Burdock piling

The ishigaki of Ōzu Castle

Burdock piling (牛蒡積, gobouzumi) is an advanced technique of Japanese wall building named after the resemblance of the stones used to the Japanese burdock plant.^[1][2] It was used to build ishi gaki (石垣, stone wall), sloped stone walls which make up the foundations of many Japanese castles, such as Osaka Castle.^[3]

Large rocks are fitted together over a mound of earth, and the remaining cracks are filled in with pebbles. This stone fill is called kuri ishi (栗石, chestnut stones) because of their small size. No mortar was used in the building of castle walls, which allowed the individual stones to move slightly during earthquakes without causing significant wall damage.

This technique grew from an earlier Japanese wall-building technique known as disordered piling.^[2]

References

v t e Elements of Japanese architecture Styles Buddhist Buke Daibutsuyō Gassho Giyōfū Hachiman Hirairi Hiyoshi (also called Hie) Irimoya Ishi-no-ma Kasuga Kibitsu Nagare Ōbaku Zen Setchūyō Shinden Shinmei Shinto Shoin Sukiya Sumiyoshi Taisha Wayō Zenshūyō A model of Himeji Castle Building types Butsuden Castle Chashitsu Dō Haiden Heiden Hokora Hōkyōintō Kura Kyōzō Machiya Main Hall Minka Setsumatsusha Shōrō Tahōtō Tō Yagura Roof styles Hidden roof Irimoya Karahafu Structural Burdock piling Chigi Disordered piling Engawa Fusuma Hisashi Irimoya-zukuri Irori Jinmaku Katōmado Katsuogi Kuruwa Mokoshi Moya Nakazonae Namako wall Nightingale floor Onigawara Ranma Shōji (see also washi) Sōrin Tamagaki Tatami Tokonoma Tokyō Tsumairi Shibi Gates and approaches Genkan Kairō Karamon Mon Nijūmon Niōmon Rōmon Sandō Sanmon Sōmon Torii (Mihashira) Rooms Chashitsu Daidokoro Mizuya Shoin Toilets Washitsu Furnishings Butsudan Byōbu Chabudai Emakimono Furo Futon Getabako Kaidan dansu Kamado Kamidana Kichō Kotatsu Misu Noren Sudare Tamaya Tansu Zabuton Zafu Outdoor objects Chōzuya/Temizuya Ishigantō Komainu Tōrō Measurements Ken Koku Ri Shaku Sun Groups Architectural Institute of Japan Japan Institute of Architects Metabolist Movement See also Groups of Traditional Buildings Iki Japanese garden (zen) National Treasures (castles residences shrines temples) Ryokan Sentō Wabi-sabi Yabo