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[[File:Shiseibyo-gate.jpg|right|thumb|320px|The main gate to the Shiseibyô on Kume Ôdôri]]
[[File:Shiseibyo-gate.jpg|right|thumb|320px|The main gate to the Shiseibyô on Kume Ôdôri]]
[[Image:Shiseibyo.jpg|right|thumb|300px|The Tensonbyô (left) and Tenpigû (right), with a stone in honor of [[Tei Junsoku]] visible in the far background.]]
[[Image:Shiseibyo.jpg|right|thumb|300px|The Tensonbyô (left) and Tenpigû (right), with a stone in honor of [[Tei Junsoku]] visible in the far background.]]
*''Established: [[1674]]''
*''Other Names'': 孔子廟 ''(Koushibyou; lit. "Confucius shrine")''
*''Other Names'': 孔子廟 ''(Koushibyou; lit. "Confucius shrine")''
*''Japanese'': 至聖廟 ''(Shiseibyou)''
*''Japanese'': 至聖廟 ''(Shiseibyou)''
The Shiseibyô is a [[Confucianism|Confucian]] temple in [[Kumemura]], in [[Naha]], [[Okinawa]]. Originally built in [[1646]] by King [[Sho Tei|Shô Tei]], and recognized as a gift from [[Qing Dynasty|Qing]] [[Emperor Kangxi]], it was one of the key centers of Chinese learning and Confucian observance in Kumemura.
The Shiseibyô is a [[Confucianism|Confucian]] temple in [[Kumemura]], in [[Naha]], [[Okinawa]]. Originally built in [[1674]] by King [[Sho Tei|Shô Tei]], and recognized as a gift from [[Qing Dynasty|Qing]] [[Emperor Kangxi]], it was one of the key centers of Chinese learning and Confucian observance in Kumemura.
Today, Naha is home to two reconstructions of the shrine: one opened in 2013 in the Matsuyama neighborhood, adjacent to the [[Fukushuen|Fukushûen]] (Fuzhou Gardens), and one built in 1975 on the original site of the Tensonbyô, near Naminoue Beach. A statue of [[Confucius]] was also erected in 1975, on the original site of the Shiseibyô, near Izumisaki Bridge.
==History & Layout==
The shrine was first built in 1674, but traces its origins to [[1610]], when [[Sai Ken]] (Kiyuna ''[[ueekata]]''), returned to Ryûkyû from China, having visited Confucius' birthplace, [[Qufu]]. He brought with him sacred images of Confucius and the Four Correlates ([[Mencius]], [[Yanzi]], [[Zengzi]], and [[Zisi]]), and initiated the annual observance of Confucian rituals, held at the homes of locals.
The Meirindô (明倫堂), located across the plaza from the two smaller shrines, is regarded as the first public school in Okinawa. Originally established in [[1718]] by [[Tei Junsoku]] as a school for the aristocratic children of the exclusive Kumemura community, the Meirindô later took on functions as a municipal office, and then as a public school.
The temple grounds include five buildings, as well as one main gate, called the Shiseimon (至聖門). The main worship hall, called the Taiseiden (大成殿), is located directly across an open, grassy, square plaza, facing the main gate. It enshrines Confucius and the Four Correlates. Five-clawed dragon designs on the hall's pillars and stairs match those at the Confucius Shrine in Qufu. The five-clawed dragon is an exceptionally elite symbol, and is normally restricted to the use of the Chinese Emperor; contexts honoring Confucius are one of the few exceptions.
Two smaller shrines sit to one side of the plaza, on one's left as one enters the main gate and faces the Taiseiden. The first of these, the Tenpigû (天妃宮), enshrines [[Tenpi]], also known as Mazu or Matsu, a goddess of the sea and of navigation. The other smaller shrine, called Tensonbyô (天尊廟), originally established on the site during the reign of the [[Yongle Emperor]] ([[1403]]-[[1424]]), enshrines the spirits of those who have died in defense of the [[Ryukyu Kingdom|Ryûkyû Kingdom]] (or of Okinawa otherwise), along with a number of [[Taoism|Taoist]] deities who are said to protect the kingdom, including [[Guan Yu]] and the [[Dragon King]]. The Keiseishi, a small shrine to Confucius' father [[Shuliang He]] and the fathers of the Four Correlates, was constructed on the grounds in [[1718]].
