Changes

The last fortress before Shuri to fall to the forces advancing on land was [[Urasoe gusuku]]. Though sources on the assault itself are scant, [[Stephen Turnbull]] surmises that it was done in the same manner as many of the attacks on other ''gusuku'' during the invasion; the Okinawan architecture left defenders standing atop the castle walls completely open to enemy fire, a vulnerability of which the samurai arquebusiers took advantage. Sweeps of arquebus fire decimated the defending forces, and then the wooden gates were busted in; at Urasoe, the attackers also burnt down a Buddhist temple, the [[Ryufukuji|Ryûfukuji]].

The last fortress before Shuri to fall to the forces advancing on land was [[Urasoe gusuku]]. Though sources on the assault itself are scant, [[Stephen Turnbull]] surmises that it was done in the same manner as many of the attacks on other ''gusuku'' during the invasion; the Okinawan architecture left defenders standing atop the castle walls completely open to enemy fire, a vulnerability of which the samurai arquebusiers took advantage. Sweeps of arquebus fire decimated the defending forces, and then the wooden gates were busted in; at Urasoe, the attackers also burnt down a Buddhist temple, the [[Ryufukuji|Ryûfukuji]].

The samurai advance next made its way across Tairakyô (today called Tairabashi), an important bridge on the road from Urasoe to Shuri, defeating 100 men who sought to defend it, led by [[Goeku ueekata]]. Ryukyuan records of the skirmish indicate that they were felled "in a hail of bullets" and that "[they] did not know about guns like these"<ref>Turnbull. p40.</ref>. Contrary to some myths about the pacifistic nature of the Okinawan people, or their lack of arms, the Ryukyuan defenders were in fact armed with firearms, and their ships and fortresses with cannon, as well, albeit ones based upon Chinese firearms, while the samurai used arquebuses based on European designs.

The samurai advance next made its way across [[Tairabashi|Tairakyô]] (today called Tairabashi), an important bridge on the road from Urasoe to Shuri, defeating 100 men who sought to defend it, led by [[Goeku ueekata]]. Ryukyuan records of the skirmish indicate that they were felled "in a hail of bullets" and that "[they] did not know about guns like these"<ref>Turnbull. p40.</ref>. Contrary to some myths about the pacifistic nature of the Okinawan people, or their lack of arms, the Ryukyuan defenders were in fact armed with [[Firearms in Ryukyu|firearms]], and their ships and fortresses with cannon, as well, albeit ones based upon Chinese firearms, while the samurai used arquebuses based on European designs.

Meanwhile, the other half of the invading force, which progressed to Naha by sea, were repulsed by the port's defenses, in one of the only Ryukyuan victories of the campaign, though it would prove short-lived. Tei Dô (Jana ''[[ueekata]]'') commanded a force of 3000 soldiers in defending the harbor. [[Mie gusuku|Mie]] and [[Yarazamori gusuku]], located on opposite sides of the harbor, were both armed with cannon. A net or chain of iron was stretched between them, blocking the enemy ships from entering the harbor. The Japanese ships then turned back, making port somewhere nearby to the north, possibly at Makiminato.

Meanwhile, the other half of the invading force, which progressed to Naha by sea, were repulsed by the port's defenses, in one of the only Ryukyuan victories of the campaign, though it would prove short-lived. Tei Dô (Jana ''[[ueekata]]'') commanded a force of 3000 soldiers in defending the harbor. [[Mie gusuku|Mie]] and [[Yarazamori gusuku]], located on opposite sides of the harbor, were both armed with cannon. A net or chain of iron was stretched between them, blocking the enemy ships from entering the harbor. The Japanese ships then turned back, making port somewhere nearby to the north, possibly at Makiminato.