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The ''utaki'' was also a major stop along the ''[[agari umai|agari umâi]]'' route, a royal pilgrimage to several sacred sites in southern Okinawa associated with the royal lineage.
The ''utaki'' was also a major stop along the ''[[agari umai|agari umâi]]'' route, a royal pilgrimage to several sacred sites in southern Okinawa associated with the royal lineage.
Though historically controlled by the royal court, Sêfa Utaki became the property of the local municipality following the [[Ryukyu Shobun|abolition and annexation of the kingdom]]. The ''agari umâi'', traditionally performed by members of the court, now came to be performed by local people, often in groups of distant relatives (''[[munchu|munchû]]'' "clans" or kin groups), who cultivated notions of their own family ties to these royal sacred sites in their own ancestral locality. Walking guides to the ''agari umâi'' were published as early as [[1900]].
In 1942, the Jingiin ("Institute of Kami Affairs," a division of the national government overseeing [[State Shinto]]) approved plans to convert Sêfa Utaki into a Shinto shrine, Sêfa Jinja. Due to developments in the war, however, this never was carried out. The site was dramatically affected by the war itself, however; gun emplacements were installed along the entrance road that had traditionally been used for royal ritual processions, and the ''utaki'' suffered from deforestation and other damage from American shelling during the 1945 Battle of Okinawa.
==Layout==
==Layout==
Sêfa utaki is larger than most ''utaki'', incorporating a far larger total area of acreage. It contains within that space six ''ibi'' - six sacred centers. These six sites consist of: the ''urōkā'' sacred spring; the ''ujōguchi'', ''ufugūi'', ''yuinchi'', and ''sangūi'' worship places, each of which is defined by certain stones or simply the space themselves, though some have small manmade altars upon which offerings can be placed; and sets of sacred jugs known as ''shikiyodayuru'' and ''amaduyuru''.
The ''urôkâ'' is a sacred spring from which water was taken for purification rituals performed as part of both ''oaraori'' and ''agari umâi'' practices. Visitors are generally barred from approaching the spring today, not necessarily due to its sacredness but because of the dangerously poor condition of the stone steps.
The ''ujôguchi'', or "gate entrance" into the ''utaki'', was historically the farthest most visitors would come; while ''noro'' and on special occasions the king or certain others might proceed deeper into the sacred grove, most visitors would leave offerings here and move on. The ''ujôguchi'' is one of the primary spots from which Kudakajima is visible, and where prayers can therefore be said, and offerings left, in conjunction with the worship of Kudaka, Amamikyo, and ''nirai kanai''.
The ''ufugui'' 大庫理, a space next to (under) high looming stone cliffs, shares its name with the second floor of the main hall of [[Shuri castle]], containing both the upper throne room and other spaces for internal court ceremonies.
The next ''ibi'' is known as the ''yuinchi'' 寄満, similarly sharing its name with a space at Shuri castle - in this case, the kitchens. It consists of a small platform with small altars for offerings under a natural stone overhang.
At the fifth ''ibi'', two natural stalactites drip water into sacred jugs known as ''shikiyodayuru'' and ''amaduyuru''. This water was historically used in purification rituals as part of the ''oaraori'' induction of a new head priestess.
Finally, the ''sangui'' is the ''ibi'' most famous and most associated with Sêfa utaki today. A short tunnel-like triangular passage between two large stones leaning against one another, it is perhaps the chief site where visitors take photos and which appears in tourism guidebooks and other promotional materials. Past this tunnel is a small lookout point from which Kudaka Island is again visible; though some say this lookout point was not historically a site of ritual activity but only a location where ritual preparations were performed, the natural geography of the spot - on the opposite end of a tunnel, after coming down a lengthy path deep into the ''utaki'', and with a good view of Kudaka - makes it an obvious point of interest. Archaeological excavations, furthermore, have uncovered ''[[magatama]]'' beads, coins, ceramics, and other items of note near this point.
