Changes

The castle saw three generations of rulers before being attacked and seized by the armies of Chûzan in [[1416]]. So-called "[[Warden of the North|wardens of the North]]" (''Hokuzan kanshu'') appointed by the royal government beginning in [[1422]] would continue to make their residence there for several centuries afterwards. Though these ''Hokuzan kanshu'' are generally regarded as serving a political and military strategic purpose in holding the north for the kingdom, [[Gregory Smits]] suggests that even more so than those considerations, their primary purpose was in facilitating the maintenance of particular spiritual rites at the castle's [[Kanahyan utaki]] by the [[Aoriyae]] priestesses, whose rites at Nakijin mirrored and complemented those performed at [[Sonohyan utaki]] at Shuri.<ref>Gregory Smits, ''Maritime Ryukyu'', University of Hawaii Press (2019), 96-97.</ref>

The castle saw three generations of rulers before being attacked and seized by the armies of Chûzan in [[1416]]. So-called "[[Warden of the North|wardens of the North]]" (''Hokuzan kanshu'') appointed by the royal government beginning in [[1422]] would continue to make their residence there for several centuries afterwards. Though these ''Hokuzan kanshu'' are generally regarded as serving a political and military strategic purpose in holding the north for the kingdom, [[Gregory Smits]] suggests that even more so than those considerations, their primary purpose was in facilitating the maintenance of particular spiritual rites at the castle's [[Kanahyan utaki]] by the [[Aoriyae]] priestesses, whose rites at Nakijin mirrored and complemented those performed at [[Sonohyan utaki]] at Shuri.<ref>Gregory Smits, ''Maritime Ryukyu'', University of Hawaii Press (2019), 96-97.</ref>

Nakijin castle was burned down by invading armies from [[Satsuma han]] in [[1609]],<ref name=pamph>Pamphlets available on-site.</ref> and though rebuilt to some extent, and briefly restored to use by the ''Hokuzan kanshu'', the post was abolished in [[1665]] and the castle left to ruin.<ref name=kitahara/>

Nakijin castle was burned down by invading armies from [[Satsuma han]] in [[1609]],<ref name=pamph>Pamphlets available on-site.</ref> and though rebuilt to some extent, and briefly restored to use by the ''Hokuzan kanshu'', the post was abolished in [[1665]] and the castle left to ruin.<ref name=kitahara/> The village immediately outside the walls of the castle similarly fell into decline and was ultimately abandoned; left as it was at that time, this area has today become a valuable archaeological site for understanding medieval and early modern Ryukyuan village life.<ref>Uezato Takashi, ''Dare mo mita koto no nai Ryukyu'', Naha: Borderink (2008), 12.</ref>

As a tourist site, the ruins are particularly known for the beautiful view out over the South China Sea, for the impressive grandeur of the castle walls, and for the overall amount of space taken up by the castle grounds<ref name=kadekawa>Kadekawa, Manabu. "Nakijin-jô-seki." ''Okinawa Chanpurû Jiten'' (沖縄チャンプルー事典, "Okinawa Champloo Encyclopedia"). Tokyo: Yamatokei Publishers, 2003. p55.</ref>. Hokuzan in general was characterized by wider spaces, or at least less dense settlement and population, than [[Nanzan]] and [[Chuzan|Chûzan]], the other kingdoms on the island at that time. Nakijin is also consistently among the first places in the country to see, and celebrate, the ''sakura'' blooming each year<ref name=kadekawa/>.

As a tourist site, the ruins are particularly known for the beautiful view out over the South China Sea, for the impressive grandeur of the castle walls, and for the overall amount of space taken up by the castle grounds<ref name=kadekawa>Kadekawa, Manabu. "Nakijin-jô-seki." ''Okinawa Chanpurû Jiten'' (沖縄チャンプルー事典, "Okinawa Champloo Encyclopedia"). Tokyo: Yamatokei Publishers, 2003. p55.</ref>. Hokuzan in general was characterized by wider spaces, or at least less dense settlement and population, than [[Nanzan]] and [[Chuzan|Chûzan]], the other kingdoms on the island at that time. Nakijin is also consistently among the first places in the country to see, and celebrate, the ''sakura'' blooming each year<ref name=kadekawa/>.