Changes

The ''kaazafu'' enclosure lies to the right, and stone steps lined with [[sakura|cherry trees]] lead higher and deeper into the compound. The ''uumyaa''<!--大庭--> enclosure contained the three chief palatial buildings in the complex: Hokuden and Nanden (North and South Halls), and Seiden (Main Hall), and served a similar function to the ''unaa'' at [[Shuri castle]], as the central plaza in which court rituals and political events took place.<ref name=plaques/> The next enclosure, moving further up the incline and closer towards the areas of central importance, is the ''uuchibaru''<!--御内原-->, which housed the women of the Nakijin court, and contained a sacred stone that represented the guardian deity of Nakijin. This sacred space was known as the Tenchiji-Amachiji, or the "upper ''[[utaki]]'' within the castle" (城内上の御嶽), and was off-limits to men; along with a site to the northwest of the ''ûmyaa'', identified in the ''Ryûkyû-koku yuraiki'' as the ''soitsugi'' or the "lower ''utaki'' within the castle" (城内下の御嶽), it was known as an ''ibe'' (イベ), a particularly sacred type of ''utaki''.<ref name=plaques/> The view from the ''uuchibaru'' was particularly good, allowing a view out over Kunigami, to the islands of [[Iheya Island|Iheya]] and [[Izena Island|Izena]], and on a particularly clear day, even as far as [[Yoronjima]].<ref name=plaques/>

The ''kaazafu'' enclosure lies to the right, and stone steps lined with [[sakura|cherry trees]] lead higher and deeper into the compound. The ''uumyaa''<!--大庭--> enclosure contained the three chief palatial buildings in the complex: Hokuden and Nanden (North and South Halls), and Seiden (Main Hall), and served a similar function to the ''unaa'' at [[Shuri castle]], as the central plaza in which court rituals and political events took place.<ref name=plaques/> The next enclosure, moving further up the incline and closer towards the areas of central importance, is the ''uuchibaru''<!--御内原-->, which housed the women of the Nakijin court, and contained a sacred stone that represented the guardian deity of Nakijin. This sacred space was known as the Tenchiji-Amachiji, or the "upper ''[[utaki]]'' within the castle" (城内上の御嶽), and was off-limits to men; along with a site to the northwest of the ''ûmyaa'', identified in the ''Ryûkyû-koku yuraiki'' as the ''soitsugi'' or the "lower ''utaki'' within the castle" (城内下の御嶽), it was known as an ''ibe'' (イベ), a particularly sacred type of ''utaki''.<ref name=plaques/> The view from the ''uuchibaru'' was particularly good, allowing a view out over Kunigami, to the islands of [[Iheya Island|Iheya]] and [[Izena Island|Izena]], and on a particularly clear day, even as far as [[Yoronjima]].<ref name=plaques/>

The topmost enclosure contains an additional shrine to the [[hearth deity]], or ''hinukan''.<ref name=kitahara/> The royal residence was located here, at the highest and innermost part of the complex, and was surrounded by a small garden with a spring.  Three shrines (''[[uganju]]'') stood at the highest point of the precipice.<ref name=kerr/> A path leads from here to a rear gate of the castle, called the Shijima-jô or Shigema-jô<!--志慶真門-->. Excavations in this area uncovered numerous Chinese [[celadon]]s, Vietnamese and Thai ceramics, and Chinese coins, indications of Nakijin's maritime power and activity.<ref name=kitahara/>

The topmost enclosure contains an additional shrine to the [[hearth deity]], or ''hinukan''.<ref name=kitahara/> The royal residence was located here, at the highest and innermost part of the complex, and was surrounded by a small garden with a spring.  Three shrines (''[[utaki|uganju]]'') stood at the highest point of the precipice.<ref name=kerr/> A path leads from here to a rear gate of the castle, called the Shijima-jô or Shigema-jô<!--志慶真門-->. Excavations in this area uncovered numerous Chinese [[celadon]]s, Vietnamese and Thai ceramics, and Chinese coins, indications of Nakijin's maritime power and activity.<ref name=kitahara/>

In a less inner enclosure, located at a somewhat lower elevation, were four wooden structures, including both administrative buildings and residences for certain of the castle's closest vassals<ref name=kerr/>. As was typical of ''gusuku'' construction at this time, the stonework of the walls was very solid, but quite rough, with a relative lack of precision fitting or fine cutting<ref name=kerr/>. Roughly 1500 meters of limestone castle wall remain today<ref>"[http://ryukyushimpo.jp/news/storyid-42403-storytopic-121.html Nakijin-jô-seki]." ''Okinawa Konpakuto Jiten'' (沖縄コンパクト事典, "Okinawa Compact Encyclopedia"). Ryukyu Shimpo. 1 March 2003. Accessed 29 September 2009.</ref>; stones are piled three to eight meters high, and two to three meters thick. A deep valley cut by the Shijima River which runs behind the castle makes it almost entirely unapproachable from that side.<ref name=kitahara/>

In a less inner enclosure, located at a somewhat lower elevation, were four wooden structures, including both administrative buildings and residences for certain of the castle's closest vassals<ref name=kerr/>. As was typical of ''gusuku'' construction at this time, the stonework of the walls was very solid, but quite rough, with a relative lack of precision fitting or fine cutting<ref name=kerr/>. Roughly 1500 meters of limestone castle wall remain today<ref>"[http://ryukyushimpo.jp/news/storyid-42403-storytopic-121.html Nakijin-jô-seki]." ''Okinawa Konpakuto Jiten'' (沖縄コンパクト事典, "Okinawa Compact Encyclopedia"). Ryukyu Shimpo. 1 March 2003. Accessed 29 September 2009.</ref>; stones are piled three to eight meters high, and two to three meters thick. A deep valley cut by the Shijima River which runs behind the castle makes it almost entirely unapproachable from that side.<ref name=kitahara/>