Changes

The major gatehouse - the Ishikawa-mon - was built in [[1788]], and as late as [[1858]] the Maeda constructed a new armory (a two-story, 30-bay structure, giving it the name of ''Sanjukken Nagaya'') along with several other structures. The castle finally met its doom when the [[Meiji government]] destroyed many of the buildings, those in the second bailey (''ni-no-maru'') lost to a fire in [[1881]].  

The major gatehouse - the Ishikawa-mon - was built in [[1788]], and as late as [[1858]] the Maeda constructed a new armory (a two-story, 30-bay structure, giving it the name of ''Sanjukken Nagaya'') along with several other structures. The castle finally met its doom when the [[Meiji government]] destroyed many of the buildings, those in the second bailey (''ni-no-maru'') lost to a fire in [[1881]].  

Today, a number of structures of Kanazawa castle has been rebuilt, including the Ishikawa-mon, Gojukken-nagaya, Sanjukken-nagaya, and Tsurumaru storehouse, though not including the ''tenshu'' or other ''honmaru'' structures. The castle site was used as a military base in the [[Meiji period]], and was home to Kanazawa University after that, until 1989. Today, it is a national historical site and "park".

Today, a number of structures of Kanazawa castle has been rebuilt, including the Ishikawa-mon, Gojukken-nagaya, Sanjukken-nagaya, and Tsurumaru storehouse, though not including the ''tenshu'' or other ''honmaru'' structures. The castle site was used as a military base in the [[Meiji period]], and was home to Kanazawa University after that, until 1989. Today, it is a national historical site and "park". Archaeological excavations continue, and several structures in the compound were reconstructed in the early 2000s using wood and traditional joinery methods.

==Layout and Construction==

==Layout and Construction==

Like most structures in the compound, the Ishikawa-mon features lead tile roofs and ''namako'' plastered walls. The roofing was made from lead, which provided protection against fire and which, along with tiling in the walls, could be melted down to make bullets in case of a siege.

Like most structures in the compound, the Ishikawa-mon features lead tile roofs and ''namako'' plastered walls. The roofing was made from lead, which provided protection against fire and which, along with tiling in the walls, could be melted down to make bullets in case of a siege.

The Ishikawa-mon grants access to the ''shinmaru'' ("new bailey") and ''san-no-maru'' (third bailey), which is separated from the ''ni-no-maru'' by the ''gojukken-nagaya'' ("Fifty Bays Long Armory").

The Ishikawa-mon grants access to the ''shinmaru'' ("new bailey") and ''san-no-maru'' (third bailey), which is separated from the ''ni-no-maru'' by the ''gojukken-nagaya'' ("Fifty Bays Long Armory"). Access to the ''ni-no-maru'' is attained chiefly via the ''hashizume-mon'' (橋爪門, "Bridge Claw Gate") at a corner in the center of the fifty-bay-long structure, where it turns to form a 90-degree angle. A short bridge extends like a claw from the gate, over a narrow moat which runs the length of the ''nagaya''. One can easily imagine how significantly access could be denied by closing this gate, and how quickly a bottleneck would be formed in a large invading force passing through this point, even if the gate were open. The bridge and gate are further defended by a watchtower, known as the ''hashizumemon tsuzuki yagura'' (橋爪門続櫓) or ''waki-yagura'' (脇櫓), located at the corner of the ''nagaya''.

 

The ''Gojukken-nagaya'' is today the chief structure of those which remain or were rebuilt. It houses a series of exhibits about the history of the castle and its construction, and allows visitors to climb into the watchtowers, providing an impressive view out over the castle grounds and beyond.

==Surroundings==

==Surroundings==