Osaka
~Aaron
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| Japan Day 4: Osaka Castle |
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| The map of the Osaka Castle |
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| Osaka Castle rampart in 1865 (1865年大阪城原貌) In 1868, Osaka Castle fell and was surrendered to anti-bakufu imperial loyalists. Much of the castle was burned in the civil war. 1868年，大部分大阪城被烧毁 The main tower 天守阁 was restored and turned into a museum in the 20th century |
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The Tower of the Osaka Castle
大阪城天守阁
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The Tower of the Osaka Castle
大阪城天守阁
See the two golden tigers 双金伏虎 on the top of the floor? That's where Toyotomi Hideyoshi 丰臣秀吉 used to live! |
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| The turret of Osaka Castle |
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| The turret of Osaka Castle |
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| Kinmeisui Well and its roof 金明水井 |
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| The Tower of Osaka Castle 大阪城天守阁 |
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Copy of the ornaments at
the Tower of Osaka Castle
金鯱鉾和金伏虎 |
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Ornament of the
Tower of Osaka Castle 金鯱鉾 |
In 1583 Toyotomi Hideyoshi 丰臣秀吉 started to build on the site of a castle. The basic plan was modeled after Azuchi Castle 清洲城, the headquarters of Oda Nobunaga 织田信长. Toyotomi wanted to build a castle that mirrored Oda's, but more grand than it in every way. The plan contained a five-story main tower, with three extra stories underground, and gold leaf on the sides of the tower to impress people. Toyotomi continued to extend and expand the castle, making it more and more stronger. In 1597 construction was completed and Toyotomi died. Osaka Castle was given to his son, Toyotomi Hideyori 丰臣秀赖. It was defeated in a following battle, and got wrecked. The main tower 天守阁 was restored and turned into a museum in the 20th century. We climbed stairs from the first floor all the way up to the 7th floor, the top one. The top floor has windows all across, letting the surroundings of the museum be seen. No pictures could be taken inside the 3rd and 4th floors, the most beautiful floors.
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Ornament of
the Tower of Osaka Castle
金鯱鉾 |
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City view from the Tower of Osaka Castle
大阪城天守阁
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| The outer bailey of Osaka Castle大阪城外城 |
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| Sakuramon Gate 樱门 |
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| Archers |
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| Takoishi Stone 樱门巨石, Huge stone at Sakuramon-masugata Square |
The castle itself is very strong. A high, thick, and solid stone wall surrounds the entire area. The only way across the deep moat is by the drawbridge, controlled from the inside. We known this because we walked around the castle moat the previous day. Enemies could build ladders across, but archers can prevent this from happening. Even if the invaders get inside the entrance, a spear-dropping device at the top of the entrance can defend the castle. Toyotomi Hideyoshi 丰臣秀吉wanted the castle to become the center of a new, unified Japan under his rule. It was the largest castle at the time.
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Left: people dress up as samurai and took picture
Right: a picture of samurai at the Tower of Osaka Castle
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The different hat of samurai
showing at the Tower of Osaka Castle
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The high wall and deep moat of the Osaka Castle outer bailey
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| A boat across the outer moat of the Osaka Castle |
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The huge stones sitting at the Osaka Castle
due to civil war and fires
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The Osaka Museum
大阪市立博物馆
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