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The mausoleum is located a short distance to the west of [[Shuri castle]], and has been designated a [[National Treasure]],<ref>"[http://www.bunka.go.jp/koho_hodo_oshirase/hodohappyo/1410231.html 国宝・重要文化財（建造物）の指定について]," Agency for Cultural Affairs (Bunkacho), 19 Oct 2018.</ref> as well as being included alongside Shuri and other ''[[gusuku]]'' (Okinawan castles) in the 'Gusuku Sites and Related Properties of the Kingdom of Ryukyu' [[World Heritage Sites|World Heritage Site]].<ref>"[http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/972 Gusuku Sites and Related Properties of the Kingdom of Ryukyu]." UNESCO World Heritage Sites official website. 2012.</ref> The compound consists of three chambers in one large stone building carved directly into the limestone bedrock, and topped with stone guardian statues. The stone roof is meant to resemble or evoke the shape of traditional thatched roofs. Access to the main building is through a pair of courtyards, each defined by rough limestone walls, and each with a single gate in a distinctive Okinawan style. A stele in the outer courtyard, erected at the time of the mausoleum's construction, states the provisions for being entombed at Tamaudun, and lists nine names, including that of Shô Shin.

The mausoleum is located a short distance to the west of [[Shuri castle]], and has been designated a [[National Treasure]],<ref>"[http://www.bunka.go.jp/koho_hodo_oshirase/hodohappyo/1410231.html 国宝・重要文化財（建造物）の指定について]," Agency for Cultural Affairs (Bunkacho), 19 Oct 2018.</ref> as well as being included alongside Shuri and other ''[[gusuku]]'' (Okinawan castles) in the 'Gusuku Sites and Related Properties of the Kingdom of Ryukyu' [[World Heritage Sites|World Heritage Site]].<ref>"[http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/972 Gusuku Sites and Related Properties of the Kingdom of Ryukyu]." UNESCO World Heritage Sites official website. 2012.</ref> The compound consists of three chambers in one large stone building carved directly into the limestone bedrock, and topped with stone guardian statues. The stone roof is meant to resemble or evoke the shape of traditional thatched roofs. Access to the main building is through a pair of courtyards, each defined by rough limestone walls, and each with a single gate in a distinctive Okinawan style. A stele in the outer courtyard, erected at the time of the mausoleum's construction, states the provisions for being entombed at Tamaudun, and lists nine names, including that of Shô Shin.

The kings and queens of the Ryûkyû Kingdom are entombed in the eastern chamber, along with a number of crown princes and princesses. Other members of the royal family are entombed in the western chamber, while the central chamber was not intended for permanent entombment, though a single funerary urn containing an unidentified individual's remains does remain there. Rather, the central chamber was used for the ''senkotsu'' ritual. As in traditional Okinawan commoners' funerary ritual, after death a body was placed in the central chamber until all that remained was bones; the bones were then ritually washed, and placed in a funerary urn which would then be entombed permanently in the western or eastern chamber.

The kings and queens of the Ryûkyû Kingdom are entombed in the eastern chamber, along with a number of crown princes and princesses. Other members of the royal family are entombed in the western chamber, while the central chamber was not intended for permanent entombment, though a single funerary urn containing an unidentified individual's remains does remain there.<ref>According to legend, this urn contains the remains not of a member of the royal family but of a court divination expert known as Mukuta ''ufutuchi'' (''ufutuchi'' being a special title granted to great diviners) who was falsely sentenced to death by a king (perhaps King Shô En) who believed Mukuta had lied or tricked the king about his divination abilities. Though several lineages of families today claim descent from Mukuta and pay visits to Tamaudun for ''[[shiimiisai]]'' every year, the veracity of the legend and the identity of the body in this urn in the central chamber are unknown. Gallery labels, Tamaudun.[https://www.flickr.com/photos/toranosuke/15469093725/sizes/k/]</ref> Rather, the central chamber was used for the ''senkotsu'' ritual. As in traditional Okinawan commoners' funerary ritual, after death a body was placed in the central chamber until all that remained was bones; the bones were then ritually washed, and placed in a funerary urn which would then be entombed permanently in the western or eastern chamber.

Following Tamaudun's completion, Shô En's remains were moved there from a site called Miagimui (見上森), where he had been originally entombed. Every King of Ryûkyû from Shô En onwards is entombed at Tamaudun, with one exception. [[Sho Nei|Shô Nei]] (r. [[1587]]-[[1620]]) requested to be buried elsewhere, allegedly because he felt he had dishonored his ancestors by allowing Ryûkyû to fall to [[invasion of Ryukyu|Japanese invasion]] in [[1609]]. Shô Nei was instead entombed at [[Urasoe yodore|Urasoe yôdore]] alongside [[Eiso]] and two other 13th-14th century kings of Okinawa.

Following Tamaudun's completion, Shô En's remains were moved there from a site called Miagimui (見上森), where he had been originally entombed. Every King of Ryûkyû from Shô En onwards is entombed at Tamaudun, with one exception. [[Sho Nei|Shô Nei]] (r. [[1587]]-[[1620]]) requested to be buried elsewhere, allegedly because he felt he had dishonored his ancestors by allowing Ryûkyû to fall to [[invasion of Ryukyu|Japanese invasion]] in [[1609]]. Shô Nei was instead entombed at [[Urasoe yodore|Urasoe yôdore]] alongside [[Eiso]] and two other 13th-14th century kings of Okinawa.