Changes

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>

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.

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. From at least the early 17th century onward, if not earlier, Nakagusuku gusuku came to house administrative offices and guardhouses for the kingdom, continuing to function as a local administrative center for the surrounding area. [[Commodore Perry]] and his party visited Nakagusuku while in Okinawa in [[1853]], and his illustrator produced drawings of the castle which were included in the party's official report.

 

Following the [[Ryukyu shobun|abolition of the kingdom]] in the 1870s, the ''gusuku'' became the site of the local village office. The buildings on the site largely survived until they were burned down in the 1945 Battle of Okinawa. An amusement park was then built on the site, before being later dismantled.<ref>Uezato Takashi, ''Dare mo mita koto no nai Ryukyu'', Naha: Borderink (2008), 16.</ref> Along with the other ''gusuku'' sites designated as World Heritage Sites, Nakagusuku is today operated primarily as a historical site and tourist site, with a minimum of modern structures on-site.

==Layout==

==Layout==

The castle is located atop a 160m high hill, roughly two kilometers from Yagi Harbor. From the highest point in the site, Nakagusuku Bay (and the Pacific Ocean) is visible to the east, and the [[East China Sea]] to the west; the Katsuren and Chinen peninsulas are also visible. The stone walls are made primarily of cut Ryukyuan limestone.

The castle is located atop a 160m high hill, roughly two kilometers from Yagi Harbor. From the highest point in the site, Nakagusuku Bay (and the Pacific Ocean) is visible to the east, and the [[East China Sea]] to the west; the Katsuren and Chinen peninsulas are also visible. The stone walls are made primarily of cut Ryukyuan limestone. Sadly, little survives of any historical documentation which might have existed describing in greater detail the size, layout, or style of buildings on the site. However, some general information about the layout can be discerned from what remains, and from archaeological research.

The castle is organized into six enclosures (''kuruwa''), spread in a long, narrow shape from roughly east to west. Four enclosures run along the south side of the complex, from the southern enclosure (''minami no kuruwa'') and main gate (''seimon'') at the west end, through the first, second, and third enclosures. Two enclosures run along the north side, from the west enclosure (''nishi no kuruwa'') on the west end to the northern enclosure (''kita no kuruwa'') and rear gate (''uramon'') on the east end. The western enclosure is roughly 120 meters long, and was used in part as a horse-running grounds. The castle was well-supplied with fresh water from two wells/springs on the grounds - the ''ufugaa'' (大井戸) in the northern enclosure, and the ''miitugaa'' (未婦井戸) in the western enclosure.

The castle is organized into six enclosures (''kuruwa''), spread in a long, narrow shape from roughly east to west. Four enclosures run along the south side of the complex, from the southern enclosure (''minami no kuruwa'') and main gate (''seimon'') at the west end, through the first, second, and third enclosures. Two enclosures run along the north side, from the west enclosure (''nishi no kuruwa'') on the west end to the northern enclosure (''kita no kuruwa'') and rear gate (''uramon'') on the east end. The western enclosure is roughly 120 meters long, and was used in part as a horse-running grounds. The castle was well-supplied with fresh water from two wells/springs on the grounds - the ''ufugaa'' (大井戸) in the northern enclosure, and the ''miitugaa'' (未婦井戸) in the western enclosure.