contributor
27,126
edits
Changes
more photos
==Layout==
==Layout==
[[Image:Shuri walls.jpg|thumb|right|250px|One section of the winding stone walls of the ''gusuku''.]]
The castle grounds cover roughly 46,000 square meters, extending roughly 400 meters from east to west, and 270 meters from north to south. The compound includes four gates in the outer wall, and eight gates in the inner complex<ref name=shimpo/>.
The castle grounds cover roughly 46,000 square meters, extending roughly 400 meters from east to west, and 270 meters from north to south. The compound includes four gates in the outer wall, and eight gates in the inner complex<ref name=shimpo/>.
===Unâ===
===Unâ===
[[Image:Shuri Una.jpg|right|thumb|250px|The ''unâ'' (central plaza), with the Nanden seen on the right of the Seiden.]]
The ''Unâ'' 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.
The ''Unâ'' 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.