Changes

==History==

==History==

It is not clear when the castle was built. Most sources place its construction during the reign of [[Satto]], king of [[Chuzan|Chûzan]] (r. c. 1355-1395), some as early as [[1237]]<ref>Kerr. p50. Pointing to an entry in the ''[[Kyuyo|Kyûyô]]'' which indicates the construction in [[1392]] of a tall tower several ''jô'' high, called Takayosôri 高よそうり, architectural historian Matayoshi Shinzô 又吉真三 suggests that Shuri castle already existed at that time. Further, he notes that the [[1372]] Ming embassy seems to have been sent to Shuri (not Urasoe), and that the [[36 Min families]] who founded [[Kumemura]] in 1392 did so in Kume/Naha, and not at [[Makiminato]] near Urasoe, suggesting that Shuri was already the political center by that time. "Shurijô ha Ryûkyû kenchiku bunka no shûtaisei" 首里城は琉球建築文化の集大成, ''Shurijô fukugen charity tokubetsu kôen'' 首里城復元チャリティ特別公演 (Naha: Kudaka Shôkichi geinô kikaku 久高将吉芸能企画, 1987), 104-105.</ref>, but all agree that it was definitely the primary royal palace by [[1427]], during the reign of [[Sho Hashi|Shô Hashi]] (r. 1422-1439), first king of the united Kingdom of Ryûkyû. That the castle was extant at that time is confirmed by the inscription on the [[Ankoku-zan jukaboku stele]], the oldest example of Okinawan writing surviving today, erected there in 1427.<ref>Matayoshi, 105.; "[http://ryukyushimpo.jp/news/storyid-40170-storytopic-121.html Ankokuzan jukaboku no kihi]," Okinawa Compact Encyclopedia, Ryukyu Shimpo, 1 March 2003.</ref> The stele also relates that [[Kaiki]] (Huái Jī), a prominent Chinese-born official in service to [[Sho Hashi|Shô Hashi]], oversaw the landscaping of the castle grounds in accordance with ''[[feng shui]]'' / geomantic beliefs and traditions. After traveling to China in [[1417]] and coming back to Ryûkyû, Kaiki directed the construction of the [[Ryutan|Ryûtan]] pond below the castle, the planting of flowering trees around the pond, and the construction of an artificial hill to the west of the castle.<ref name=maritime93>Gregory Smits, ''Maritime Ryukyu'', University of Hawaii Press (2019), 93-94.</ref>

It is not clear when the castle was built. Most sources place its construction during the reign of [[Satto]], king of [[Chuzan|Chûzan]] (r. c. 1355-1395), some as early as [[1237]].<ref>Kerr. p50.</ref> Official histories produced by the kingdom in the 18th-19th centuries, such as the ''[[Kyuyo|Kyûyô]]'', ''[[Chuzan seikan|Chûzan seikan]]'', and ''[[Ryukyu-koku yuraiki|Ryûkyû-koku yuraiki]]'', indicate that a tall tower several ''jô'' high, called Takayosôri 高世層裡, was constructed during Satto's reign, to the south of the Shicha-nu-unaa, and faced north. This location corresponds to what would later become the Kyô-no-uchi, the most sacred space within the Shuri ''gusuku'' grounds.<ref>Uezato Takashi 上里隆史, “Ko-Ryūkyū ki ni okeru Shurijō no yōsō to hensen” 「古琉球における首里城の様相と返遷」, in ''Shurijō o toku'' 首里城を解く, eds. Takara Kurayoshi 高良倉吉 and Shimamura Kōichi 島村幸一, Tokyo: Bensei shuppan (2021), 64.</ref> There has been some debate as to the existence of this tower as a separate structure, or whether documentary mentions of this "Takayosôri" in fact refer to the Main Hall of Shuri castle as we know it today, albeit in an earlier incarnation. Historians Takara Kurayoshi and Uezato Takashi have suggested that it is rather unlikely that a tower that tall would have been built with the technology of the time, and that certain other sources (such as the diaries of Korean castaways) make no mention of such a structure, but only of those with which we would be more familiar, organized around the ''Unaa'', the central plaza of the ''gusuku''/palace complex as we know it today. Still, excavations in the Kyô-no-uchi have uncovered foundation stones and the remains of grey, 14th-15th century Japanese-style roof tiles, suggesting that some structure of note did once exist on that location.<ref>Uezato, 64-65.</ref> Excavations on the side of the Main Hall have also revealed remains of a tiled-roof structure from that time, leading scholars such as Uezato to conclude that even prior to Shuri becoming the royal palace, it functioned as a ''gusuku''.<ref>Uezato, 65-67.</ref>

 

Though the timing of the shift of the royal capital from [[Urasoe]] to Shuri remains somewhat unclear, with some scholars suggesting the possibility of a considerable period of dual capitals,<ref>Uezato, 67-68.</ref> architectural historian Matayoshi Shinzô notes that the [[1372]] Ming embassy seems to have been sent to Shuri (not Urasoe), and that the [[36 Min families]] who founded [[Kumemura]] in 1392 did so in Kume/Naha, and not at [[Makiminato]] near Urasoe, suggesting that Shuri was already the political center by that time.<ref>Matayoshi Shinzô 又吉真三, "Shurijô ha Ryûkyû kenchiku bunka no shûtaisei" 「首里城は琉球建築文化の集大成’, ''Shurijô fukugen charity tokubetsu kôen'' 首里城復元チャリティ特別公演 (Naha: Kudaka Shôkichi geinô kikaku 久高将吉芸能企画, 1987), 104-105.</ref>

 