The temple was rebuilt following its destruction in World War II, and is today located immediately next to the Buddhist temple [[Gokoku-ji (Okinawa)|Gokoku-ji]] and [[Naminoue Shrine]], facing Kume Ôdôri (Kume Avenue), a short distance from Naminoue Beach. A bronze statue of [[Confucius]] stands at the temple's former location, along with stone markers for the temple, and for the Meirindô school. Meanwhile, a second reconstruction of the original temple opened in 2013 elsewhere in Kume, just behind the Fukushûen, adjacent to Matsuyama Park. This second temple features largely the same layout, with a very similar main gate, main hall, and Meirindô, albeit without the smaller shrines to the left, or the stone monuments.
The Meirindô (明倫堂), located across the plaza from the two smaller shrines, is regarded as the first public school in Okinawa. Originally established in 1718 by [[Tei Junsoku]] as a school for the aristocratic children of the exclusive Kumemura community, it hosted classes in Chinese language, the Confucian classics, and bureaucratic & diplomatic skills, as well as serving as the administrative center of Kumemura from [[1769]] onwards. The Meirindô later took on functions as a municipal office, and then as a public school; today, public events, lectures, and Confucianism classes take place there.
Following the overthrow of the kingdom, in [[1879]], the temple grounds, its buildings, libraries, and accoutrements became the property of the State. They were granted back to the city of Naha in [[1902]], and then transferred to the Kume Sôseikai in 1915. This is an organization founded in 1914, which then oversaw the temple, and organized the annual Confucian ceremonies. After the destruction of the temple in 1944-1945, the association was revived in 1962.
The temple was rebuilt in 1975 following its destruction in World War II, on the original site of the Tensonbyô, in Naha's Wakasa neighborhood. This modern location puts the shrine a short distance from Naminoue Beach, immediately next to the Buddhist temple [[Gokoku-ji (Okinawa)|Gokoku-ji]] and [[Naminoue Shrine]], facing Kume Ôdôri (Kume Avenue). Three large stone monuments can be found in the far corners of the grounds, and raised on slight elevations. One dedicated to Confucius stands to the right of the main worship hall, above the Meirindô, while two dedicated respectively to Tei Junsoku and to Ryukyuan royal advisor & regent [[Sai On]] stand to the left.
A bronze statue of [[Confucius]] was erected in 1975 as well, at the temple's former location, along with stone markers for the temple, and for the Meirindô school. In 2013, a second reconstruction of the original temple opened elsewhere in Kume, just behind the Fukushûen, adjacent to Matsuyama Park. This second temple features largely the same layout, with a very similar main gate, main hall, and Meirindô, albeit without the smaller shrines to the left, or the stone monuments.
==Kushiumachi==
The shrine hosts an annual ceremony called ''kushiumachi'' on September 28 each year, said to be Confucius' birthday. The ceremony honors Confucius and the Four Correlates (Yanzi, Zisi, Zhengzi, and Mencius), and was previously a national festival of the Ryûkyû Kingdom. It remains a prominent event today, attended on occasion by figures such as the Mayor of Naha.
The ceremony got its start after Sai Ken brought sculptures of Confucius & the Four Correlates back from Qufu in 1610. It was originally held at the private homes of members of the Kumemura community, but once the Shiseibyô was built, beginning in [[1676]], the ceremony came to be held there. It involves making offerings of pork, silk, chicken, fish, sugar cane, fruit, [[awamori]], and the like, along with recitations from the [[Analects]], and various other ritual activities. The ''[[Sanshikan]]'' began conducting the festival in [[1719]], and the ''kushiumachi'' became a national festival. Following the overthrow of the kingdom, it returned to being run by Kume locals; a group was established in 1914 to coordinate the ceremonies, which they continued into the 1940s. The observance of the ''kushiumachi'' was discontinued in the wake of World War II, but was resumed once the Shiseibyô was reestablished in 1975. Though performed for a time in Western-style formal wear, from 2009, those conducting the rituals have dressed in traditional Ryukyuan court costume.
==References==
==References==
*Explanatory plaques on-site at Shiseibyô.
*Explanatory plaques on-site at Shiseibyô.
*Pamphlets available on-site.
*"[http://ryukyushimpo.jp/news/storyid-41320-storytopic-121.html Kôshi-byô]." ''Okinawa Compact Encyclopedia'' 沖縄コンパクト事典. Ryûkyû Shimpô. 1 March 2003.
*"[http://ryukyushimpo.jp/news/storyid-41320-storytopic-121.html Kôshi-byô]." ''Okinawa Compact Encyclopedia'' 沖縄コンパクト事典. Ryûkyû Shimpô. 1 March 2003.
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