P2+Castle+Town

P2 Castle Towns Mason R. Shane H. Julian S. __**Introduction**__ Tokugawa Ieyasu established castletowns in Ancient Japan after the Japanese Civil War. Bakufu was the strict social society in Japan at the time. Before a castle became a commercial center it was used for many different reasons. One of the most important things about the castle towns is the castles, their architecture, and what’s inside them. In ancient japan, castles were used for defense at one period in time, but eventually turned into a town. Tokugawa Ieyasu was one of the most powerful and respected shogun of any Japanese time. Let’s talk about Bakufu now.

__**Bakufu**__ In the Japanese society, there was a strict social structure with many names like Bakufu, a tent government, or a feudal society. Under this government, everyone had a job: owing two things to someone in the class above you, loyalty and service. Service meant paying the rice taxes or if needed fighting in a war for your master. There were many levels of the Bakufu government and at the top there are the samurai who are split up into the classes of emperor, shogun, clan leader, daimyo, higher-ranking samurai, and lower ranking samurai. For samurai Bushido- The "way of the Warrior" was strict code of honor and total loyalty, to the samurai it was more important than fame or money, Bushido emphasized simplicity, and the samurai where always prepared to die for their master. The lower ranking samurai Helped daimyo collect taxes which where rice payments. The higher ranking samurai helped enforced the laws as magistrates and chief government officials under the guidance of a daimyo. Most important samurai had houses near the keep. Lower ranking warriors had houses outside the walls. The peasants where the next lowest rank in the Bakufu because they made something with their own hands. The artisans where next in the society because they made items with their hands but they weren't as important as the rice that peasants had created. The types of Artisans are Swordsmiths, Armorsmiths, Carpenters, Sawyers, Roofers. The merchants where the last in the Bakufu because they didn't make anything with their own hands. The merchants where wealthiest members of castletowns but the merchants were not allowed to be Samurai and Barred from the rest of the society. The merchants had separate forms of entertainment: wrestling, gambling, Kabuki Theater. Between samurai houses, artisans and merchants were together. The defense of the town was phenomenal.

__**Defending the Castle**__ Before a castle became a commercial center it was used for many different reasons. The castle was used to protect the Japanese warriors from warring invaders like the Mongols who came and attempted to defeat the Japanese. The Japanese had defended themselves from the Mongol invaders with 7 story high castles built with stone walls on the outside and wood frames with bamboo and clay on the inside. There was a moat outside to stop invaders from easily getting to the castle. In order to get to the castle invaders had to navigate their way through gardens, gateways and multiple hallways. If the attackers got to the castle walls the defense mechanisms where superb. Soldiers would fire bows and muskets through small slits in the walls. The architecture of the castle is not mine to be told here so you will learn about it later.

Before a castle became a commercial center it was used for many different reasons. The castle was used to protect the Japanese warriors from warring invaders like the Mongols who came and attempted to defeat the Japanese. The Japanese had defended themselves from the Mongol invaders with 7 story high castles built with stone walls on the outside and wood frames with bamboo and clay on the inside. There was a moat outside to stop invaders from easily getting to the castle. In order to get to the castle invaders had to navigate their way through gardens, gateways and multiple hallways. If the attackers got to the castle walls the defense mechanisms where superb. Soldiers would fire bows and muskets through small slits in the walls. The architecture of the castle is not mine to be told here so you will learn about it later. One of the most important things about the castle towns is the castles, their architecture, and what’s inside them. The average castle was designed as a fortress, to stop enemies from invading and conquering japan. The warlord could see a battle outside of a castle window. This helped them know if the enemies were going to try and invade the castle. If the enemies tried to invade the castle, first they would have to go through a maze of corridors, gateways, and courtyards which make it very hard for the enemies to get to the castle. At one castle, the castle is an optical illusion. Once you think you’ve gone through all the gateways, the castle looks like it’s very near; but it’s still half a mile away. You also have to be very quiet because the warlord will be able to see you and you will be shot by a soldier. The castles architecture makes it so they have wooden shutters that close allowing soldiers to shoot rifles and bows inside of the castle. Even if you get to the castle, the castles amazing and confusing architecture funnels into a bottleneck trap. Don’t think that you can’t be tricked, because it is especially easy to be fooled by the architecture, especially at the Nijo castle. At the nijo castle, under the floor boards is a “chirp” security system that chirps every time you walk. Because of the Japan’s castle architecture, many enemies just don’t invade the castle. Beside from all the attacking stuff, it also is a “hang-out” place for samurai and daimyos. Inside the castles, there are beautiful gardens and pools. No wonder many samurai were here! Too bad they could be in the middle of a tea ceremony when called for reinforcements by the daimyo. It’s like a five star hotel. The walls are wood frame and filled with bamboo and clay. Then, they are plastered over. This architectural design of the walls makes the walls strong. Many things relate to the architecture. Just like in Bakufu.
 * __Architecture__**

In ancient japan, castles were used for defense at one period in time, but eventually turned into a town. This is because of Tokugawa Ieyasu making a 200-year period of peace in japan. The castles in the middle of the town became a governmental center. Since the samurai didn’t have any battles to fight they became magistrates and the daimyo's ruling the castle became a king like figure. The towns that sprung up around the castles housed artisans, merchants and peasants. The peasants grew rice, which in that time was like an edible dollar bill. The artisans made houses tools and weapons for the merchants, themselves and peasants. Merchants were despised and not even considered human just because they were believed to be selling other peoples work which is dishonorable. Inns, stables, and stores then popped up around the roads between castletowns. Inns offered a place to stay after a day’s journey. Stables are where the people put their horses and shops supplied the travelers with food. It’s like a circle, each thing supports another. This is all thanks to Tokugawa Ieyasu.
 * __Before the castle became a commercial center__**

__**Tokugawa Ieyasu**__ Tokugawa Ieyasu was one of the most powerful and respected shogun of any Japanese time. Tokugawa used his military and negotiation abilities to unite all the provinces under his control. He then established a shogunate (Capital City) in Edo (modern day Tokyo). Then he isolated japan for 200 years of peace. That time was known as a time of unity and growth. He was also a samurai but a higher class. Samurai are warriors strictly forced to rules and properties. They followed bushido, the way of the warrior. A shogun was the second in command right next to emperor. They control most of japan, and because of their feudal society, they owe respect and service to the emperor. Ronin were rouge samurai without masters. They went around terrorizing the peasants for food and money. In ancient japan, Ronin was a name like Voldomort. This is all I have to tell you about castle towns in Ancient Japan.

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__**Citations**__

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Schomp, Virginia. "Japan in the days of Samurai." //Cultures of the Past.// Edition 1. New York: benchmark books, 2002. Medium

Williams, Brian. // Forts & Castles //. New York, N.Y., U.S.A.: Viking, 1995. Print.