First published in Great Britain in 2003 by Osprey Publishing,
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© 2003 Osprey Publishing Ltd.
All rights reserved. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study, research, criticism or review, as permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, electrical, chemical, mechanical, optical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the copyright owner. Enquiries should be addressed to the Publishers.
Transferred to digital print on demand 2010
First published 2003
7th impression 2008
Printed and bound by PrintOnDemand-Worldwide.com, Peterborough, UK
A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
Print ISBN: 978 1 84176 429 0
PDF ebook ISBN: 978 1 84908 004 0
ePub ebook ISBN: 978 1 78096 216 0
Editorial by Ilios Publishing, Oxford, UK (www.iliospublishing.com)
Design by Ken Vail Graphic Design, Cambridge, UK
Index by David Worthington
Maps by The Map Studio
Originated by PPS Grasmere Ltd., Leeds, UK
Typeset in Monotype Gill Sans and ITC Stone Serif
Dedication
To Geoffrey Arrowsmith
Preface and acknowledgements
No visitor to Japan can fail to be impressed by the wonderful castles whose elegant keeps and towers soar into the sky above huge, squat bases of stone. Yet few people fully appreciate that these magnificent and beautiful buildings look the way they do not simply for artistic reasons, but because of sound military principles. Most of them felt the impact of war at some stage in their development, and many survived long sieges, so, although most extant examples have been changed since their heyday, it is still possible to discern the fortress among the palace.
This book details both these roles in the classic Japanese castle, with the emphasis on the military function. It is also intended that the photographs and reconstructions will be enough to allow the keen wargamer to build an authentic Japanese castle of his own. Please visit my website at www.stephenturnbull.com to see any new discoveries about Japanese castles.
I would like to thank the staff and guides of all the castles depicted here, and the various members of my own family who have hung on to me when I have leaned over castle walls to take photographs. I am particularly grateful that none of them has ever let go!
Artist’s note
Readers may care to note that the original paintings from which the colour plates in this book were prepared are available for private sale. All reproduction copyright whatsoever is retained by the Publishers. All enquiries should be addressed to:
Peter Dennis, Fieldhead, The Park, Mansfield, Notts, NG18 2AT, UK
The Publishers regret that they can enter into no correspondence upon this matter.
Editor’s note
All the illustrations in this book belong to the author.
The Fortress Study Group (FSG)
The object of the FSG is to advance the education of the public in the study of all aspects of fortifications and their armaments, especially works constructed to mount or resist artillery. The FSG holds an annual conference in September over a long weekend with visits and evening lectures, an annual tour abroad lasting about eight days, and an annual Members’ Day. The FSG journal FORT is published annually, and its newsletter Casemate is published three times a year. Membership is international. For further details, please contact: The Secretary, c/o 6 Lanark Place, London, W9 1BS, UK. Website: www.fsgfort.com
The Woodland Trust
Osprey Publishing is supporting the Woodland Trust, the UK’s leading woodland conservation charity, by funding the dedication of trees.
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