In any case, Shuri was definitively the primary royal palace by [[1427]], during the reign of [[Sho Hashi|Shô Hashi]] (r. 1422-1439), first king of the united Kingdom of Ryûkyû. That the castle was extant at that time is confirmed by the inscription on the [[Ankoku-zan jukaboku stele]], the oldest example of Okinawan writing surviving today, erected there in 1427.<ref>Matayoshi, 105.; "[http://ryukyushimpo.jp/news/storyid-40170-storytopic-121.html Ankokuzan jukaboku no kihi]," Okinawa Compact Encyclopedia, Ryukyu Shimpo, 1 March 2003.</ref> The stele also relates that [[Kaiki]] (Huái Jī), a prominent Chinese-born official in service to [[Sho Hashi|Shô Hashi]], oversaw the landscaping of the castle grounds in accordance with ''[[feng shui]]'' / geomantic beliefs and traditions. After traveling to China in [[1417]] and coming back to Ryûkyû, Kaiki directed the construction of the [[Ryutan|Ryûtan]] pond below the castle, the planting of flowering trees around the pond, and the construction of an artificial hill to the west of the castle.<ref name=maritime93>Gregory Smits, ''Maritime Ryukyu'', University of Hawaii Press (2019), 93-94.</ref>

Succession disputes which broke out following the death of King [[Sho Kinpuku|Shô Kinpuku]] in [[1453]] led to the destruction of the palace buildings at that time, and the loss of many artifacts including silver seals granted the kings of Ryûkyû by the Hongwu Emperor as signs of authority<ref>Kerr. p97.</ref>. The castle was rebuilt shortly afterward.

Succession disputes which broke out following the death of King [[Sho Kinpuku|Shô Kinpuku]] in [[1453]] led to the destruction of the palace buildings at that time, and the loss of many artifacts including silver seals granted the kings of Ryûkyû by the Hongwu Emperor as signs of authority<ref>Kerr. p97.</ref>. The castle was rebuilt shortly afterward.

Records from the time indicate that when the castle was rebuilt in [[1672]], following a [[1660]] fire, the roofs were tiled where they had been previously covered in wooden shingles, as a precautionary measure towards better fire-proofing. [[Sho Shoken|Shô Shôken]] (Haneji Chôshu) directed the construction project at that time.<ref name=shimposhurireki>"Shurijô no rekishi," ''Ryukyu Shimpo'', 1 Nov 1992.</ref> Archaeological excavations, however, have found both Korean and Japanese roof tiles dating to before this fire, indicating that at least some sections of the castle bore tiled roofs much earlier<ref name=shimpo>Okinawa Compact Encyclopedia.</ref>. The castle burned again and was rebuilt in [[1690]], [[1709]] (rebuilt [[1712]]), and [[1730]]. It was this 1730 iteration of the castle which stood until World War II. Considerable repair work was done in [[1837]], and again in [[1846]] and [[1851]] with several of the gates being given double- and then triple-doors,<ref>「二重扉」, 「三重扉」 Gallery labels, [[Tamaudun]].</ref> but the castle would not suffer destruction again until 1945.<ref name=loo>Loo, Tze M. “Shuri Castle’s Other History: Architecture and Empire in Okinawa.” The Asia-Pacific Journal: Japan Focus 41 (12 Oct 2009).</ref>

Records from the time indicate that when the castle was rebuilt in [[1672]], following a [[1660]] fire, the roofs were tiled where they had been previously covered in wooden shingles, as a precautionary measure towards better fire-proofing. [[Sho Shoken|Shô Shôken]] (Haneji Chôshu) directed the construction project at that time.<ref name=shimposhurireki>"Shurijô no rekishi," ''Ryukyu Shimpo'', 1 Nov 1992.</ref> Archaeological excavations, however, have found both Korean and Japanese roof tiles dating to before this fire, indicating that at least some sections of the castle bore tiled roofs much earlier<ref name=shimpo>Okinawa Compact Encyclopedia.</ref>. The castle burned again and was rebuilt in [[1690]], [[1709]] (rebuilt [[1712]]), and [[1730]]. It was this 1730 iteration of the castle which stood until World War II. Considerable repair work was done in [[1837]], and again in [[1846]] and [[1851]] with several of the gates being given double- and then triple-doors,<ref>「二重扉」, 「三重扉」 Gallery labels, [[Tamaudun]].</ref> but the castle would not suffer destruction again until 1945.<ref name=loo>Loo, Tze M. “Shuri Castle’s Other History: Architecture and Empire in Okinawa.” The Asia-Pacific Journal: Japan Focus 41 (12 Oct 2009).</ref>

The kingdom was abolished and replaced with [[Ryukyu han|Ryûkyû han]] in [[1872]]; the abolition of Ryûkyû ''han'' in turn and establishment of [[Okinawa prefecture]] in [[1879]] was the final nail in the coffin for the Ryûkyû Kingdom. The castle was occupied by [[Imperial Japanese Army|Imperial Japanese forces]], specifically the [[Kumamoto Garrison]]<!--熊本鎮台分遣隊兵営-->, immediately upon being vacated by the former king and his court. The Seiden and Yosoeden became sleeping quarters for the troops, the Nanden and Shoin quarters for the officers, and the Sasunoma the commander's quarters. The Unaa plaza in front of the main hall was used for drills.<ref name=beni>"Beni no ugushiku"「紅の御城(うぐしく)へ」, ''Momoto Special Issue: Shuri, Ryûkyû no miyako o aruku'' モモト　別冊：首里・琉球の都をあるく (2013/8), 52.</ref>

The kingdom was abolished and replaced with [[Ryukyu han|Ryûkyû han]] in [[1872]]; the abolition of Ryûkyû ''han'' in turn and establishment of [[Okinawa prefecture]] in [[1879]] was the final nail in the coffin for the Ryûkyû Kingdom. The castle was occupied by [[Imperial Japanese Army|Imperial Japanese forces]], specifically the [[Kumamoto Garrison]]<!--熊本鎮台分遣隊兵営-->, immediately upon being vacated by the former king and his court. The Seiden and Yosoeden became sleeping quarters for the troops, the Nanden and Shoin quarters for the officers, and the Sasunoma the commander's quarters. The Unaa plaza in front of the main hall was used for drills.<ref name=beni>"Beni no ugushiku"「紅の御城(うぐしく)へ」, ''Momoto Special Issue: Shuri, Ryûkyû no miyako o aruku'' モモト　別冊：首里・琉球の都をあるく (2013/8), 52.</ref>

A gate known as the Kobikimon 木曵門 located near the Kankaimon was traditionally sealed off by a pile of stones, and opened only when bringing lumber or other materials into the castle for repair or reconstruction efforts.<ref name=shuriqa/>

