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==Geography & Sites==

==Geography & Sites==

The royal palace, [[Shuri castle]], faced west towards China. A major boulevard called Aijô-ufumichi (J: ''Ayamon ômichi'') extended west from the castle's main gate, the [[Shureimon]]; this boulevard was home to a number of significant sites, many of which have been restored today. These include the Chûzanmon (second gate after the Shureimon); [[Nakagusuku udun]], the Crown Prince's mansion; the royal mausoleum, [[Tamaudun]]; the Buddhist temples [[Ankokuzen-ji]] and [[Jigen-in]]; and the ''[[Uchakuya]]'', an office/residence used by the ''[[zaiban bugyo|zaiban bugyô]]'', a representative of [[Satsuma han]].<ref>Plaques on-site at Shuri castle.</ref> The grounds of the castle, along with [[Sonohyan utaki]] (a sacred site at the castle), Shikinaen, and Tamaudun, were named UNESCO [[World Heritage Site]]s in 2000, as part of a group called "Gusuku Sites and Related Properties of the Kingdom of Ryukyu."

The royal palace, [[Shuri castle]], faced west towards China. A major boulevard called Aijô-ufumichi (J: ''Ayamon ômichi'') extended west from the castle's main gate, the [[Shureimon]]; this boulevard was home to a number of significant sites, many of which have been restored today. These include the Chûzanmon (second gate after the Shureimon); [[Nakagusuku udun]], the Crown Prince's mansion; the royal mausoleum, [[Tamaudun]]; the Buddhist temples [[Ankokuzen-ji]] and [[Jigen-in]]; and the ''[[Uchakuya]]'', an office/residence used by the ''[[zaiban bugyo|zaiban bugyô]]'', a representative of [[Satsuma han]].<ref>Plaques on-site at Shuri castle.</ref> The grounds of the castle, along with [[Sonohyan utaki]] (a sacred site at the castle), Shikinaen, and Tamaudun, were named UNESCO [[World Heritage Site]]s in 2000, as part of a group called "Gusuku Sites and Related Properties of the Kingdom of Ryukyu."

The city, and the castle, fell to samurai invaders from Satsuma han in [[1609]]/4. Following the [[invasion of Ryukyu|invasion]], the Ryukyuan government, bureaucracy, and society were left intact, and King [[Sho Nei|Shô Nei]] restored to his throne two years later. The kingdom was permitted to retain considerable autonomy in its domestic affairs, with Satsuma being chiefly interested in exploiting Ryûkyû for its commercial connections, and the prestige of claiming a foreign kingdom as a vassal. Shuri was rebuilt following its destruction at the hands of these samurai invaders, and came to house an office/residence for Satsuma officials, but otherwise was largely unaffected by the political shift, in terms of the city's character, layout, and even administration.

The city, and the castle, fell to samurai invaders from Satsuma han in [[1609]]/4. Following the [[invasion of Ryukyu|invasion]], the Ryukyuan government, bureaucracy, and society were left intact, and King [[Sho Nei|Shô Nei]] restored to his throne two years later. The kingdom was permitted to retain considerable autonomy in its domestic affairs, with Satsuma being chiefly interested in exploiting Ryûkyû for its commercial connections, and the prestige of claiming a foreign kingdom as a vassal. Shuri was rebuilt following its destruction at the hands of these samurai invaders, and came to house an office/residence for Satsuma officials, but otherwise was largely unaffected by the political shift, in terms of the city's character, layout, and even administration.

In the 17th century, the city was divided into three wards, which were then referred to as Shuri Mihira (首里三平等). The people of Shuri also called the city the "motherland" (''Sui ueeguni'', 首里親国).<ref name=pamph/> While a significant number of townspeople lived in the city, peasants were banned from doing so in [[1654]], enhancing all the more so the aristocratic character of the city.

In the 17th century, the city was divided into the three wards, or ''hira''. The people of Shuri also called the city the "motherland" (''Sui ueeguni'', 首里親国).<ref name=pamph/> While a significant number of townspeople lived in the city, peasants were banned from doing so in [[1654]], enhancing all the more so the aristocratic character of the city.

Shuri suffered fires in [[1660]], [[1690]], [[1709]],<ref>Kerr, 221.</ref> and [[1730]], but then survived without such disasters for over 200 years, until 1945.

Shuri suffered fires in [[1660]], [[1690]], [[1709]],<ref>Kerr, 221.</ref> and [[1730]], but then survived without such disasters for over 200 years, until 1945.

Following the [[Ryukyu shobun|fall of the kingdom]] in [[1879]], Shuri castle became home to an [[Imperial Japanese Army]] [[Kumamoto garrison|garrison]]. The city eventually got its land back in [[1909]]. The castle, in dilapidated condition but still extant, was turned into a nationalist [[Shinto shrine|shrine]] of [[State Shinto]] in the 1920s, and in the 1930s became a military base, leading to its utter destruction in World War II. The city was destroyed in the 1945 Battle of Okinawa, along with much of the rest of the island. Very few original buildings survive - those that do, such as the Tamaudun royal mausoleum, are in stone. In addition to countless lives and homes lost, the kingdom also lost most of its historical sites, religious architecture, and invaluable historical treasures, artifacts, and documents.

Following the [[Ryukyu shobun|fall of the kingdom]] in [[1879]], the administrative offices of the three divisions of the city (the ''mihira'') were abolished, and a new city administration office was established on the site of Ufumi udun, a secondary mansion of the royal family. This office was then relocated c. [[1886]] to a site near the Engaku-ji.<ref name=shuri/>

 

Shuri castle became home to an [[Imperial Japanese Army]] [[Kumamoto garrison|garrison]]. The city eventually got its land back in [[1909]]. The castle, in dilapidated condition but still extant, was turned into a nationalist [[Shinto shrine|shrine]] of [[State Shinto]] in the 1920s, and in the 1930s became a military base, leading to its utter destruction in World War II. In the intervening time, on May 20, 1921, Shuri was officially named a city within the modern administrative designations, along with Naha, and other cities on the island. By 1945, Naha had developed into a major political and economic center, with Shuri remaining the center of traditional culture.<ref name=shuri/>

 

The city of Shuri was destroyed in the 1945 Battle of Okinawa, along with much of the rest of the island. The [[Imperial Japanese Army]] had established a military headquarters beneath the castle, making it a strategic target, and leading to its destruction. Very few original buildings survived the battle - those that did, such as the Tamaudun royal mausoleum, were those made of stone. In addition to countless lives and homes lost, the kingdom also lost most of its historical sites, religious architecture, and invaluable historical treasures, artifacts, and documents.

 

Following the war, the castle site became home to the [[University of the Ryukyus]], before being transformed back into a public park in 1992, when reconstruction of the castle commenced. Efforts are underway today to restore some other parts of the traditional "skyline," or traditional look and feel of the Shuri streets, beginning with continuing restoration at the castle, and the reconstruction of Nagagusuku udun.

The castle site became home to the [[University of the Ryukyus]], before being transformed back into a public park in 1992, when reconstruction of the castle commenced. Efforts are underway today to restore some other parts of the traditional "skyline," or traditional look and feel of the Shuri streets, beginning with continuing restoration at the castle, and the reconstruction of Nagagusuku udun.

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