Changes

For certain ceremonies, including New Year's celebrations and those occasions when the king formally dispatched a missive to the Chinese Emperor, the throne (御轎椅, O: ''uchuui'') would be moved forward, and shutters on the front of the castle opened, so that the king would look down from under the ''karahafu'' gable upon the courtiers gathered in the ''unâ''<ref name=seiden/>.

For certain ceremonies, including New Year's celebrations and those occasions when the king formally dispatched a missive to the Chinese Emperor, the throne (御轎椅, O: ''uchuui'') would be moved forward, and shutters on the front of the castle opened, so that the king would look down from under the ''karahafu'' gable upon the courtiers gathered in the ''unâ''<ref name=seiden/>.

A room in the southeast corner of the second floor was used for personal private devotions to the Ryukyuan deities, and for certain religious rituals overseen by the ''kikoe-ôgimi'' (high priestess)<ref name=seiden/>.

A room in the southeast corner of the second floor known as ''osen mikocha'' was used for personal private devotions to the Ryukyuan deities, and for certain religious rituals overseen by the ''kikoe-ôgimi'' (high priestess)<ref name=seiden/>. It contained an altar known as ''utuku'' (御床) where the castle's [[hearth deity]] was enshrined, and where new ''nyokan'' (priestess-officials) were confirmed in their appointments.<ref>Explanatory plaque, "Osen mikocha," Shuri castle.[https://www.flickr.com/photos/toranosuke/29204105154/in/photostream/]</ref>

The third floor was not intended for active use or habitation, but only for architectural purposes including ventilation<ref name=seiden/>.

The third floor was not intended for active use or habitation, but only for architectural purposes including ventilation<ref name=seiden/>.