A gate known as the Kobikimon 木曵門 located near the Kankaimon was traditionally sealed off by a pile of stones, and opened only when bringing lumber or other materials into the castle for repair or reconstruction efforts.<ref name=shuriqa/>

===Shicha-nu-Unâ===

===Shicha-nu-Unaa===

[[Image:Kofukumon.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Kôfukumon (広福門)]]

[[Image:Kofukumon.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Kôfukumon (広福門)]]

[[Image:Suimui utaki.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Suimui utaki (首里森御嶽)]]

[[Image:Suimui utaki.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Suimui utaki (首里森御嶽)]]

[[Image:Hoshinmon.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Hôshinmon (奉神門)]]

[[Image:Hoshinmon.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Hôshinmon (奉神門)]]

The Kôfukumon, a large, vermillion wooden structure leads finally into the ''shicha-nu-unâ'' (下之御庭), an area equivalent to what would be called the second bailey in English or ''ni-no-maru'' in a Japanese castle. The offices of the ''jishaza'' (寺社座), which oversaw Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples, and the ''ôkumiza'' (大与座) which mediated disputes between aristocrats, were housed here<ref>"Shisetsu annai: Kôfukumon." Shuri Castle Park Official Website.</ref>.

The Kôfukumon, a large, vermillion wooden structure leads finally into the ''shicha-nu-unaa'' (下之御庭), an area equivalent to what would be called the second bailey in English or ''ni-no-maru'' in a Japanese castle. The offices of the ''jishaza'' (寺社座), which oversaw Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples, and the ''ôkumiza'' (大与座) which mediated disputes between aristocrats, were housed here<ref>"Shisetsu annai: Kôfukumon." Shuri Castle Park Official Website.</ref>.

The ''shicha-nu-unâ'' contains the "Shuri forest ''[[utaki]]''", or [[Suimui utaki]], a sacred grove surrounded by its own low stone walls, which features in myths about the origins of the kingdom, and appears numerous times in the ''[[Omoro Soshi|Omoro Sôshi]]'', a collection of Okinawan myths in the form of songs or poems. Another important sacred site related to the origins of the castle and the kingdom, the ''kyô-no-uchi'' (京之内), is located along the southern wall of the ''shicha-nu-unâ'' and contains a number of ''utaki'' within it, including one known as Madanmui utaki 真玉森御嶽.<ref>Also known as Madanmui gusuku and Kunda gusuku. Amidst the shift from the First to the Second Shô Dynasty following the death of King [[Sho Toku|Shô Toku]] in [[1469]], Toku's queen and heir, along with the heir's wet nurse, were slaughtered at Madanmui by forces loyal to the new king [[Sho En|Shô En]], and buried there. Smits, ''Maritime Ryukyu'', 122-124.</ref> The high priestess (''[[kikoe-ogimi|kikoe-ôgimi]]'') regularly performed rituals at sites within the Kyô-no-uchi to pray for the prosperity of the kingdom, safety for important sea voyages, good harvests and the like on behalf of the king and kingdom.<ref>"Shisetsu annai: Kyô no uchi." Shuri Castle Park Official Website.</ref> ''Noro'' (priestesses) traditionally made their way around these various sacred sites within the castle compound on four occasions each year. The ''kyô no uchi'' was traditionally forbidden to men as its sacred power was considered too strong for them; once the area was restored in the 2010s, however, it was opened to all visitors.<ref>"Hôdô shashin shû Shurijô" 報道写真集・首里城, Okinawa Times (2019), 37.</ref>

The ''shicha-nu-unaa'' contains the "Shuri forest ''[[utaki]]''", or [[Suimui utaki]], a sacred grove surrounded by its own low stone walls, which features in myths about the origins of the kingdom, and appears numerous times in the ''[[Omoro Soshi|Omoro Sôshi]]'', a collection of Okinawan myths in the form of songs or poems. Another important sacred site related to the origins of the castle and the kingdom, the ''kyô-no-uchi'' (京之内), is located along the southern wall of the ''shicha-nu-unaa'' and contains a number of ''utaki'' within it, including one known as Madanmui utaki 真玉森御嶽.<ref>Also known as Madanmui gusuku and Kunda gusuku. Amidst the shift from the First to the Second Shô Dynasty following the death of King [[Sho Toku|Shô Toku]] in [[1469]], Toku's queen and heir, along with the heir's wet nurse, were slaughtered at Madanmui by forces loyal to the new king [[Sho En|Shô En]], and buried there. Smits, ''Maritime Ryukyu'', 122-124.</ref> The high priestess (''[[kikoe-ogimi|kikoe-ôgimi]]'') regularly performed rituals at sites within the Kyô-no-uchi to pray for the prosperity of the kingdom, safety for important sea voyages, good harvests and the like on behalf of the king and kingdom.<ref>"Shisetsu annai: Kyô no uchi." Shuri Castle Park Official Website.</ref> ''Noro'' (priestesses) traditionally made their way around these various sacred sites within the castle compound on four occasions each year. The ''kyô no uchi'' was traditionally forbidden to men as its sacred power was considered too strong for them; once the area was restored in the 2010s, however, it was opened to all visitors.<ref>"Hôdô shashin shû Shurijô" 報道写真集・首里城, Okinawa Times (2019), 37.</ref>

The ''[[keizuza]]'' (系図座) and ''yômotsuza'' (用物座) were also located in the ''shicha-nu-una''. These two offices handled, respectively, aristocrats' official geneologies, and supplies for the castle<ref>"Shisetsu annai: Keizusa / Yômotsuza." Shuri Castle Park Official Website.</ref>.

The ''[[keizuza]]'' (系図座) and ''yômotsuza'' (用物座) were also located in the ''shicha-nu-unaa''. While the ''keizuza'' was the chief office overseeing the compilation of aristocratic genealogies and official kingdom histories, the ''yômotsuza'' managed supplies for the castle as well as goods prepared for presentation to the Ming or Qing imperial courts, Satsuma domain, and the Tokugawa shogunate.<ref>"Shisetsu annai: Keizusa / Yômotsuza." Shuri Castle Park Official Website.; Explanatory plaques, Shurijô Castle Park.[https://www.flickr.com/photos/toranosuke/15253505669/in/photostream/]</ref>.

