Image Label: Ninomaru Palace
Image Title: Ninomaru-Goden Hall of Nijo Castle
Location: Nijo Castle, Kyoto, Japan
Author: Soramimi (そらみみ)
Date: Photo taken September 19, 2015
Description: This image exhibits one of the many stunning features of Nijo Castle in Kyoto, Japan — the Ninomaru Palace. Immediately, the viewer is drawn to the grandeur and opulence featured in the architecture of this entrance; the large, triangular roofs coupled with the ornate designs of gold and other materials give the palace prominence, almost demanding attention. Furthermore, the displays of extravagance combined with the rigid, symmetrical architecture convey purpose and significance for the palace. The ground exists as light gray gravel that heightens the colors of both the architecture and surrounding nature, while the trees that line the architecture provide a refreshing respite from the dark colored architecture and preponderance of man-made structures. Although this image fails to capture the palace’s interior, within Ninomaru Palace are intricately decorated ceilings, elegantly painted sliding doors, tatami (bamboo mat) floors, and nightingale floors (floors that squeak when walked on to serve as an intruder alarm). The palace’s various rooms used for the shogun’s affairs are also open to the public, while outside lies the Ninomaru Garden, a traditional Japanese garden. The rest of Nijo Castle mimics Ninomaru Palace closely through showcasing highly-detailed architecture within the large, structured compound.
References:
Image by Soramimi (そらみみ): https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ninomaru-Goden_Hall_of_Nijo_Castle.JPG
Image Licensing Information: This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license.
Additional background: https://www.hisgo.com/us/destination-japan/kyoto/nijo_castle.html
