Mezura-dake

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Mezura-dake as it appears today
  • Japanese: 美連嶽 or 免津良嶽 (mezura dake)

Mezura-dake, also known as Minchira utaki, is an utaki, or sacred space, located just outside Shuri castle, along Aijô-ufumichi and just to the south of the castle's Chûzanmon.

A 17th century map of the city shows a shrine building on the site; today, the site consists chiefly of just a significant rock outcropping, about 16 feet high, in a small space between buildings. During the time of the kingdom, the shrine was one of those overseen by the Makabe oamushirare (High Priestess).

In the prewar era, the utaki covered about 250 tsubo (826 m2), and included a number of lush trees and plants surrounding the sacred stone, where incense burners were also placed.

References

  • Plaques on-site.