The largest gate in the complex, the Hôshinmon (O: ''Kimihokori ujô''), leads into the central bailey, or ''unâ'' (J: ''honmaru''). Completed some time before 1562, the gate was overhauled in 1754 to better follow Chinese models. The structure was used as storage for documents and materials related to musical entertainments, tobacco, tea and the like, and for rituals and ceremonies; today, it serves as the central administrative office of the heritage site & public park. Of the three gateways in the Hôshinmon structure, use of the central one was restricted to the king, Chinese imperial envoys, and others of similar rank<ref>"Shisetsu annai: Hôshinmon." Shuri Castle Park Official Website.</ref>.

The largest gate in the complex, the Hôshinmon (O: ''Kimihokori ujô''), leads into the central bailey, or ''unaa'' (J: ''honmaru''). Completed some time before 1562, the gate was overhauled in 1754 to better follow Chinese models. The structure was used as storage for documents and materials related to musical entertainments, tobacco, tea and the like, and for rituals and ceremonies; today, it serves as the central administrative office of the heritage site & public park. Of the three gateways in the Hôshinmon structure, use of the central one was restricted to the king, Chinese imperial envoys, and others of similar rank<ref>"Shisetsu annai: Hôshinmon." Shuri Castle Park Official Website. The three-roofed, three-gated form of the Hôshinmon dates to its rebuilding following the 1709 fire. Watanabe Miki 渡辺美季, "Ryûkyû Shuri no zu, Ryûkyû Naha zu: Koga rekishi hakubutsukan zô Takami Senseki kankei shiryô yori" 「琉球首里ノ図・琉球那覇図ー古河歴史博物館蔵　鷹見泉石関係資料より」, ''Tôkyô daigaku shiryôhensanjo fuzoku gazô shiryô kaiseki sentaa tsûshin'' 東京大学史料編纂所附属画像史料解析センター通信 90 (Oct 2020), p10.</ref>.

===Unâ===

===Unaa===

[[Image:Shuri Una.jpg|right|thumb|250px|The ''unâ'' (central plaza), with the Nanden seen on the right of the Seiden.]]

[[Image:Shuri Una.jpg|right|thumb|250px|The ''unaa'' (central plaza), with the Nanden seen on the right of the Seiden.]]

The ''Unâ'' (御庭) is a square, open plaza, bounded by the Hôshinmon on one side, the Seiden, the chief royal residence, facing it, and the Hokuden and Nanden on the remaining two sides. The plaza itself was the site of many important rituals and ceremonies, including New Year's ceremonies, and the formal investiture of each king, for which a symbolic model of the Chinese Imperial Court throne room would be constructed on the plaza. Red and white tiles form ranks (''sen'', 磚) filling the plaza and marking where officials and aristocrats of various ranks would stand for these ceremonies; a raised path cutting through the plaza and leading directly across the plaza from the Hôshinmon to the Seiden was called the ''ukimichi'' (浮道, lit. "floating path") in Japanese, and was used only by the king, representatives of the Chinese Emperor, and others of similar rank<ref>"Shisetsu annai: Unâ." Shuri Castle Park Official Website.</ref>. Originally raised some 15 cm above the plaza (hence the name "floating path"), the reconstructed ''ukimichi'' today is raised by only five cm.<ref>''Ukimichi no nazo'' 浮道のなぞ, ''Fee nu kaji'' 南ぬ風 36 (2015), 9.</ref> Overall, the plaza, and buildings within it, were conceived as a miniature of the Forbidden City (the Imperial Palace) in Beijing<ref name=Turnbull44/>.

The ''Unaa'' (御庭) is a trapezoidal (roughly but not truly square), open, plaza, bounded by the Hôshinmon gate on one side, with the Seiden, the chief royal residence, facing the gate, and the Hokuden and Nanden on the remaining two sides. The plaza itself was the site of many important rituals and ceremonies, including New Year's ceremonies, and the formal investiture of each king, for which a symbolic model of the Chinese Imperial Court throne room would be constructed on the plaza. Red and white tiles form ranks (''sen'', 磚) filling the plaza and marking where officials and aristocrats of various ranks would stand for these ceremonies; a raised path cutting through the plaza and leading directly across the plaza from the Hôshinmon to the Seiden was called the ''ukimichi'' (浮道, lit. "floating path") in Japanese, and was used only by the king, representatives of the Chinese Emperor, and others of similar rank<ref>"Shisetsu annai: Unaa." Shuri Castle Park Official Website.</ref>. Originally raised some 15 cm above the plaza (hence the name "floating path"), the reconstructed ''ukimichi'' today is raised by only five cm.<ref>''Ukimichi no nazo'' 浮道のなぞ, ''Fee nu kaji'' 南ぬ風 36 (2015), 9.</ref> Overall, the plaza, and buildings within it, were conceived as a miniature of the Forbidden City (the Imperial Palace) in Beijing<ref name=Turnbull44/>.

The two-story Nanden (南殿), or "South Hall," on one size of the plaza, is known as the ''Fee-nu-udun'' (南風御殿) in Okinawan. A Japanese-style structure, it was regularly used for receiving Satsuma officials and for other Japanese-style ceremonies. The one-story Bandokoro (番所) attached to it was used by Ryukyuan officials departing for the day to pass off paperwork or duties to those arriving. Records indicate that the Nanden was first built c. [[1628]], though archaeological excavations have discovered earlier foundations. There do not appear to be any records of it ever having been painted and so, in accordance with one school of Japanese traditional architectural customs, it remains composed primarily of bare wood. The two buildings today include exhibition spaces, where artifacts related to the castle and the royal family are put on display<ref>"Shisetsu annai: Nanden / Bandokoro." Shuri Castle Park Official Website.</ref>. Attached to the eastern end of the Nanden was a space known as the Kinjûtsumesho (近習詰所), where about twenty officials and scribed attached to the king were based; a number of them typically accompanied the king as he moved through the castle on daily business.<ref name=plaques/> Beyond this space was a small inner writing studio, or ''okushoin'' (奥書院). Three by three and a half bays (''ma'') in size, it was used by the king as a place to take a break from his duties, and also contained a space where the ''okushoin'' magistrate (''okushoin [[bujo|bujô]]'') worked. The ''okushoin'' faced a garden to the south, and the Kawarume utaki (苅銘御嶽) to the east.<ref name=plaques/>

