Changes

*''Japanese'': 玉陵 ''(Tamaudun)''

*''Japanese'': 玉陵 ''(Tamaudun)''

Tamaudun is the royal mausoleum of the [[Ryukyu Kingdom|Ryûkyû Kingdom]]. It was originally built in [[1501]] by King [[Sho Shin|Shô Shin]] to house the remains of his father, King [[Sho En|Shô En]]. The mausoleum's name was originally written with different characters, 魂殿, meaning "palace of the spirits."

Tamaudun is the royal mausoleum of the [[Ryukyu Kingdom|Ryûkyû Kingdom]]. It was originally built in [[1501]] by King [[Sho Shin|Shô Shin]] to house the remains of his father, King [[Sho En|Shô En]]; the inscription on a stele erected in the outer courtyard of the site indicates that the mausoleum is to house the remains of eight figures in particular - Shô En's queen [[Yosoidon]]; his eldest daughter [[Gessei]]; Shô Shin's eldest daughter; and his third through seventh sons - and their descendants. Conspicuously absent are Shô Shin's uncle and predecessor, [[Sho Seni|Shô Sen'i]], and Shô Shin's children by his first wife, [[Kyojin]]; such omissions contributed to the legitimation of a more consolidated, reduced, royal lineage, and the delegitimation of other lineages, strengthening the "main" lineage's monopoly on power and reducing potential for uprisings or division.<ref>The stele which indicates Shô Shin's desires in this regard is known as the Tamaudun no hi no mon 玉陵之碑之文 stele. It was erected in [[1501]], and is inscribed in ''[[kana]]'' script. Gregory Smits, ''Maritime Ryukyu'', University of Hawaii Press (2019), 139. An examination of the list of those interred at Tamaudun, however, suggests that either Shô Shin's intentions were not realized, or that the interments were altered at a later date.</ref> The mausoleum's name was originally written with different characters, 魂殿, meaning "palace of the spirits."

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. 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 Miagemori (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.

A pair of guardhouses (''bansho'') were built to either side of the mausoleum in [[1748]].

A pair of guardhouses (''bansho'') were built to either side of the mausoleum in [[1748]].