PAGE #1
All matters concerning establishing a castle is based on these 3 points: mind, physical, and situation.
When planning the castle fortification design, whether for offensive or defensive purposes, you should start entirely with a cross-pattern style that, once finished, will become multilayered. Although the complexity when using this pattern in the castle layout can vary.
Katamon Shinshin no Kyokushaku (possessing the knowledge of building entrances with measuring tools) is necessary to understand about castle layouts. However, one cannot fathom this just by merely using a kane (a carpenter’s tool for measuring perpendicular angles) in hopes to grasp Katamon Shinshin no Kyokushaku.
To understand Katamon Shinshin no Kyokushaku, a person will have to possess a creative ability and have the capacity to be very intuitive. This goes beyond what can be learned in documents, oral lessons, as well as from my own instructions.
To develop the will to perform one’s duties, constant training is necessary.
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PAGE #2
Still, it is transcribed to be a difficult feat to capture the full meaning behind Katamon Shinshin no Kyokushaku, which is essential to create diagrams.
When a tightly fortified castle that makes a defensive design using small rocks is your goal, you should utilize the cross-pattern style that will become multilayered.
It is stated that learning the kyokushaku is the spirit behind (castle) fortification.
If you exhaust all means of the kyokushaku (i.e. understanding the ins and outs of it), you will master the insight of designing a well protected castle that can defend against the enemy during battle.
In a case such as so, evaluate your force so to choose an area that naturally is suitable when determining the size of the fort.
Getting everyone to work in unison in one place will prove difficult. However, if you combine reasoning with the the type of force you lead, you will stand out as a true model of an exemplified leader/strategist.
When going to battle is eminent, one must establish a stronghold, set up one’s fort in opposition of the enemy’s fort, build the size of your force, and set in place sakamogi¹ in the fortification quickly and with adequate time.
Alas, if you do not train for this, you cannot claim to grasping an understanding of Katamon Shinshin no Kyokushaku.
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PAGE 3
It is written that you must not be negligent in prepping for use of the bow & arrow while managing a castle. Or, looking at this from a different perspective, you must keep yourself in high spirits. Work hard at developing this attitude to get an understanding behind this.
As a soldier, being low in spirit will not bode well as you attend to your daily duties. Negligence will prevent you from upholding the “4 Procedures of Preparations²”, and make it difficult to understand the intricacies regarding military tactics.
In regards to castle fortification, it is stated that if you grasp the know-how necessary for this topic on a mental and physical level, you will turn into a person guaranteed a good victory.
The basic rules for establishing a castle includes the following: understanding how to utilize both offensive and defensive measures, the 5 methods of storming the front & rear gates of a castle, and the components of a castle (main compound, 2nd & 3rd compound, and main gate). These are the objectives for a well protected castle that can withstand a battle.
You must be aware of this, or else owning the 5 diagrams present will be a complete waste.
Now, we set our attention to the following illustrations presented (in this manuscript).
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PAGE #4
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1) A long row of thick trees planted upside down and leaning forward, with the opposite ends sharpened.
2) The Japanese for this is “Yonkaku no Uchinarashi”. This relates to four standard practices a warrior must work consistently at and become versed in in order to head into battle. What these four practices are is not explained, unfortunately. Based on my own research, it is possible that this is another way of saying “Bugei Yonmon” (武芸四問), which has been identified as a label for military arts, and also specified 4 areas warriors needed to be versed in.
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