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The ''Unâ'' (御庭) 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. Red and white tiles form ranks (''sen'', 磚) filling the plaza and marking where officials and aristocrats of various ranks would stand for these ceremonies; an aisle in the tile patterns leading directly across the plaza from the Hôshinmon to the Seiden was called the ''ukimichi'' (浮道, lit. "floating path") in Japanese, and was used only by the king, representatives of the Chinese Emperor, and others of similar rank<ref>"Shisetsu annai: Unâ." Shuri Castle Park Official Website.</ref>.　Overall, the plaza, and buildings within it, were conceived as a miniature of the Forbidden City (the Imperial Palace) in Beijing<ref name=Turnbull44/>.

The ''Unâ'' (御庭) 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. Red and white tiles form ranks (''sen'', 磚) filling the plaza and marking where officials and aristocrats of various ranks would stand for these ceremonies; an aisle in the tile patterns leading directly across the plaza from the Hôshinmon to the Seiden was called the ''ukimichi'' (浮道, lit. "floating path") in Japanese, and was used only by the king, representatives of the Chinese Emperor, and others of similar rank<ref>"Shisetsu annai: Unâ." Shuri Castle Park Official Website.</ref>.　Overall, the plaza, and buildings within it, were conceived as a miniature of the Forbidden City (the Imperial Palace) in Beijing<ref name=Turnbull44/>.

The two-story Nanden (南殿), or "South Hall," on one size of the plaza, is known as the ''Hae-no-udun'' (南風御殿) in Okinawan. It and the one-story Bandokoro (番所) attached to it are Japanese-style structures which housed Satsuma officials and Japanese-style ceremonies. Records indicate it was first built in the 1620s, though archaeological excavations have discovered earlier foundations. There do not appear to be any records of it ever having been painted and so, in accordance with one school of Japanese traditional architectural customs, it remains composed primarily of bare wood. The two buildings today include exhibition spaces, where artifacts related to the castle and the royal family are put on display<ref>"Shisetsu annai: Nanden / Bandokoro." Shuri Castle Park Official Website.</ref>. Attached to the eastern end of the Nanden was a space known as the Kinjûtsumesho (近習詰所), and beyond that, a small writing studio, or ''okushoin'' (奥書院). Three by three and a half bays (''ma'') in size, it was used by the king as a place to take a break from his duties, and also contained a space where the ''okushoin'' magistrate (''okushoin [[bujo|bujô]]'') worked. The ''okushoin'' faced a garden to the south, and the Kawarume utaki to the east.<ref name=plaques>Plaques on-site.</ref>

The two-story Nanden (南殿), or "South Hall," on one size of the plaza, is known as the ''Fee-no-udun'' (南風御殿) in Okinawan. It and the one-story Bandokoro (番所) attached to it are Japanese-style structures which housed Satsuma officials and Japanese-style ceremonies. Records indicate it was first built in the 1620s, though archaeological excavations have discovered earlier foundations. There do not appear to be any records of it ever having been painted and so, in accordance with one school of Japanese traditional architectural customs, it remains composed primarily of bare wood. The two buildings today include exhibition spaces, where artifacts related to the castle and the royal family are put on display<ref>"Shisetsu annai: Nanden / Bandokoro." Shuri Castle Park Official Website.</ref>. Attached to the eastern end of the Nanden was a space known as the Kinjûtsumesho (近習詰所), and beyond that, a small writing studio, or ''okushoin'' (奥書院). Three by three and a half bays (''ma'') in size, it was used by the king as a place to take a break from his duties, and also contained a space where the ''okushoin'' magistrate (''okushoin [[bujo|bujô]]'') worked. The ''okushoin'' faced a garden to the south, and the Kawarume utaki to the east.<ref name=plaques>Plaques on-site.</ref>

The Hokuden (北殿), or "North Hall," also known as the ''giseiden'' (議政殿), faces the Nanden across the plaza, and is known as the ''Nishi-no-udun'' (北之御殿) in Okinawan. Built around 1506-1521, it is a structure more Chinese in style, which housed visiting Chinese officials and Chinese-style ceremonies and, as the site of the chief administrative offices of the royal government, was on an average day the busiest and most active building in the compound. Commodore Perry was also entertained and banqueted here on two occasions when he forced his way into the castle. Like the Nanden, the Hokuden today contains exhibition space devoted to material related to the castle, the royal family, and the kingdom's relationship with China<ref>"Shisetsu annai: Hokuden." Shuri Castle Park Official Website.</ref>.

The Hokuden (北殿), or "North Hall," also known as the ''giseiden'' (議政殿), faces the Nanden across the plaza, and is known as the ''Nishi-no-udun'' (北之御殿) in Okinawan. Built around 1506-1521, it is a structure more Chinese in style, which housed visiting Chinese officials and Chinese-style ceremonies and, as the site of the chief administrative offices of the royal government, was on an average day the busiest and most active building in the compound. Commodore Perry was also entertained and banqueted here on two occasions when he forced his way into the castle. Like the Nanden, the Hokuden today contains exhibition space devoted to material related to the castle, the royal family, and the kingdom's relationship with China<ref>"Shisetsu annai: Hokuden." Shuri Castle Park Official Website.</ref>.