Above: Entrance to the Temple
Myoryuji, or today nicknamed the Ninja Temple was built by the Maeda lords. Since the shogun imposed strict building restrictions as one way of weakening his regional lords, Myoryuji was designed to circumvent the restrictions and serve as a disguised military outpost. It was built with considerable defences and escape routes, so that its defenders could alert the castle in the event of an attack. The temple’s defences aimed to guard against intruders or attack, and include hidden tunnels, secret rooms, traps, and a labyrinth of corridors and staircases.
Hence the name that is used today – Ninja Dera. Eventhough it is not all that difficult to imagine a secret Ninja base or even the patron of all Ninja’s to reside here.
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