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Created page with "*''Destroyed: 1458'' *''Japanese'': 中城城 ''(Nakagusuku gusuku, Nakagusuku jou)'' Nakagusuku was an Okinawan ''gusuku'' fortress, on the east coast of central..."
*''Destroyed: [[1458]]''
*''Japanese'': [[中城]]城 ''(Nakagusuku gusuku, Nakagusuku jou)''
Nakagusuku was an Okinawan ''[[gusuku]]'' fortress, on the east coast of central [[Okinawa Island]]. Built in the Xth century, the castle fell in [[1458]] when its lord, [[Gosamaru]], was defeated by forces of the [[Ryukyu Kingdom|Ryûkyû Kingdom]]; the ruins have today been designated a UNESCO [[World Heritage Site]], as part of the broader umbrella grouping "Gusuku Sites and Related Properties of the Kingdom of Ryukyu."
==History==
The castle is most famous for the circumstances surrounding its fall. The fourth lord of Nakagusuku, Gosamaru, was assigned there by the royal court at [[Shuri]] in order to keep an eye on [[Amawari]], lord of [[Katsuren gusuku]], who the court suspected of plotting against the king.<ref name=summit>Okinawa G8 Summit Host Preparation Council. "Three Castles, Two Lords and a Ryukyuan Opera." [http://www.pref.okinawa.jp/summit/gusuku/gusuku_1b/index2.htm The Okinawa Summit 2000 Archives]. Accessed 25 July 2009.</ref> There, Gosamaru oversaw a renovation or expansion of the castle; though many accounts indicate that Nakagusuku was built at this time, Gosamaru was the fourth lord of the castle, so clearly it must have been built earlier.
Amawari flipped the tables on Gosamaru, however, by reporting to the court that it was Gosamaru who was plotting against the throne,<ref name=summit/> and before long, royal armies, aided by Amawari's own forces, had taken the castle. Gosamaru committed suicide. According to some accounts, he nobly refused to fight back, in order to show his loyalty to the kingdom.<ref>"Gosamaru." Okinawa rekishi jinmei jiten (沖縄歴史人名事典, "Encyclopedia of People of Okinawan History"), Naha: Okinawa Bunka-sha, 1996. p29.</ref> However, as both Nakagusuku and Katsuren locals maintain today lionizing legends about their local heroes, it is difficult to separate fact from fiction regarding the identity of either Gosamaru or Amawari as being truly as noble, or as evil, as the other town's legends would have it.
However, Amawari's wife, [[Momoto Fumiagari]] (according to some accounts, a granddaughter of Gosamaru), then reported to the court that the entire thing had been a plot by Amawari to eliminate his rival (Gosamaru) and to seize power for himself. As a result, that same year, Katsuren was also attacked and taken by royal forces, and Amawari killed. Today, some accounts suggest that the entire affair was actually a scheme by the royal government to eliminate both lords, thus consolidating power for the throne.<ref>"Amawari." ''Okinawa rekishi jinmei jiten'' (沖縄歴史人名事典, "Encyclopedia of People of Okinawan History"). Naha: Okinawa Bunka-sha, 1996. p10.; "Gosamaru-Amawari no hen." ''Okinawa konpakuto jiten'' (沖縄コンパクト事典, "Okinawa Compact Encyclopedia"). Ryukyu Shimpo (琉球新報). 1 March 2003. Accessed 25 July 2009.</ref>
At some point, the ''[[magiri]]'' (district) of Nakagusuku became the traditional seat of the Crown Prince. As a result, the Crown Prince's residence in Shuri was named [[Nakagusuku udun]] ("the Nakagusuku Palace"); it is not to be confused with the castle.
==Layout==
==References==
*Plaques on-site at Nakagusuku castle ruins.
*Pamphlets available on-site at Nakagusuku castle ruins.
<references/>
[[Category:Ryukyu]]
[[Category:Muromachi Period]]
[[Category:Castles]]
*''Japanese'': [[中城]]城 ''(Nakagusuku gusuku, Nakagusuku jou)''
Nakagusuku was an Okinawan ''[[gusuku]]'' fortress, on the east coast of central [[Okinawa Island]]. Built in the Xth century, the castle fell in [[1458]] when its lord, [[Gosamaru]], was defeated by forces of the [[Ryukyu Kingdom|Ryûkyû Kingdom]]; the ruins have today been designated a UNESCO [[World Heritage Site]], as part of the broader umbrella grouping "Gusuku Sites and Related Properties of the Kingdom of Ryukyu."
==History==
The castle is most famous for the circumstances surrounding its fall. The fourth lord of Nakagusuku, Gosamaru, was assigned there by the royal court at [[Shuri]] in order to keep an eye on [[Amawari]], lord of [[Katsuren gusuku]], who the court suspected of plotting against the king.<ref name=summit>Okinawa G8 Summit Host Preparation Council. "Three Castles, Two Lords and a Ryukyuan Opera." [http://www.pref.okinawa.jp/summit/gusuku/gusuku_1b/index2.htm The Okinawa Summit 2000 Archives]. Accessed 25 July 2009.</ref> There, Gosamaru oversaw a renovation or expansion of the castle; though many accounts indicate that Nakagusuku was built at this time, Gosamaru was the fourth lord of the castle, so clearly it must have been built earlier.
Amawari flipped the tables on Gosamaru, however, by reporting to the court that it was Gosamaru who was plotting against the throne,<ref name=summit/> and before long, royal armies, aided by Amawari's own forces, had taken the castle. Gosamaru committed suicide. According to some accounts, he nobly refused to fight back, in order to show his loyalty to the kingdom.<ref>"Gosamaru." Okinawa rekishi jinmei jiten (沖縄歴史人名事典, "Encyclopedia of People of Okinawan History"), Naha: Okinawa Bunka-sha, 1996. p29.</ref> However, as both Nakagusuku and Katsuren locals maintain today lionizing legends about their local heroes, it is difficult to separate fact from fiction regarding the identity of either Gosamaru or Amawari as being truly as noble, or as evil, as the other town's legends would have it.
However, Amawari's wife, [[Momoto Fumiagari]] (according to some accounts, a granddaughter of Gosamaru), then reported to the court that the entire thing had been a plot by Amawari to eliminate his rival (Gosamaru) and to seize power for himself. As a result, that same year, Katsuren was also attacked and taken by royal forces, and Amawari killed. Today, some accounts suggest that the entire affair was actually a scheme by the royal government to eliminate both lords, thus consolidating power for the throne.<ref>"Amawari." ''Okinawa rekishi jinmei jiten'' (沖縄歴史人名事典, "Encyclopedia of People of Okinawan History"). Naha: Okinawa Bunka-sha, 1996. p10.; "Gosamaru-Amawari no hen." ''Okinawa konpakuto jiten'' (沖縄コンパクト事典, "Okinawa Compact Encyclopedia"). Ryukyu Shimpo (琉球新報). 1 March 2003. Accessed 25 July 2009.</ref>
At some point, the ''[[magiri]]'' (district) of Nakagusuku became the traditional seat of the Crown Prince. As a result, the Crown Prince's residence in Shuri was named [[Nakagusuku udun]] ("the Nakagusuku Palace"); it is not to be confused with the castle.
==Layout==
==References==
*Plaques on-site at Nakagusuku castle ruins.
*Pamphlets available on-site at Nakagusuku castle ruins.
<references/>
[[Category:Ryukyu]]
[[Category:Muromachi Period]]
[[Category:Castles]]