Changes

*''Japanese/Okinawan'': [[勝連]] 城 ''(Katsuren-jou, Katsuren gusuku / Kacchin gushiku)''

*''Japanese/Okinawan'': [[勝連]] 城 ''(Katsuren-jou, Katsuren gusuku / Kacchin gushiku)''

Katsuren castle was an [[Okinawa Island|Okinawan]] ''[[gusuku]]'' fortress on the Katsuren (or Yokatsu) peninsula, in the northeast of central Okinawa. Built around the 12th or 13th centuries, the castle flourished in the 14th and [early] 15th centuries through overseas trade, up until its fall in [[1458]], as the tenth lord of the castle, [[Amawari]], was defeated by the armies of the royal government of the [[Ryukyu Kingdom|Ryûkyû Kingdom]].

Katsuren castle was an [[Okinawa Island|Okinawan]] ''[[gusuku]]'' fortress on the Katsuren (or Yokatsu) peninsula, in the northeast of central Okinawa. Built around the 12th or 13th centuries, the castle suddenly became a major center of regional trade in Chinese [[porcelains]] and other high-quality items in the 14th and [early] 15th centuries, and flourished until its fall in [[1458]], when the tenth lord of the castle, [[Amawari]], was defeated by the armies of the royal government of the [[Ryukyu Kingdom|Ryûkyû Kingdom]].

==History==

==History==

The lineage continued for several generations, but after the fifth lord of Katsuren died without an heir, the sixth son of Ifa ''anji'' became the sixth lord of Katsuren. He too died without an heir, and the 7th and 8th lords of Katsuren came from the line of Hamakawa ''anji''; the ninth, Mochizuki ''anji''<!--茂知附-->.

The lineage continued for several generations, but after the fifth lord of Katsuren died without an heir, the sixth son of Ifa ''anji'' became the sixth lord of Katsuren. He too died without an heir, and the 7th and 8th lords of Katsuren came from the line of Hamakawa ''anji''; the ninth, Mochizuki ''anji''<!--茂知附-->.

The tenth lord of Katsuren is easily the most famous. Amawari, who married [[Momoto Fumiagari]], a daughter of King [[Sho Taikyu|Shô Taikyû]], warned the royal government of treasonous plots by [[Gosamaru]], lord of [[Nakagusuku gusuku|Nakagusuku]], and helped the royal armies attack and take Nakagusuku castle in 1458. However, before the end of that same year, the royal government turned on Amawari, after some number of people at court suggested that Gosamaru may have been innocent, and that Amawari's accusations may have been a plot on his own part to destroy Gosamaru, and further, that Amawari might even be plotting against the royal government himself. Thus, Katsuren was also besieged and taken by the royal government, and Amawari killed. Today, some suggest that the entire affair may have been a scheme by the royal government to eliminate both of these strong and dangerous political rivals.<ref>"Amawari." Okinawa rekishi jinmei jiten (沖縄歴史人名事典, "Encyclopedia of People of Okinawan History"). Naha: Okinawa Bunka-sha, 1996. p10.; "Gosamaru-Amawari no hen." Okinawa konpakuto jiten (沖縄コンパクト事典, "Okinawa Compact Encyclopedia"). Ryukyu Shimpo (琉球新報). 1 March 2003. Accessed 25 July 2009.</ref> Others, particularly locals of the Nakagusuku and Katsuren areas, support stories presenting one side or the other as the tragic hero. Indeed, local tradition has it that earlier lords of Katsuren, and the 9th lord in particular, were tyrannical despots and drunkards, that Amawari was the popular choice and was actively supported by the local people in his overthrow of the 9th lord, and that as ruler, he was a most gracious lord who brought great prosperity to the domain. By contrast, the plot of the popular ''[[kumi udui]]'' play ''[[Nidu tichiuchi|Nidû tichiuchi]]'' features fictional sons of Gosamaru as the protagonists, and paints Amawari as the villain against whom the two sons seek vengeance.

The tenth lord of Katsuren is easily the most famous. Amawari, who married [[Momoto Fumiagari]], a daughter of King [[Sho Taikyu|Shô Taikyû]], warned the royal government of treasonous plots by [[Gosamaru]], lord of [[Nakagusuku gusuku|Nakagusuku]], and helped the royal armies attack and take Nakagusuku castle in 1458. However, before the end of that same year, the royal government turned on Amawari, after some number of people at court suggested that Gosamaru may have been innocent, and that Amawari's accusations may have been a plot on his own part to destroy Gosamaru, and further, that Amawari might even be plotting against the royal government himself. Thus, Katsuren was also besieged and taken by the royal government, and Amawari killed. Today, some suggest that the entire affair may have been a scheme by the royal government to eliminate both of these strong and dangerous political rivals.<ref>"Amawari." Okinawa rekishi jinmei jiten (沖縄歴史人名事典, "Encyclopedia of People of Okinawan History"). Naha: Okinawa Bunka-sha, 1996. p10.; "Gosamaru-Amawari no hen." Okinawa konpakuto jiten (沖縄コンパクト事典, "Okinawa Compact Encyclopedia"). Ryukyu Shimpo (琉球新報). 1 March 2003. Accessed 25 July 2009.</ref> Others, particularly locals of the Nakagusuku and Katsuren areas, support stories presenting one side or the other as the tragic hero. Indeed, local tradition has it that earlier lords of Katsuren, and the 9th lord in particular, were tyrannical despots and drunkards, that Amawari was the popular choice and was actively supported by the local people in his overthrow of the 9th lord, and that as ruler, he was a most gracious lord who brought great prosperity to the domain. By contrast, the plot of the popular ''[[kumi udui]]'' play ''[[Nidu tichiuchi|Nidû tichiuchi]]'' features fictional sons of Gosamaru as the protagonists, and paints Amawari as the villain against whom the two sons seek vengeance.