The two-story Nanden (南殿), or "South Hall," on one size of the plaza, is known as the ''Fee-nu-udun'' (南風御殿) in Okinawan. A Japanese-style structure, it was regularly used for receiving Satsuma officials and for other Japanese-style ceremonies. The one-story Bandokoro (番所) attached to it was used by Ryukyuan officials departing for the day to pass off paperwork or duties to those arriving. Records indicate that the Nanden was first built c. [[1628]], though archaeological excavations have discovered earlier foundations. There do not appear to be any records of it ever having been painted and so, in accordance with one school of Japanese traditional architectural customs, it remains composed primarily of bare wood. The two buildings today include exhibition spaces, where artifacts related to the castle and the royal family are put on display<ref>"Shisetsu annai: Nanden / Bandokoro." Shuri Castle Park Official Website.</ref>. Attached to the eastern end of the Nanden was a space known as the Kinjûtsumesho (近習詰所), where about twenty officials and scribed attached to the king were based; a number of them typically accompanied the king as he moved through the castle on daily business.<ref name=plaques/> Beyond this space was a small inner writing studio, or ''okushoin'' (奥書院). Three by three and a half bays (''ma'') in size, it was used by the king as a place to take a break from his duties, and also contained a space where the ''okushoin'' magistrate (''okushoin [[bujo|bujô]]'') worked. The ''okushoin'' faced a garden to the south, and the Kawarume utaki (苅銘御嶽) to the east.<ref name=plaques/> In contrast to the gardens attached to the Shoin and Sasu-no-ma which were more front-facing, the ''okushoin'' garden was a more private space.<ref>Gallery label, "[https://www.flickr.com/photos/toranosuke/15253693508/sizes/h/ Okushoin teien]," Shurijo Castle Park.</ref>

The Hokuden (北殿), or "North Hall," also known as the ''giseiden'' (議政殿), faces the Nanden across the plaza, and is known as the ''Nishi-no-udun'' (北之御殿) in Okinawan. Built around 1506-1521, it is a structure more Chinese in style, which housed visiting Chinese officials and Chinese-style ceremonies and, as the site of the chief administrative offices of the royal government, was on an average day the busiest and most active building in the compound. Commodore Perry was also entertained and banqueted here on two occasions when he forced his way into the castle. Like the Nanden, the Hokuden today contains exhibition space devoted to material related to the castle, the royal family, and the kingdom's relationship with China<ref>"Shisetsu annai: Hokuden." Shuri Castle Park Official Website.</ref>.

The Hokuden (北殿), or "North Hall," also known as the ''giseiden'' (議政殿), faces the Nanden across the plaza, and is known as the ''Nishi-no-udun'' (北之御殿) in Okinawan. Built around 1506-1521, it is a structure more Chinese in style, which housed visiting Chinese officials and Chinese-style ceremonies and, as the site of the chief administrative offices of the royal government, was on an average day the busiest and most active building in the compound. Commodore Perry was also entertained and banqueted here on two occasions when he forced his way into the castle. Like the Nanden, the Hokuden today contains exhibition space devoted to material related to the castle, the royal family, and the kingdom's relationship with China<ref>"Shisetsu annai: Hokuden." Shuri Castle Park Official Website.</ref>.

A pair of buildings to the south of the Nanden, on the opposite side of that hall from the central plaza, served as administrative buildings and spaces for meeting with and entertaining Chinese investiture envoys and officials from Satsuma. The ''shoin'' or "study", and ''kusari-no-ma'', as they would have been called in Japanese, were also used by the kings and royal princes, respectively, as their chief study or office.<ref>"Shisetsu annai: shoin / kusari no ma." Shuri Castle Park Official Website.; plaques on-site in Shuri castle.</ref><ref name=coral2020>「よみがえれ、首里城」、''Coralway'', Nov/Dec 2020, 16.</ref>. The room was also used for entertaining Chinese envoys. The ''shoin'' appears in the [[1713]] ''[[Ryukyu-koku yuraiki|Ryûkyû-koku yuraiki]]'', but it is unclear how much earlier before that it might have been built. Connected to the Nanden by internal corridors, it contained the ''sasu-no-ma'', the office of the royal scribe or clerk (''[[yuhitsu|yûhitsu]]''<!--右筆-->), who was responsible for producing formal court documents, including those sent to the Emperor of China or the Japanese shogun. The ''sasu-no-ma'' was also used by the Crown Prince as a tearoom for receiving guests. The ''shoin'', which has today been reconstructed alongside the Nanden and other structures, also served sometimes as a waiting room or reception room for Chinese investiture envoys.<ref>Gallery labels, Okinawa Prefectural Museum, August 2013.</ref>

A pair of buildings to the south of the Nanden, on the opposite side of that hall from the central plaza, served as administrative buildings and spaces for meeting with and entertaining Chinese investiture envoys and officials from Satsuma. The ''shoin'' or "study", and ''kusari-no-ma'', as they would have been called in Japanese, were also used by the kings and royal princes, respectively, as their chief study or office.<ref>"Shisetsu annai: shoin / kusari no ma." Shuri Castle Park Official Website.; plaques on-site in Shuri castle.</ref><ref name=coral2020>「よみがえれ、首里城」、''Coralway'', Nov/Dec 2020, 16.</ref>. The room was also used for entertaining Chinese envoys. The ''shoin'' appears in the [[1713]] ''[[Ryukyu-koku yuraiki|Ryûkyû-koku yuraiki]]'', but it is unclear how much earlier before that it might have been built. Connected to the Nanden by internal corridors, it contained the ''sasu-no-ma'', the office of the royal scribe or clerk (''[[yuhitsu|yûhitsu]]''<!--右筆-->), who was responsible for producing formal court documents, including those sent to the Emperor of China or the Japanese shogun. The ''sasu-no-ma'' was also used by the Crown Prince as a tearoom for receiving guests. The ''shoin'', which has today been reconstructed alongside the Nanden and other structures, also served sometimes as a waiting room or reception room for Chinese investiture envoys.<ref>Gallery labels, Okinawa Prefectural Museum, August 2013.</ref>

