen wall
honmaru -
the area closest to the tenshu.
Honshu -
central and largest island of Japan.
ishigaki -
sloped stone walls used for support and defense.
ishi-otoshi -
openings on the side of buildings used for dropping objects on climbing invaders.
-jo -
suffix given to castle names. For example, 'Edo-jo' is Edo castle.
jo -
short wooden weapon.
jodan -
the highest ranking room in a castle.
katana -
long sword.
Kyushu -
westernmost island of Japan.
maru -
zones of increasing defense, usually concentric.
masugata -
a structure with two gates at right angles to each other, designed to trap invaders.
mon -
gate.
naginata -
long wooden poles with a single-edged blade at one end.
ninomaru -
(also ninnomaru)
second furthest maru from the tenshu.
ote mon -
main gate
ronin -
masterless samurai.
samurai -
warriors, specifically retainers, though the word is traditionally used to describe all
members of the warrior class.
seppuku -
the act of ritual suicide committed by samurai to preserve their honor in death.
shachi -
a pair of dolphins built on opposite ends of castle roofs to scare away
evil spirits.
sumi-yagura -
towers used for storage and defense.
tamon yagura -
long fortified corridors.
tenshu -
(also tennsyu) the main keep of a castle.
wakizashi -
short sword.
yagura -
fortified buildings used as defensive plaforms.
yagura mon -
gatehouse.
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