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Tamaudun is the royal mausoleum of the [[Ryukyu Kingdom|Ryûkyû Kingdom]]. It was originally built in [[1501]] by King [[Sho Shin|Shô Shin]] to house the remains of his father, King [[Sho En|Shô En]].

Tamaudun is the royal mausoleum of the [[Ryukyu Kingdom|Ryûkyû Kingdom]]. It was originally built in [[1501]] by King [[Sho Shin|Shô Shin]] to house the remains of his father, King [[Sho En|Shô En]].

The mausoleum is located a short distance to the west of [[Shuri castle]], and has been designated a National Cultural Property and Historical Site,<ref>Kadekawa Manabu 嘉手川学 (ed.). ''Okinawa Chanpurû jiten'' 沖縄チャンプルー事典. Yamakei Publishers, 2001. p56.</ref> as well as being included alongside Shuri and other ''[[gusuku]]'' (Okinawan castles) in the 'Gusuku Sites and Related Properties of the Kingdom of Ryukyu' [[World Heritage Sites|World Heritage Site]].<ref>"[http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/972 Gusuku Sites and Related Properties of the Kingdom of Ryukyu]." UNESCO World Heritage Sites official website. 2012.</ref> The compound consists of three chambers in one large stone building carved directly into the limestone bedrock, located behind two courtyards encircled by stone walls. A pair of guardian statues stand atop the structure.

The mausoleum is located a short distance to the west of [[Shuri castle]], and has been designated a National Cultural Property and Historical Site,<ref>Kadekawa Manabu 嘉手川学 (ed.). ''Okinawa Chanpurû jiten'' 沖縄チャンプルー事典. Yamakei Publishers, 2001. p56.</ref> as well as being included alongside Shuri and other ''[[gusuku]]'' (Okinawan castles) in the 'Gusuku Sites and Related Properties of the Kingdom of Ryukyu' [[World Heritage Sites|World Heritage Site]].<ref>"[http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/972 Gusuku Sites and Related Properties of the Kingdom of Ryukyu]." UNESCO World Heritage Sites official website. 2012.</ref> The compound consists of three chambers in one large stone building carved directly into the limestone bedrock, and topped with stone guardian statues. Access to the main building is through a pair of courtyards, each defined by rough limestone walls, and each with a single gate in a distinctive Okinawan style. A stele in the outer courtyard, erected at the time of the mausoleum's construction, states the provisions for being entombed at Tamaudun, and lists nine names, including that of Shô Shin.

The kings and queens of the Ryûkyû Kingdom are entombed in the eastern chamber, along with a number of crown princes and princesses. Other members of the royal family are entombed in the western chamber, while the central chamber was not intended for permanent entombment, though a single funerary urn containing an unidentified individual's remains does remain there. Rather, the central chamber was used for the ''senkotsu'' ritual. As in traditional Okinawan commoners' funerary ritual, after death a body was placed in the central chamber until all that remained was bones; the bones were then ritually washed, and placed in a funerary urn which would then be entombed permanently in the western or eastern chamber.

The kings and queens of the Ryûkyû Kingdom are entombed in the eastern chamber, along with a number of crown princes and princesses. Other members of the royal family are entombed in the western chamber, while the central chamber was not intended for permanent entombment, though a single funerary urn containing an unidentified individual's remains does remain there. Rather, the central chamber was used for the ''senkotsu'' ritual. As in traditional Okinawan commoners' funerary ritual, after death a body was placed in the central chamber until all that remained was bones; the bones were then ritually washed, and placed in a funerary urn which would then be entombed permanently in the western or eastern chamber.

The compound took considerable damage in the 1945 battle of Okinawa, but survived mostly intact. The structure survives today, though the stone has been significantly blackened, not primarily by the bombing, but simply by age. Today, a visitor center near the entrance to the compound includes a small permanent exhibit gallery with models of the mausoleum, describing its history and layout.

The compound took considerable damage in the 1945 battle of Okinawa, but survived mostly intact. The structure survives today, though the stone has been significantly blackened, not primarily by the bombing, but simply by age. Today, a visitor center near the entrance to the compound includes a small permanent exhibit gallery with models of the mausoleum, describing its history and layout.

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