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The castle historically boasted thirteen gates. The outermost gates leading up to the castle, the Chûzanmon and Shureimon, were built in a Chinese ''paifang'' style as roofed wooden structures straddling the road. The Kankaimon, Kobikimon, Kyûkeimon, and Keiseimon consisted chiefly of arches built (cut) directly into the stone, something more typical of Chinese architecture than of Japanese. Several of the inner gates of the castle, including the Zuisenmon and Rôkokumon, by contrast, consist of a wooden gatehouse stretched across a gap in the wall, forming a rectangular opening; though this type of gate construction is commonly seen in Japanese castles, the gatehouses at Shuri were built in a Chinese-influenced architectural style and painted red.<ref name=shuriqa/>

The castle historically boasted thirteen gates. The outermost gates leading up to the castle, the Chûzanmon and Shureimon, were built in a Chinese ''paifang'' style as roofed wooden structures straddling the road. The Kankaimon, Kobikimon, Kyûkeimon, and Keiseimon consisted chiefly of arches built (cut) directly into the stone, something more typical of Chinese architecture than of Japanese. Several of the inner gates of the castle, including the Zuisenmon and Rôkokumon, by contrast, consist of a wooden gatehouse stretched across a gap in the wall, forming a rectangular opening; though this type of gate construction is commonly seen in Japanese castles, the gatehouses at Shuri were built in a Chinese-influenced architectural style and painted red.<ref name=shuriqa/>

Some distance to the west was the outermost gate of the castle, known as Chûzanmon. Built in the style of a Chinese ''paifang'' gate in [[1428]], it was originally known as Kenkokumon ("Establishment of the Country Gate"). It was the same size and same style as the Shureimon, and had its roof switched from wooden planks to ceramic tiles in 1681. The name "Chûzanmon" derives from a plaque hung on the gate, reading "Chûzan," gifted to the kingdom by [[Chai Shan]]<!--柴山-->, a [[Ming Dynasty]] official who came to Ryûkyû in [[1425]] for the [[investiture]] of King [[Sho Hashi|Shô Hashi]]. Following the abolition of the kingdom, the gate was allowed to simply fall into decay, and in [[1908]] it was torn down and has not been re-erected. Marking the entrance to Shuri's Aijo-ufumichi (Aijo Boulevard), the Chûzanmon was previously also known as ''shimu nu aijo'' (J: ''shita no ayamon'') and ''shimun tui'' (J: ''shita no [[torii]]''). A ''[[bingata]]'' [[Ryukyuan textiles|textiles]] workshop and shop stands today at the former site of the gate.<ref>Plaque at the former site of the Chûzanmon.[https://www.flickr.com/photos/toranosuke/15466021215]</ref>

About 500 meters to the west was the outermost gate of the castle, known as Chûzanmon 中山門. Built in the style of a Chinese ''paifang'' gate in [[1428]], it was originally known as Kenkokumon 建国門 ("Establishment of the Country Gate"). It was the same size and same style as the Shureimon, and had its roof switched from wooden planks to ceramic tiles in 1681. The name "Chûzanmon" derives from a plaque hung on the gate, reading "Chûzan," gifted to the kingdom by [[Chai Shan|Chái Shān]]<!--柴山-->, a [[Ming Dynasty]] official who came to Ryûkyû in [[1425]] for the [[investiture]] of King [[Sho Hashi|Shô Hashi]]. Following the abolition of the kingdom, the gate was allowed to simply fall into decay, and in [[1908]] it was torn down and has not been re-erected. Marking the entrance to Shuri's Aijo-ufumichi (Aijo Boulevard), the Chûzanmon was previously also known as ''shimu nu aijo'' (J: ''shita no ayamon'') and ''shimun tui'' (J: ''shita no [[torii]]''). A ''[[bingata]]'' [[Ryukyuan textiles|textiles]] workshop and shop stands today at the former site of the gate.<ref>Plaque at the former site of the Chûzanmon.[https://www.flickr.com/photos/toranosuke/15466021215]; Uho Tomoki 宇保朝輝, "Ima ha naki Chûzanmon" 今はなき中山門, ''Fee nu kaji'' 南ぬ風 50 (2019/1-3), 9.</ref>

====Shureimon====

====Shureimon====