uchimasugata　内桝形

KEY WORD :　architecture / castleｓ

Lit. inner square box. A type of walled compound *masugata 桝形, in the shape of a square measuring box masu 桝, inside the entrance *kokou 虎口 to a defensive installation. The compound has two gates: a larger gate in the outer wall, and a second, smaller gate at right angles to it. The purpose of the uchimasugata is to prevent an advancing enemy from entering a castle directly, and so weaken the force of an attack. The uchimasugata is the more common of the two main types of masugata ; the other type, where the square compound is built outside the larger gate, is termed sotomasugata 外桝形.

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