====Seiden====

====Seiden====

The chief royal residence at the heart of Shuri castle, the structure known as Seiden (正殿, "Main Palace") in Japanese and as Umundasui udun (百浦添御殿, J: ''Momourasoe udun'')<ref>The palace is referred to in some documents as Momourasoe udun, or the Palace (''udun'') ruling or governing (''soe'') all the many various towns (''momo ura''). Akamine Mamoru, Lina Terrell (trans.), Robert Huey (ed.), ''The Ryukyu Kingdom: Cornerstone of East Asia'', University of Hawaii Press (2017), 85.</ref> in Okinawan, faces and overlooks the ''unâ''. The largest wooden building in the Ryûkyû Kingdom, it is three stories tall, and lavishly painted and otherwise decorated in vermillion and gold, with intricate carvings and other embellishments painted in bold colors. Its construction incorporates Chinese, Japanese, and native Okinawan architectural elements, including among many other features a Japanese ''[[karahafu]]'' gabled arch over the entrance, and Chinese-style two-tiered roof modeled upon that of the Chinese Imperial Palace. Over one hundred vertical pillars are incorporated into the structure; though some have suggested this may have been aimed at protecting the structure from earthquakes, others have suggested it was more likely a measure against typhoons.<ref name=shuriqa>"Shurijô no Q&A," ''Ryukyu Shimpo'', 1 Nov 1992.</ref>

The chief royal residence at the heart of Shuri castle, the structure known as Seiden (正殿, "Main Palace") in Japanese and as Umundasui udun (百浦添御殿, J: ''Momourasoe udun'')<ref>The palace is referred to in some documents as Momourasoe udun, or the Palace (''udun'') ruling or governing (''soe'') all the many various towns (''momo ura''). Akamine Mamoru, Lina Terrell (trans.), Robert Huey (ed.), ''The Ryukyu Kingdom: Cornerstone of East Asia'', University of Hawaii Press (2017), 85.</ref> in Okinawan, faces and overlooks the ''unaa''. The largest wooden building in the Ryûkyû Kingdom, it is three stories tall, and lavishly painted and otherwise decorated in vermillion and gold, with intricate carvings and other embellishments painted in bold colors. Its construction incorporates Chinese, Japanese, and native Okinawan architectural elements, including among many other features a Japanese ''[[karahafu]]'' gabled arch over the entrance, and Chinese-style two-tiered roof modeled upon that of the Chinese Imperial Palace. Over one hundred vertical pillars are incorporated into the structure; though some have suggested this may have been aimed at protecting the structure from earthquakes, others have suggested it was more likely a measure against typhoons.<ref name=shuriqa>"Shurijô no Q&A," ''Ryukyu Shimpo'', 1 Nov 1992.</ref>

The Seiden was originally roofed with shingles; this was changed to grey or black ceramic tiles in the 1670s or 1680s, and then to the iconic red terracotta tiles, which were supposedly cheaper to produce,<ref>Kakazu Hitosa 嘉数仁然, "Katte ni Shuri kentei! kaisetsu hen" 勝手に首里検定！解説編, ''Momoto Special Issue: Shuri, Ryûkyû no miyako o aruku'' モモト　別冊：首里・琉球の都をあるく (2013/8), 66.</ref> sometime later. Though there was some debate as to how to tile the roof when restoring the castle in the 1980s-90s, planners ultimately decided to use red terracotta tiles, as the castle's history of red tiles had been longer and as red tiles had come to be so widely regarded as an iconic feature of Okinawan architecture. There has also been some debate as to whether certain portions of the facade or pillars were painted black or red, and historical sources are unclear as to this point. Though restoration efforts in the 1980s-90s originally began with the intention of painting these sections black, reports from repair efforts in the 1920s-30s revealed that earlier layers of red had been found when stripping down the pillars (in order to repaint them) at that time.<ref name=shuriqa/>

The Seiden was originally roofed with shingles; this was changed to grey or black ceramic tiles in the 1670s or 1680s, and then to the iconic red terracotta tiles, which were supposedly cheaper to produce,<ref>Kakazu Hitosa 嘉数仁然, "Katte ni Shuri kentei! kaisetsu hen" 勝手に首里検定！解説編, ''Momoto Special Issue: Shuri, Ryûkyû no miyako o aruku'' モモト　別冊：首里・琉球の都をあるく (2013/8), 66.</ref> sometime later. Though there was some debate as to how to tile the roof when restoring the castle in the 1980s-90s, planners ultimately decided to use red terracotta tiles, as the castle's history of red tiles had been longer and as red tiles had come to be so widely regarded as an iconic feature of Okinawan architecture. There has also been some debate as to whether certain portions of the facade or pillars were painted black or red, and historical sources are unclear as to this point. Though restoration efforts in the 1980s-90s originally began with the intention of painting these sections black, reports from repair efforts in the 1920s-30s revealed that earlier layers of red had been found when stripping down the pillars (in order to repaint them) at that time.<ref name=shuriqa/>

From the time of its reconstruction in the early 1990s until its destruction in an Oct 2019 fire, the Seiden was the largest wooden building in Okinawa prefecture. Sadly, regulations did not require a structure of its size and character to have a built-in sprinkler system; this, combined with the inaccessibility of the site and the early morning outbreak of the fire, contributed to the ultimate outcome of the structure burning to the ground before firefighters could get the fire under control.<ref name=nhkfire>"[https://www3.nhk.or.jp/lnews/okinawa/20210816/5090015329.html 首里城火災で損害賠償を請求するよう求め住民訴訟｜NHK 沖縄県のニュース]," ''NHK News Web'', 16 Aug 2021.</ref>

From the time of its reconstruction in the early 1990s until its destruction in an Oct 2019 fire, the Seiden was the largest wooden building in Okinawa prefecture. Sadly, regulations did not require a structure of its size and character to have a built-in sprinkler system; this, combined with the inaccessibility of the site and the early morning outbreak of the fire, contributed to the ultimate outcome of the structure burning to the ground before firefighters could get the fire under control.<ref name=nhkfire>"[https://www3.nhk.or.jp/lnews/okinawa/20210816/5090015329.html 首里城火災で損害賠償を請求するよう求め住民訴訟｜NHK 沖縄県のニュース]," ''NHK News Web'', 16 Aug 2021.</ref>

