#himejijo

[random-racehorses]

Random Real Thoroughbred: HIMEJIJO

HIMEJIJO is a mare born in Japan in 1970. By BEL BARAKA out of ROYAL ROMP. Link to their pedigreequery page: https://www.pedigreequery.com/himejijo

[matchachas-blog]

This morning I had western breakfast. It was toast, yoghurt, ham, eggs, and a salad. After breakfast, we met up again to discuss the readings. Then we went on a 2 hour train ride to see Himejijo, a castle that is a national treasure in Kyoto.

We first saw Princess Sen’s quarters, where she spent her time and got dressed, slept, etc. Then we went up the main keep that had 7 staircases with 6 floors and 1 basement. On the first floor there was a “Ishi otoshi” where soldiers would have dropped stones or shoot at enemies trying to climb the wall. On the second floor there was a “bugukake” or a weapon rack, where weapons like matchlocks and spears were placed, showing that the main keep was also used as an armory. The third floor had “Musha Gakushi” or a warrior hiding place where soldiers would be placed in secret compartments so they can ambush enemies. The top most floor had the Osakabe Shrine, where it protects Himeji Castle as the guardian deity of it. It was a long climb up the stairs but the views from the top were nice.

The most famous person who lived in Himeji castle was Princess Sen, the granddaughter of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the founder of the Tokugawa shogunate. She was married off at age 7 to Toyotomi Hideyori to keep peace between the two clans since they were known as rivals. However, the two clans fought when Princess Sen was 18, and her father gave her hand in marriage to anyone who could save her. She refused to marry her savior, and decided to marry for love and marry the heir of Himeji Castle. Although her husband and son died of sickness, it is interesting to know that she lived happy years as a woman during the warring states period.

It used to be thought that the daimyos had full control over the way castle towns were developed, because they have the most power considering that the emperor was mostly a figure head. However, although daimyo had some direction and authority over city layouts, many commoners settled where they wanted to and organically developed the cities. They even accommodated by relocating farms and temples to create more commoner districts. It is interesting how a solidified belief can be changed with further research and finding out the truth.

[lionellistuff]

June 11th, Himejijo

Today we traveled to the city of Himeji, where the ancient castle of Himejijo is located. Located on a high point in the center of the city, Himejijo castle is a sprawling complex of defenses with a bright white castle in the center. This castle is famous for being shaped like a white egret, and is a UNESCO world heritage site.

The ride to get to the castle was more than two hours each way. We took a speedy train from Kyoto station, and luckily I was able to get a seat. However, getting from the station all the way to the top of the castle was quite a journey. Probably more than 2 miles each way. The castle had a number of very steep staircases, and in several places shoes were not allowed. But it was worth it to see the castle defenses and architecture.

Academic reflection

Our texts today spoke of the layers of defenses around castles in premodern Japan, but I did not expect them to be so thorough. The outer defenses for Himeji castle start at the edge of town, and continue to become more intense as one approaches the castle. Around the castle are several moats, and curved walls which are made not by constructing stone walls from the ground up, but take advantage of the topography. Essentially they dug wall shapes from out of the sides of hills and mountains and then reinforced them with stones.

Our readings also indicated that Japan’s premodern cities which emerged in only about 120 years prior to 1700, were much larger than most European cities. After the establishment of the Tokugawa shogunate, many samurai were required to reside in the domains of their feudal lords. As such, initial settlements with high demand for goods from Samurai with rice stipends attracted merchants who established all sorts of businesses to cater to their needs, and also attracted commoners who worked for many merchants’ businesses. Many commoners also made livings as street vendors and construction workers, and cities grew rapidly. No European city even came close to the size of Edo, and Tokyo remains the largest city on earth, with a metro population of over 38 million people. I wonder what it must have been like to wander through Tokyo’s famous red light areas during the shogunate. Thus, it should not surprise us that Japan had a cultural flourishing during this time. It was this period that gave us ukiyoe, kabuki, geisha, among other things.

