Changes

The fortress then continues downhill, through a third and fourth enclosure, with the fourth being at the bottom of a valley, representing the ground level of the fortress complex, and including the main gates of the complex as a whole. Beyond the fourth enclosure is the east enclosure (''higashi no kuruwa''), which sits on a slight elevation compared to the fourth. These areas contained simpler homes, and some amount of land used for agricultural purposes; Katsuren is known to have been home to numerous cattle and horses, as well as some number of imported tropical creatures such as parrots. The third enclosure is also believed to have included a large open area for conducting ceremonies. A large stone called Tunumutu was regularly used by ''[[noro]]'' (local priestesses) as a place to sit and rest when they came to the castle; nearby are a number of small sacred spaces, chiefly in the form of small caves dug into the hillside. One of these, known as Kimutaka-no-utaki, is dedicated to the worship of the Ishizuka deity.

The fortress then continues downhill, through a third and fourth enclosure, with the fourth being at the bottom of a valley, representing the ground level of the fortress complex, and including the main gates of the complex as a whole. Beyond the fourth enclosure is the east enclosure (''higashi no kuruwa''), which sits on a slight elevation compared to the fourth. These areas contained simpler homes, and some amount of land used for agricultural purposes; Katsuren is known to have been home to numerous cattle and horses, as well as some number of imported tropical creatures such as parrots. The third enclosure is also believed to have included a large open area for conducting ceremonies. A large stone called Tunumutu was regularly used by ''[[noro]]'' (local priestesses) as a place to sit and rest when they came to the castle; nearby are a number of small sacred spaces, chiefly in the form of small caves dug into the hillside. One of these, known as Kimutaka-no-utaki, is dedicated to the worship of the Ishizuka deity.

Just outside the walls to the south was an area of swampy land which was used for growing crops and as a source of fresh water; the swampy terrain also served to protect the castle from invasion from that direction. A nearby spring known as Akôji gaa (Akôji spring) was also an important source of fresh water.<ref>"Paddy field line of defense," plaque on-site.[https://www.flickr.com/photos/toranosuke/30204973474/sizes/l/]</ref>

Just outside the walls to the south was an area of swampy land which was used for growing crops and as a source of fresh water; the swampy terrain also served to protect the castle from invasion from that direction. A nearby spring known as Akôji gaa (Akôji spring) was also an important source of fresh water.<ref>"Paddy field line of defense," plaque on-site.[https://www.flickr.com/photos/toranosuke/30204973474/sizes/l/]</ref> A set of stone stairs circling clockwise up into the castle complex was specifically designed to be quite steep, tiring potential attackers and allowing defenders within the walls to clearly see and easily attack any such intruders.<ref>"The Clockwise Stairs," plaque on-site.[https://www.flickr.com/photos/toranosuke/30720229182/sizes/l/]</ref>

This overall shape of the fortress, long and narrow, with elevations at both ends and dipping in the middle, has traditionally often been compared to the image of a sailing ship. Excavations in the area of the fourth enclosure in 2012-2013 revealed foundation stones and other indications that the fourth enclosure likely once held sizable wooden buildings like the second enclosure (the main palace) did. Archaeological work in 2014-2015 then uncovered a cobblestone (''ishi-tatami'') path leading from the main gate of the compound, the Nishihara Gate (''Nishihara ujô''), into the fourth enclosure. They also discovered some 73 gun emplacements, and some number of bunkers, built in the 1930s when defensive positions were being constructed across much of Okinawa Island, in anticipation of the Pacific War. While the Nishihara Gate stood on the northeast side of the compound, a second gate, known as the Haebaru Gate (''Feebaru ujô'') stood on the opposite side of the fourth enclosure, to the southwest.

This overall shape of the fortress, long and narrow, with elevations at both ends and dipping in the middle, has traditionally often been compared to the image of a sailing ship. Excavations in the area of the fourth enclosure in 2012-2013 revealed foundation stones and other indications that the fourth enclosure likely once held sizable wooden buildings like the second enclosure (the main palace) did. Archaeological work in 2014-2015 then uncovered a cobblestone (''ishi-tatami'') path leading from the main gate of the compound, the Nishihara Gate (''Nishihara ujô''), into the fourth enclosure. They also discovered some 73 gun emplacements, and some number of bunkers, built in the 1930s when defensive positions were being constructed across much of Okinawa Island, in anticipation of the Pacific War. While the Nishihara Gate stood on the northeast side of the compound, a second gate, known as the Haebaru Gate (''Feebaru ujô'') stood on the opposite side of the fourth enclosure, to the southwest.