Changes

While some buildings were destroyed by fire during the Meiji era, the castle was in excellent overall condition even into the 20th century. The Matsudaira family turned over the land to the government in 1923. In 1933, a fire broke out in the ''honmaru'' complex and destroyed all the structures therein, sparing only the main ''tenshu''. The complex was further damaged when an American bombing raid in 1945 destroyed 11 more towers and gateways. Finally, another fire started by an arsonist in 1949 claimed the Tsutsuimon.  

While some buildings were destroyed by fire during the Meiji era, the castle was in excellent overall condition even into the 20th century. The Matsudaira family turned over the land to the government in 1923. In 1933, a fire broke out in the ''honmaru'' complex and destroyed all the structures therein, sparing only the main ''tenshu''. The complex was further damaged when an American bombing raid in 1945 destroyed 11 more towers and gateways. Finally, another fire started by an arsonist in 1949 claimed the Tsutsuimon.  

Even with this run of misfortune, Iyo-Matsuyama castle is second only to [[Himeji Caslte|Himeji]] in the number of extant original buildings. Of the 21 extant structures on the site, seven are buildings proper, with the remainder being gates (including the Ichinomon, Shichikumon, and Kintetsumon), towers (such as the Inuiyagura and Noharayagura), and parapets. All of these structures have been designated [[Important Cultural Properties]] by the Japanese government. A project to restore the smaller towers and galleries of the tenshu complex was begun in 1966 and completed in 1969 (with the Tsutsuimon being rebuilt as well).

Even with this run of misfortune, Iyo-Matsuyama castle is second only to [[Himeji Castle|Himeji]] in the number of extant original buildings. Of the 21 extant structures on the site, seven are buildings proper, with the remainder being gates (including the Ichinomon, Shichikumon, and Kintetsumon), towers (such as the Inuiyagura and Noharayagura), and parapets. All of these structures have been designated [[Important Cultural Properties]] by the Japanese government. A project to restore the smaller towers and galleries of the tenshu complex was begun in 1966 and completed in 1969 (with the Tsutsuimon being rebuilt as well).

The castle was designed as a ''[[hirayamajiro]]''. The ''honmaru'' was located on the summit of the hill with the ''ninomaru'', ''sannomaru'', and other fortifications laid out below. Katô’s structure was laid out to take full advantage of the natural formations of the landscape and would have been extremely difficult to attack. There is a ring of earthworks and ''[[ishigaki]]'' (stone walls) halfway down the hill and also at the bottom. The main ''tenshu'' has three exterior and four interior stories, including a basement. It uses traditional tile roofing and has striking black wooden walls. The layout of the rectangular ''tenshu'' complex somewhat resembles that of Himeji castle, albeit on a reduced scale. It has the main ''tenshu'' along with three other towers at the remaining corners. Typical of late Edo period castles, it uses a very straightforward and functional design with little enhancement or ornamentation. The ''tenshu ishigaki'' (stone walls of the main keep) are built using the ''[[uchikomihagi]]'' method with the outer ''ishigaki'' using the ''[[ransekizumi]]'' method. The outer stone walls are much higher than the norm for a castle of this size, being similar to the walls built at other castles by another famous Katô, [[Kato Kiyomasa|Katô Kiyomasa]] (no relation to Katô Yoshiaki). The castle now functions as a public park.

The castle was designed as a ''[[hirayamajiro]]''. The ''honmaru'' was located on the summit of the hill with the ''ninomaru'', ''sannomaru'', and other fortifications laid out below. Katô’s structure was laid out to take full advantage of the natural formations of the landscape and would have been extremely difficult to attack. There is a ring of earthworks and ''[[ishigaki]]'' (stone walls) halfway down the hill and also at the bottom. The main ''tenshu'' has three exterior and four interior stories, including a basement. It uses traditional tile roofing and has striking black wooden walls. The layout of the rectangular ''tenshu'' complex somewhat resembles that of Himeji castle, albeit on a reduced scale. It has the main ''tenshu'' along with three other towers at the remaining corners. Typical of late Edo period castles, it uses a very straightforward and functional design with little enhancement or ornamentation. The ''tenshu ishigaki'' (stone walls of the main keep) are built using the ''[[uchikomihagi]]'' method with the outer ''ishigaki'' using the ''[[ransekizumi]]'' method. The outer stone walls are much higher than the norm for a castle of this size, being similar to the walls built at other castles by another famous Katô, [[Kato Kiyomasa|Katô Kiyomasa]] (no relation to Katô Yoshiaki). The castle now functions as a public park.