Matsumoto Family Residence South Compound South and West Walls

About the Matsumoto Family Residence South Compound South and West Walls

The Matsumoto Family Residence South Compound South and West Walls (松本家住宅南屋敷南及び西面塀, Matsumoto-ke Jūtaku Minami-yashiki Minami oyobi Nishimen-bei) are early Showa period (1926 to 1945) clay walls enclosing the south-west corner of the South Compound of the Matsumoto estate in Kodera, Koryo Town, Nara Prefecture, registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property in 2017.

The walls run 39 metres in all under a coping of pantiles. They were renovated in 1987.

From the Inner Storehouse Round the Corner

The Matsumoto Family Residence South Compound South and West Walls begin at the south-west end of the inner storehouse, which is attached to the main house, run south, turn at the south-west corner of the plot and continue along the western part of the south side. The west wall is 27.1 metres long and the south wall 11.6 metres.

The front gate and northeast barn close the north side of the South Compound, the southeast barn the east, and the Tatsumi storehouse the eastern end of the south. These walls take care of the west and the corner that none of those buildings reach, completing the enclosure. Using buildings and walls together to ring the whole estate is typical of a well-to-do household in a moated village.

A Step Down at the Corner

On both the west and south sides, the wall steps down one level towards the south-west corner. The drop puts a break in the long top line and keeps the wall from looking monotonous.

The south wall also shows its posts, while the west wall hides them in plaster, so the two runs have quite different surfaces.

The Agency for Cultural Affairs describes them as walls that give the estate the appearance a wealthy farming family's home should have. They were registered for their contribution to the historic landscape.

Seeing the Matsumoto Family Residence South Compound South and West Walls

The Matsumoto Family Residence South Compound South and West Walls belong to a private home and visitors cannot enter the grounds.

As they form the outer edge of the estate, they may be visible from lanes to the west or south: look for the step at the south-west corner and the exposed posts of the south wall. The surroundings have not been checked on site, so please keep off private land. Directions are on the Matsumoto Family Residence (Koryo Town) page.