Like the wealthy knights of Europe, the richest and most powerful daimyo built large, beautiful castles. They served as both home and fortress.
The daimyo surrounded these grand castles with high walls and moats. Builders designed castles to protect the daimyo and his men from the armies of other feudal lords. A castle also showed off a daimyo’s wealth and impressed enemies and friends with his importance. Samurai castles had to be big, because they were home not only to the daimyo, his family, and servants, but also much of his army.
