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Zakimi gusuku is a Ryukyuan fortress, or "''[[gusuku]]''," built on a hill above [[Yomitan]] Village.

Zakimi gusuku is a Ryukyuan fortress, or "''[[gusuku]]''," built on a hill above [[Yomitan]] Village.

The fortress is located one hundred meters above sea level on Kunisaki-maaji Hill, and covers roughly 6800 square meters. It is believed to have been built by [[Gosamaru]] in the 15th century.

The fortress is located 127 meters above sea level on Kunisaki-maaji Hill, and covers roughly 6800 square meters. It is believed to have been built by [[Gosamaru]], using stone from his own [[Yamada gusuku]], following the fall of [[Hokuzan]] to the forces of [[Sho Hashi|Shô Hashi]].

The fortress consists of two baileys, enclosed in winding stone walls. The upper, northern enclosure provides a view of the [[Kerama Islands]], [[Kumejima]], [[Iejima]], and [[Iheya Island]]. It is connected to the lower, southern enclosure by a gate facing east-southeast; another gate facing south-southwest out of the second enclosure is the only entrance/exit to the fortress. Archaeological remains indicate, however, that there may have been as many as five other enclosures.

The fortress consists of two baileys, enclosed in winding stone walls. The upper, northern enclosure provides a view of the [[Kerama Islands]], [[Kumejima]], [[Iejima]], and [[Iheya Island]]. It is connected to the lower, southern enclosure by a gate facing east-southeast; another gate facing south-southwest out of the second enclosure is the only entrance/exit to the fortress. This outer gate may be the oldest such stone-arch gate in Okinawa.<ref>Uezato Takashi, Dare mo mita koto no nai Ryukyu, Naha: Borderink (2008), 15.</ref> Archaeological remains indicate, however, that there may have been as many as five other enclosures. The wooden palace structures with the innermost bailey covered an area roughly 14 x 16.5 meters; the walls are chiefly piled up in the ''nuno-zumi'' and ''notsura-zumi'' modes.

As at many other ''gusuku'' sites, excavations reveal the remains of a variety of ceramics, including both Chinese and Ryukyuan objects, ranging from porcelains, to green and white celadons, and ''[[nanbanyaki]]''.

As at many other ''gusuku'' sites, excavations reveal the remains of a variety of ceramics, including both Chinese and Ryukyuan objects, ranging from porcelains, to green and white celadons, and ''[[nanbanyaki]]''.

==References==

==References==

*Kitahara Shûichi 北原秋一. ''A Journey to the Ryukyu Gusuku'' 琉球城紀行. Miura Creative, 2003. p39.

*Kitahara Shûichi 北原秋一. ''A Journey to the Ryukyu Gusuku'' 琉球城紀行. Miura Creative, 2003. p39.

[[Category:Ryukyu]]

[[Category:Ryukyu]]

[[Category:Castles]]

[[Category:Castles]]