Kakinohana gusuku

• Type: Okinawan gusuku
• Built: 14th century
• Status: Ruins
• Japanese: 垣花城 (Kakinohana gusuku)

Kakinohana gusuku is an Okinawan fortress in the town of Tamagusuku, in southern Okinawa. The castle is famous for its spring, Kakinohana-hija, which is essentially the terminus of an underground river, or system of springs, that runs from Hedo-no-misaki, the northernmost point on the island, through Shuri, and then down to Kakinohana, where, heedless of rain or drought, water gushes forth from the bottom of the cliffs below the castle.

The fortress is small, with just two enclosures. The stone walls, believed to have been built by the second son of Minton anji (the Lord of Minton) are made of piled up uncut stone, though watchtower foundations in cut, stacked stone also remain on the northern and southern ends of the site. The site is today shielded from the sun by dense tree cover, but it is unclear whether this was the case when the fortress was actively in use.

As at most gusuku, the site contains a shrine, in this case to the god Afuihanateru-tsukasa-no-oibe, and a tomb for the anji, or lords, of the castle. Also as is the case for many gusuku sites, excavations have unearthed a variety of objects, mainly ceramics, including Okinawan ceramics, Sueki wares, and Chinese pottery as well.

References

• Kitahara Shûichi. A Journey to the Ryukyu Gusuku 琉球城紀行。 Naha: Miura Creative, 2003. p75.