Two stone dragon pillars, roughly three meters in height, flank the central stair of the Seiden;<ref>Prior to the 1890s, these dragon pillars are believed to have stood facing one another; however, evidence from the late 1890s and early 20th century show that by that time they had been turned to both face forward. According to conventional wisdom, this had been done mischievously by members of the Kumamoto Garrison. When the Seiden was reconstructed in the early 1990s, these dragon pillars were once again placed so as to face one another. Interview with Matayoshi, 108. As might be expected, however, individuals interviewed at the opening of the restored castle expressed that they remembered their parents or grandparents telling them that before the war the dragons had faced forward. Interview with Kinjô Mutsuhide 金城睦秀. "Shurijô fukugen watashi mo mimashita" 首里城復元　私も見ました. ''Ryukyu Shimpo'', 3 Nov 1992.</ref> these, like just about everything on the grounds today, are reconstructions, though pieces of the pre-1945 pillars are now housed at the Okinawa Prefectural Museum. While most elements of the castle's design reflects Chinese, Korean, and Japanese influence, these dragon pillars resemble not those found anywhere in East Asia, but rather, a form distinctive of Ryûkyûan architecture, and perhaps bearing connections to elements seen in palaces and temples of Cambodia and Thailand<ref name=Kerr109/>, two of the many regions with which Ryûkyû traded heavily in the 14th-16th centuries. Dragons could also be found carved into and painted onto handrails, ceiling beams, and pillars throughout the structure<ref name=seiden>"Shisetsu annai: Seiden." Shuri Castle Park Official Website.</ref>. A particularly large dragon, made of glazed ''jôyachi'' pottery and some metalwork elements, was first installed above the ''karahafû'' main entrance of the Main Hall in [[1682]], being produced at that time by Ryukyuan craftsman [[Hirata Tentsu|Hirata Tentsû]].<ref>Gallery labels, 「首里城を支えた人と技術」, Shuri castle.[https://www.flickr.com/photos/toranosuke/15253765357/sizes/k/]</ref>

Two stone dragon pillars, roughly three meters in height, flank the central stair of the Seiden;<ref>Prior to the 1890s, these dragon pillars are believed to have stood facing one another; however, evidence from the late 1890s and early 20th century show that by that time they had been turned to both face forward. According to conventional wisdom, this had been done mischievously by members of the Kumamoto Garrison. When the Seiden was reconstructed in the early 1990s, these dragon pillars were once again placed so as to face one another. Interview with Matayoshi, 108. As might be expected, however, individuals interviewed at the opening of the restored castle expressed that they remembered their parents or grandparents telling them that before the war the dragons had faced forward. Interview with Kinjô Mutsuhide 金城睦秀. "Shurijô fukugen watashi mo mimashita" 首里城復元　私も見ました. ''Ryukyu Shimpo'', 3 Nov 1992.</ref><ref>These central stairs took on a fan (J: ''suehiro'') shape when the Main Hall was rebuilt following the 1709 fire. Watanabe Miki 渡辺美季, "Ryûkyû Shuri no zu, Ryûkyû Naha zu: Koga rekishi hakubutsukan zô Takami Senseki kankei shiryô yori" 「琉球首里ノ図・琉球那覇図ー古河歴史博物館蔵　鷹見泉石関係資料より」, ''Tôkyô daigaku shiryôhensanjo fuzoku gazô shiryô kaiseki sentaa tsûshin'' 東京大学史料編纂所附属画像史料解析センター通信 90 (Oct 2020), p10.</ref> these, like just about everything on the grounds today, are reconstructions, though pieces of the pre-1945 pillars are now housed at the Okinawa Prefectural Museum. While most elements of the castle's design reflects Chinese, Korean, and Japanese influence, these dragon pillars resemble not those found anywhere in East Asia, but rather, a form distinctive of Ryûkyûan architecture, and perhaps bearing connections to elements seen in palaces and temples of Cambodia and Thailand<ref name=Kerr109/>, two of the many regions with which Ryûkyû traded heavily in the 14th-16th centuries. Dragons could also be found carved into and painted onto handrails, ceiling beams, and pillars throughout the structure<ref name=seiden>"Shisetsu annai: Seiden." Shuri Castle Park Official Website.</ref>. A particularly large dragon, made of glazed ''jôyachi'' pottery and some metalwork elements, was first installed above the ''karahafû'' main entrance of the Main Hall in [[1682]], being produced at that time by Ryukyuan craftsman [[Hirata Tentsu|Hirata Tentsû]].<ref>Gallery labels, 「首里城を支えた人と技術」, Shuri castle.[https://www.flickr.com/photos/toranosuke/15253765357/sizes/k/]</ref> The "porch" area immediately under the ''karahafu'' was redesigned as part of renovations in [[1768]] to take on the four-pillar (three ''ma'') appearance that was later restored in the 1992 postwar reconstruction.<ref>Watanabe Miki 渡辺美季, "Ryûkyû Shuri no zu, Ryûkyû Naha zu: Koga rekishi hakubutsukan zô Takami Senseki kankei shiryô yori" 「琉球首里ノ図・琉球那覇図ー古河歴史博物館蔵　鷹見泉石関係資料より」, ''Tôkyô daigaku shiryôhensanjo fuzoku gazô shiryô kaiseki sentaa tsûshin'' 東京大学史料編纂所附属画像史料解析センター通信 90 (Oct 2020), p10.</ref>

Though palaces in China, in accordance with the principles of Chinese geomancy, generally face south, those same principles were applied to Okinawa with the result that it was deemed most appropriate for the Seiden to face, not south, but west. It does so with the mountains at its back, facing the port of Naha, it being believed that dragon lines connect the two points, the palace sitting on a spot which is a source of energy, which then flows down to the harbor.<ref>Kitahara Shûichi. ''A Journey to the Ryukyu Gusuku'' 琉球城紀行。 Naha: Miura Creative, 2003. p11.</ref> Though Ryukyuan sources explaining this westerly facing have not been found, having the members of the court face east as they faced the throne may have helped heighten the association of the king with the sun (which rises in the east) and with ''[[nirai kanai]]'', the mythical origin of the gods, somewhere east across the seas; multiple [[Chinese investiture envoys]] suggested that the westerly facing was an act of propriety and loyalty towards China.<ref name=shuriqa/>

