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Description
My latest ongoing Minecraft project, Himeji Castle.
Update: Now fully complete with moat & vines on the stone foundations. And in 2560 x 1440p

EDIT: Wow, I'm amazed with the feedback from this one, a big thank you to all, you're all amazing!

Historical info:

Himeji Castle is located in the Hyogo Prefecture, Japan. The largest castle of it's kind in the country, it is amongst the most well known of all Japanese castles, it is also the most visited by locals & tourists alike, the brilliant clean white exterior gives it the nickname of 'Shirasagi' amongst the local population. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site & one of Japan's National Treasures.

Before Himeji Castle came into being, a fort stood on the site the castle occupies today. During the Sengoku Jidai (roughly translated 'The Age of The Country At War'), it became apparent that a total renovation of the existing fort into the castle we see today was a result of many extensions of the castle itself & surrounding area. Built mainly from wood atop a stone platform in the style of 'Irimoya' it was completed in c. 1580 with the intent of being an impregnable fortress. In addition, it was designed to cope with earthquakes, which explains the sloping stone base it stands on; a perfect straight platform would offer no protection in the event of any tremour. Despite that, it was never used in battle, & when Tokugawa Ieyasu became shogun in 1600, the castle became known for it's great beauty, and subsequently it became a royal residence.

During World War 2, in particular between 1944 - 1945 Japan suffered relentless bombing raids from the USAF. Most major Japanese cities were targeted by incendiary bombings which burned vast areas to the ground. Himeji Castle was hit by an incendiary bomb which smashed through the Tenshu but failed to detonate. Other than that the castle was largely untouched by the raids.

After the war, the castle began to fall into a poor state of preservation. Starting from 1956 efforts were carried out to restore the castle & it's surrounding grounds to it's pre-war condition. Restoration work continued for over 50 years, with major work begun in 2010 which is due for completion in 2015. Today, this magnificent castle stands as a mighty symbol to Japan's tumultuous past, and it's future is now secure thanks to ongoing restoration work & preservation.

Description
My latest ongoing Minecraft project, Himeji Castle.
Update: Now fully complete with moat & vines on the stone foundations. And in 2560 x 1440p

EDIT: Wow, I'm amazed with the feedback from this one, a big thank you to all, you're all amazing!

Historical info:

Himeji Castle is located in the Hyogo Prefecture, Japan. The largest castle of it's kind in the country, it is amongst the most well known of all Japanese castles, it is also the most visited by locals & tourists alike, the brilliant clean white exterior gives it the nickname of 'Shirasagi' amongst the local population. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site & one of Japan's National Treasures.

Before Himeji Castle came into being, a fort stood on the site the castle occupies today. During the Sengoku Jidai (roughly translated 'The Age of The Country At War'), it became apparent that a total renovation of the existing fort into the castle we see today was a result of many extensions of the castle itself & surrounding area. Built mainly from wood atop a stone platform in the style of 'Irimoya' it was completed in c. 1580 with the intent of being an impregnable fortress. In addition, it was designed to cope with earthquakes, which explains the sloping stone base it stands on; a perfect straight platform would offer no protection in the event of any tremour. Despite that, it was never used in battle, & when Tokugawa Ieyasu became shogun in 1600, the castle became known for it's great beauty, and subsequently it became a royal residence.

During World War 2, in particular between 1944 - 1945 Japan suffered relentless bombing raids from the USAF. Most major Japanese cities were targeted by incendiary bombings which burned vast areas to the ground. Himeji Castle was hit by an incendiary bomb which smashed through the Tenshu but failed to detonate. Other than that the castle was largely untouched by the raids.

After the war, the castle began to fall into a poor state of preservation. Starting from 1956 efforts were carried out to restore the castle & it's surrounding grounds to it's pre-war condition. Restoration work continued for over 50 years, with major work begun in 2010 which is due for completion in 2015. Today, this magnificent castle stands as a mighty symbol to Japan's tumultuous past, and it's future is now secure thanks to ongoing restoration work & preservation.