廓(くるわ)

くるわ
noun
pleasure quarter; red-light district (historical); enclosure; compound; bailey (of a castle)
history
1. pleasure quarter; red-light district (historical)
江戸時代(えどじだい)の廓(くるわ)は独特(どくとく)の文化(ぶんか)を持(も)っていた。
The pleasure quarters of the Edo period had a unique culture.
吉原(よしわら)は江戸(えど)で最(もっと)も有名(ゆうめい)な廓(くるわ)だった。
Yoshiwara was the most famous pleasure quarter in Edo.
廓(くるわ)の中(なか)では独自(どくじ)の言葉遣(ことばづか)いや風習(ふうしゅう)があり、多(おお)くの文学(ぶんがく)作品(さくひん)の舞台(ぶたい)になった。
The pleasure quarters had their own distinctive speech and customs, and became the setting for many literary works.
2. enclosure; compound; bailey (of a castle)
城(しろ)の廓(くるわ)を見学(けんがく)する。
Tour the castle's compound.
本丸(ほんまる)の廓(くるわ)は石垣(いしがき)で囲(かこ)まれている。
The main keep's compound is surrounded by stone walls.
この城跡(しろあと)には三(みっ)つの廓(くるわ)が残(のこ)っており、当時(とうじ)の規模(きぼ)がうかがえる。
Three baileys remain at this castle ruin, giving a sense of its former scale.

Also written as 郭(くるわ). Has two distinct historical meanings that share the concept of an enclosed, walled-off area.

Pleasure quarter usage

Refers to the walled entertainment districts of the Edo period (1603-1868) where licensed prostitution operated. The most famous was 吉原(よしわら) in Edo (modern Tokyo). These districts developed rich cultural traditions including distinctive speech patterns (廓(くるわ)言葉(ことば)), fashion, music, and art that influenced Japanese literature and kabuki theater.

Castle usage

In castle architecture, 廓(くるわ) (or 曲輪(くるわ)) refers to the enclosed areas within a castle's defensive walls. Castles typically had multiple 廓(くるわ): the 本丸(ほんまる) (main compound), 二(に)の丸(まる) (second compound), and 三(さん)の丸(まる) (third compound).

Similar words

  • 遊郭(ゆうかく): pleasure quarter — a more common reading/writing, specifically for the entertainment district sense
  • 花街(かがい): geisha quarter — a district of teahouses and geisha entertainment, distinct from 廓(くるわ)
  • 曲輪(くるわ): bailey, compound — the castle-specific spelling

Related Words

Compare: 遊郭(ゆうかく) (pleasure quarter)
Compare: 花街(かがい) (geisha quarter)
general
Added 2026.4.22 21:45 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02
25000/25059_kuruwa