Though palaces in China, in accordance with the principles of Chinese geomancy, generally face south, those same principles were applied to Okinawa with the result that it was deemed most appropriate for the Seiden to face, not south, but west. It does so with the mountains at its back, facing the port of Naha, it being believed that dragon lines connect the two points, the palace sitting on a spot which is a source of energy, which then flows down to the harbor.<ref>Kitahara Shûichi. ''A Journey to the Ryukyu Gusuku'' 琉球城紀行。 Naha: Miura Creative, 2003. p11.</ref> Though Ryukyuan sources explaining this westerly facing have not been found, having the members of the court face east as they faced the throne may have helped heighten the association of the king with the sun (which rises in the east) and with ''[[nirai kanai]]'', the mythical origin of the gods, somewhere east across the seas; multiple [[Chinese investiture envoys]] suggested that the westerly facing was an act of propriety and loyalty towards China.<ref name=shuriqa/>

The second floor was called the ''ufugui'' (大庫理), and was the site of more private rituals and ceremonies performed only amongst the royalty and court ladies. It contained the throne room, but was largely a women's space. The throne room itself (also called ''usasuka'' like the audience chamber below) had high ceilings and was decorated lavishly in gold and vermillion, as was the entire Seiden, inside and out. Two dragon pillars, painted gold, flank the throne, a Chinese-style chair elaborately carved, lacquered, and gilded, with mother-of-pearl inlay design. As part of the restoration of the castle in 1992, master lacquerware artist [[Maeda Koin|Maeda Kôin]] recreated this throne based on portraits of King Shô Shin and other sources, a project which took about two years.<ref name=maedakoin/> The dais upon which the throne sat resembled that of a Buddha statue, and was adorned with carvings of grape vine and squirrel designs. Some other elements of the decor featured gold inlay in black lacquered wood. Plaques given as gifts to the king by Chinese Emperors, bearing inscriptions of the Emperors' own calligraphy, adorn the throne room, where various more private rituals, as well as royal banquets, were held. As no photos or thorough descriptions of these plaques survived the war, these (like much else in the castle) were recreated based on research in Chinese imperial archives and the expertise of historical experts.<ref>Yasuyuki Uezu, "The Path towards the Restoration of Shurijo Castle," n.d., 6.</ref> Various objects would be brought out for rituals, including [[incense]], candle-stands in the form of dragons, cedars, decorative golden flowers, and paintings of Confucius<ref name=seiden/>.

The second floor was called the ''ufugui'' (大庫理), and was the site of more private rituals and ceremonies performed only amongst the royalty and court ladies. It contained the throne room, but was largely a women's space. The throne room itself (also called ''usasuka'' like the audience chamber below) had high ceilings and was decorated lavishly in gold and vermillion, as was the entire Seiden, inside and out. Two dragon pillars, painted gold, flank the throne, a Chinese-style chair elaborately carved, lacquered, and gilded, with mother-of-pearl inlay design. As part of the restoration of the castle in 1992, master lacquerware artist [[Maeda Koin|Maeda Kôin]] recreated this throne based on portraits of King Shô Shin and other sources, a project which took about two years.<ref name=maedakoin/> The dais upon which the throne sat resembled that of a Buddha statue, and was adorned with carvings of grape vine and squirrel designs. Some other elements of the decor featured gold inlay in black lacquered wood. Plaques given as gifts to the king by Chinese Emperors, bearing inscriptions of the Emperors' own calligraphy, adorn the throne room, where various more private rituals, as well as royal banquets, were held. As no photos or thorough descriptions of these plaques survived the war, these (like much else in the castle) were recreated based on research in Chinese imperial archives and the expertise of historical experts.<ref>Yasuyuki Uezu, "The Path towards the Restoration of Shurijo Castle," n.d., 6.</ref> Various objects would be brought out for rituals, including [[incense]], candle-stands in the form of dragons, cedars, decorative golden flowers, and paintings of Confucius<ref name=seiden/>.

For certain ceremonies, including New Year's celebrations and those occasions when the king formally dispatched a missive to the Chinese Emperor, the throne (御轎椅, O: ''uchuui'') would be moved forward, and shutters on the front of the castle opened, so that the king would look down from under the ''karahafu'' gable upon the courtiers gathered in the ''unâ''<ref name=seiden/>.

For certain ceremonies, including New Year's celebrations and those occasions when the king formally dispatched a missive to the Chinese Emperor, the throne (御轎椅, O: ''uchuui'') would be moved forward, and shutters on the front of the castle opened, so that the king would look down from under the ''karahafu'' gable upon the courtiers gathered in the ''unaa''<ref name=seiden/>.

A room in the southeast corner of the second floor known as ''osen mikocha'' was used for personal private devotions to the Ryukyuan deities, and for certain religious rituals overseen by the ''kikoe-ôgimi'' (high priestess)<ref name=seiden/>. It contained an altar known as ''utuku'' (御床) where the castle's [[hearth deity]] was enshrined, and where new ''nyokan'' (priestess-officials) were confirmed in their appointments.<ref>Explanatory plaque, "Osen mikocha," Shuri castle.[https://www.flickr.com/photos/toranosuke/29204105154/in/photostream/]</ref>

A room in the southeast corner of the second floor known as ''osen mikocha'' was used for personal private devotions to the Ryukyuan deities, and for certain religious rituals overseen by the ''kikoe-ôgimi'' (high priestess)<ref name=seiden/>. It contained an altar known as ''utuku'' (御床) where the castle's [[hearth deity]] was enshrined, and where new ''nyokan'' (priestess-officials) were confirmed in their appointments.<ref>Explanatory plaque, "Osen mikocha," Shuri castle.[https://www.flickr.com/photos/toranosuke/29204105154/in/photostream/]</ref>