地域観光資源の 多言語解説文データベース

【Ōhorikiri and Tenbin Yagura】

Large Dry Moat (Ōhorikiri)

The ōhorikiri is a massive trench that separates the embankments of the Bell Bailey (Kanenomaru) and Drum Bailey (Taikomaru). The trench is spanned by an otoshibashi, a bridge that could be collapsed when the castle came under attack to create an impassable 8-meter drop. Charging into the castle, attackers would be forced to stop at the ōhorikiri, where they would be exposed to bow and arquebus fire from the pair of three-story turrets on the tenbin yagura. Although Japanese castles are often built on a series of raised earthen embankments, the combination of ōhorikiri and otoshibashi is rare. A similar earthwork lies between the west bailey and outer ward (deguruwa).

Tenbin Yagura

This turret, which guards the Taikomaru Bailey and by extension the main bailey, is called the tenbin yagura, meaning “scales turret.” The name is an allusion to the balanced, symmetrical structure of the turret, which resembles a scales. This turret’s aesthetically pleasing design is unique among the Japanese castles that remain today. Hikone’s tenbin yagura is thought to once have been the main gate of Nagahama Castle, not far from the east shore of Lake Biwa, which was dismantled in the early seventeenth century when the shogunate decreed that each domain could have only one castle.

大堀切與天秤櫓

大堀切

「大堀切」是分隔鐘樓與鼓樓土牆的一條巨大壕溝。溝上架有陷阱橋，當敵人來犯時，守軍破壞此橋，敵人便會落入8米深的壕溝中，被迫止步於此，而守軍則可在三層高的「天秤櫓」（日語裡的「櫓」是「城樓」的意思）上，從射擊口中用弓箭和火繩槍發動攻擊。「西之丸」（西城）與「出曲輪」（外廓土牆）之間也有同樣的土木結構。日本的城堡大多建在高地上，大堀切與陷阱橋的組合非常罕見。

天秤櫓（重要文化財）

保護鼓樓和主城的城樓稱為「天秤櫓」，因其左右對稱的結構形如「兩端吊掛重物的天秤」而得名。天秤櫓造型精美，也是日本現存城堡中非常獨特的存在。據傳，彥根城的天秤櫓過去可能是長濱城的正門。長濱城離琵琶湖東岸不遠，在17世紀初幕府頒布「一國一城令」後被拆除。

大堀切与天秤櫓

大堀切

“大堀切”是分隔钟楼与鼓楼土墙的一条巨大壕沟。沟上架有陷阱桥，当敌人来犯时，守军破坏此桥，敌人便会落入8米深的壕沟中，被迫止步于此，而守军则可在三层高的“天秤櫓”（“櫓”在日语里意为“城楼”）上，从射击口中用弓箭和火绳枪发起攻击。“西之丸”（西城）与“出曲轮”（外廓土墙）之间也有同样的土木工事。日本的城堡大多建在高地上，大堀切与陷阱桥的组合非常罕见。

天秤櫓（重要文化财）

保护“太鼓丸”（鼓楼）和“本丸”（主城）的城楼称为“天秤櫓”，因其左右对称的结构形如“两端吊挂重物的天秤”而得名。天秤櫓造型精美，是日本现存城堡中非常独特的存在。据传，彦根城的天秤櫓过去可能是长浜城的正门。长浜城离琵琶湖东岸不远，在17世纪初幕府颁布“一国一城令”后被拆除。