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The symbolic entrance to the castle proper was the Shureimon, originally constructed around [[1555]]<ref name=Turnbull44/> during the reign of [[Sho Sei (尚清)|Shô Sei]] (r. [[1527]]-[[1555]]). It remains today one of the most famous symbols of Okinawa, and of the kingdom and the castle more specifically. Architecturally patterned after a Chinese ''paifang'' gate, the Shureimon is just over seven meters tall, and just under eight meters wide. It was declared a National Treasure in 1933, but was destroyed in World War II; the current gate dates to 1958.<ref name=shurei>Plaques on-site at Shureimon.</ref> The Shureimon takes its name from the plaque installed upon it which declares Ryûkyû to be ''shurei no kuni'' (守禮之邦), often translated as "(a) Nation of Propriety." This plaque was created during the reign of [[Sho Ei|Shô Ei]] (r. [[1573]]-[[1588]]), and was originally only displayed when Chinese investiture envoys were visiting the kingdom, but during the reign of King [[Sho Shitsu|Shô Shitsu]] (r. [[1648]]-[[1668]]), the plaque came to be hung at the gate permanently. Historian [[Mark McNally]] has suggested that the plaque was especially seen as a reminder that the kingdom should strive to aspire to being a "kingdom of propriety."<ref>[[Mark McNally]], presentation at "[http://www.hawaii.edu/asiaref/japan/event2013/Index.htm#symposium Interpreting Parades and Processions of Edo Japan]" symposium, University of Hawaii at Manoa, 11 Feb 2013.</ref> Previously, plaques had been hung from the gate reading "Awaiting the Bearers of Virtue" (待賢, ''taiken''), and then, during the reign of Shô Sei, this was replaced with a plaque reading, simply, "Shuri";<ref>Chan, Ying Kit. “A Bridge between Myriad Lands: The Ryukyu Kingdom and Ming China (1372-1526).” Thesis, National University of Singapore, 2010, 73. http://scholarbank.nus.edu.sg/handle/10635/20602.</ref> as a result, the gate was previously known as Taikenmon, and then Shurimon, after these plaques displayed at that time.<ref name=shurei/>

The symbolic entrance to the castle proper was the Shureimon, originally constructed around [[1555]]<ref name=Turnbull44/> during the reign of [[Sho Sei (尚清)|Shô Sei]] (r. [[1527]]-[[1555]]). It remains today one of the most famous symbols of Okinawa, and of the kingdom and the castle more specifically. Architecturally patterned after a Chinese ''paifang'' gate, the Shureimon is just over seven meters tall, and just under eight meters wide. It was declared a National Treasure in 1933, but was destroyed in World War II; the current gate dates to 1958.<ref name=shurei>Plaques on-site at Shureimon.</ref> The Shureimon takes its name from the plaque installed upon it which declares Ryûkyû to be ''shurei no kuni'' (守禮之邦), often translated as "(a) Nation of Propriety." This plaque was created during the reign of [[Sho Ei|Shô Ei]] (r. [[1573]]-[[1588]]), and was originally only displayed when Chinese investiture envoys were visiting the kingdom, but during the reign of King [[Sho Shitsu|Shô Shitsu]] (r. [[1648]]-[[1668]]), the plaque came to be hung at the gate permanently. Historian [[Mark McNally]] has suggested that the plaque was especially seen as a reminder that the kingdom should strive to aspire to being a "kingdom of propriety."<ref>[[Mark McNally]], presentation at "[http://www.hawaii.edu/asiaref/japan/event2013/Index.htm#symposium Interpreting Parades and Processions of Edo Japan]" symposium, University of Hawaii at Manoa, 11 Feb 2013.</ref> Previously, plaques had been hung from the gate reading "Awaiting the Bearers of Virtue" (待賢, ''taiken''), and then, during the reign of Shô Sei, this was replaced with a plaque reading, simply, "Shuri";<ref>Chan, Ying Kit. “A Bridge between Myriad Lands: The Ryukyu Kingdom and Ming China (1372-1526).” Thesis, National University of Singapore, 2010, 73. http://scholarbank.nus.edu.sg/handle/10635/20602.</ref> as a result, the gate was previously known as Taikenmon, and then Shurimon, after these plaques displayed at that time.<ref name=shurei/>

Just within the gate can be found the stone gate to [[Sonohyan utaki]], a sacred space of the native Ryukyuan religion, where the king and others would often pray. The gate was constructed in [[1519]], upon the orders of King Shô Shin, by a stonemason from [[Taketomi Island]] named [[Nishito|Nishitô]].

Just within the gate can be found the stone gate to [[Sonohyan utaki]], a sacred space of the native Ryukyuan religion, where the king and others would often pray. The gate was constructed in [[1519]], upon the orders of King Shô Shin, by a stonemason from [[Taketomi Island]] named [[Nishito|Nishitô]]. Along the main path, just across from the stone gate to the ''utaki'' stand reconstructions of two stelae (stone monuments) erected there in [[1522]]. One, the ''[[Madama minato himon]]'', commemorates the construction by King [[Sho Shin|Shô Shin]] of a series of roads and bridges for the defense of the city; the other, the ''[[Kokuo shotokuhi|Kokuô shôtokuhi]]'', commemorates various other accomplishments of King Shô Shin, including his receiving of sacred beads and the sword ''[[Chiyoganemaru]]'' from [[Miyako Island]] as symbols of the subordination of Miyako and other islands at that time.<ref>Smits, ''Maritime Ryukyu'', 140.</ref>

Also known as Wii-nu-Aijô ("Upper Grand Gate"), the Shureimon also marks the beginning of [[Aijo-ufumichi|Aijô-ufumichi]], the main boulevard running west from the castle.<ref>Plaques on-site at Aijô-ufumichi.</ref>

Also known as Wii-nu-Aijô ("Upper Grand Gate"), the Shureimon also marks the beginning of [[Aijo-ufumichi|Aijô-ufumichi]], the main boulevard running west from the castle.<ref>Plaques on-site at Aijô-ufumichi.</ref>