[inefekt69]

Himeji Castle, Japan

[erfigh]

Castillo de Himeji (Castillo de la garza blanca). #himeji #himejicastle #himeji_castle #japan #japon #japó #japo #instagramjapan #igersjp #igersjp #instajapan #japantrip #japantravel #japanphoto #japanphotography #chusayinka #japantravelgallery #himejijo #himejijocastle #himejijapan #hyogo #hyogoprefecture #hakurojo #shirasagijo #castillodelagarzablanca #patrimoniodelahumanidad #worldheritage #worldheritagesite (en Himeji Castle) https://www.instagram.com/p/CL_wf4VBmRr/?igshid=16naroegopz3

[foggyrosybouquet]

himeji-jo castle, the world heritage

[hii-da]

2019jul31 • #hiiKyoto2019 🇯🇵 Himeji Castle 姫路城 No wonder it’s the finest castle in Japan. Renovation recently completed in Spring 2019. #KyotoJapan #himejijo #hiiKyoto #hii京都 (at Himeji Castle 姬路城) https://www.instagram.com/p/B0tTnB1HLyw/?igshid=nxmk5br1egug

[den-ichinomiya]

Cherry blossoms at Nishinomaru garden of Shirasagijyo (Himeji Castle) I have no word to express how beautiful… Left: Shidarezakura (Weeping oriental cherry) Right: Someiyoshino (Most popular cherry in Japan) Cherry trees are very sensitive. Only professional landscapers, arborists or cherry-blossom keeper (we call Sakuramori) can determine and care trees.

[milehighdad]

姫路城。前に行った時は工事中で幕が張られていた。姫路で降りて京都へ。と思ったけれど、やっぱり新大阪で荷物預けて京都行ったほうが楽そうなので、新大阪へ向かう。キャノン４０倍ズームカメラで撮影。 himeji castle from himeji station. photo by 40X zoom canon. 姫路13:02-13:41新大阪。 Himeji13:02-13:41Shin Osaka.

[clippedpixel]

Himeji castle #himeji #himejicastle #japan #shinkansen #castle #himejijo #cherryblossom (at Himeji Castle 姬路城) https://www.instagram.com/p/Br1osKlg7aL/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=19gq3g5bc76vx

[yeesyee]

Yay for the weather today! 💕 Himeji Castle (姫路城, Himejijō), also known as White Heron Castle (Shirasagijo) due to its elegant, white appearance, is widely considered as Japan's most spectacular castle.. . . . #himeji #himejijo #worldheritage #castle #japan #🇯🇵 #iphonegraphy #nofilterneeded #sytravels #solo #solotrip (at Himeji Castle 姬路城)

[sumoflam]

Day 104: You never really know where life will take you. Enjoy the Ride. #choosehappy #japanesecastles #himejijo #japan #himeji #travel (at Himeji Castle)

[erfigh]

Himeji castle #himejijo #himejicastle #himejicastle🏯 #himejicastlejapan #himeji #japan #japon #japó #japo #igerjapan #igersjp #instajapan (en Himeji Castle)

[creatorandylee-blog]

"다시 가보고 싶은 성, 히메지" 히메지 시립미술관과 히메지성 주차장 사잇길로 들어가면 붉은 다리 넘어 히메지성이 보인다. 망원렌즈를 가지고 가지 않은 게 가장 아쉬웠던 순간이다. 벚꽃이 피거나 짙게 단풍이 들거나 눈 오는 날 다시 와 보고 싶고 찍고 싶은 곳이다. #landscape #architecture #castle #japanesecastle #japan #himeji #himejijo #himejicastle #worldculturalheritage #일본 #일본여행 #히메지 #히메지성 #세계문화유산(Himeji Castle에서)

[fabujulous]

Himeji Castle with sakura by Plamen Z. Via Flickr: Himeji Castle is a hilltop Japanese castle complex located in Himeji, in Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan. The castle is regarded as the finest surviving example of prototypical Japanese castle architecture, comprising a network of 83 buildings with advanced defensive systems from the feudal period. The castle is frequently known as Hakuro-jō or Shirasagi-jō ("White Egret Castle" or "White Heron Castle") because of its brilliant white exterior and supposed resemblance to a bird taking flight.

[hiromi6978]

白城姬路，從JR車站出來直直走就到了，便利です。戰國時代就是一個軍事重地，我打信長野望，不管從東到西或從西到東統一，這座城都是我重要的位置，伴隨我的成長記憶，今天終於見面了～ #travelphotography #trip✈️ #backpacker #Himeji #Himejijo #Hyogo #Japan #旅遊543 #旅行是我的解藥 #姬路 #姬路城 #兵庫 #日本第一名城 #日本三大名城 #日本100名城之一 #世界文化遺產 #ひめじ #ひめじじょう #ひょうご （在 Himeji Castle）