Changes

The ''kaazafu'' enclosure lies to the right, and stone steps lined with [[sakura|cherry trees]] lead higher and deeper into the compound. The ''uumyaa''<!--大庭--> enclosure contained the three chief palatial buildings in the complex: Hokuden and Nanden (North and South Halls), and Seiden (Main Hall), and served a similar function to the ''unaa'' at [[Shuri castle]], as the central plaza in which court rituals and political events took place.<ref name=plaques/> The next enclosure, moving further up the incline and closer towards the areas of central importance, is the ''uuchibaru''<!--御内原-->, which housed the women of the Nakijin court, and contained a sacred stone that represented the guardian deity of Nakijin. This sacred space was known as the Tenchiji-Amachiji, or the "upper ''[[utaki]]'' within the castle" (城内上の御嶽), and was off-limits to men; along with a site to the northwest of the ''ûmyaa'', identified in the ''Ryûkyû-koku yuraiki'' as the ''soitsugi'' or the "lower ''utaki'' within the castle" (城内下の御嶽), it was known as an ''ibe'' (イベ), a particularly sacred type of ''utaki''.<ref name=plaques/> The view from the ''uuchibaru'' was particularly good, allowing a view out over Kunigami, to the islands of [[Iheya Island|Iheya]] and [[Izena Island|Izena]], and on a particularly clear day, even as far as [[Yoronjima]].<ref name=plaques/>

The ''kaazafu'' enclosure lies to the right, and stone steps lined with [[sakura|cherry trees]] lead higher and deeper into the compound. The ''uumyaa''<!--大庭--> enclosure contained the three chief palatial buildings in the complex: Hokuden and Nanden (North and South Halls), and Seiden (Main Hall), and served a similar function to the ''unaa'' at [[Shuri castle]], as the central plaza in which court rituals and political events took place.<ref name=plaques/> The next enclosure, moving further up the incline and closer towards the areas of central importance, is the ''uuchibaru''<!--御内原-->, which housed the women of the Nakijin court, and contained a sacred stone that represented the guardian deity of Nakijin. This sacred space was known as the Tenchiji-Amachiji, or the "upper ''[[utaki]]'' within the castle" (城内上の御嶽), and was off-limits to men; along with a site to the northwest of the ''ûmyaa'', identified in the ''Ryûkyû-koku yuraiki'' as the ''soitsugi'' or the "lower ''utaki'' within the castle" (城内下の御嶽), it was known as an ''ibe'' (イベ), a particularly sacred type of ''utaki''.<ref name=plaques/> The view from the ''uuchibaru'' was particularly good, allowing a view out over Kunigami, to the islands of [[Iheya Island|Iheya]] and [[Izena Island|Izena]], and on a particularly clear day, even as far as [[Yoronjima]].<ref name=plaques/>

The topmost enclosure contains an additional shrine to the [[hearth deity]], or ''hinukan''.<ref name=kitahara/> The royal residence was located here, at the highest and innermost part of the complex, and was surrounded by a small garden with a spring.  Three shrines (''[[uganju]]'') stood at the highest point of the precipice.<ref name=kerr/> A path leads from here to a rear gate of the castle, called the Shijima-jô or Shigema-jô<!--志慶真門-->. Excavations in this area uncovered numerous Chinese [[celadon]]s, Vietnamese and Thai ceramics, and Chinese coins, indications of Nakijin's maritime power and activity.<ref name=kitahara/>

The topmost enclosure contains an additional shrine to the [[hearth deity]], or ''hinukan''.<ref name=kitahara/> The royal residence was located here, at the highest and innermost part of the complex, and was surrounded by a small garden with a spring.  Three shrines (''[[utaki|uganju]]'') stood at the highest point of the precipice.<ref name=kerr/> A path leads from here to a rear gate of the castle, called the Shijima-jô or Shigema-jô<!--志慶真門-->. Excavations in this area uncovered numerous Chinese [[celadon]]s, Vietnamese and Thai ceramics, and Chinese coins, indications of Nakijin's maritime power and activity.<ref name=kitahara/>

In a less inner enclosure, located at a somewhat lower elevation, were four wooden structures, including both administrative buildings and residences for certain of the castle's closest vassals<ref name=kerr/>. As was typical of ''gusuku'' construction at this time, the stonework of the walls was very solid, but quite rough, with a relative lack of precision fitting or fine cutting<ref name=kerr/>. Roughly 1500 meters of limestone castle wall remain today<ref>"[http://ryukyushimpo.jp/news/storyid-42403-storytopic-121.html Nakijin-jô-seki]." ''Okinawa Konpakuto Jiten'' (沖縄コンパクト事典, "Okinawa Compact Encyclopedia"). Ryukyu Shimpo. 1 March 2003. Accessed 29 September 2009.</ref>; stones are piled three to eight meters high, and two to three meters thick. A deep valley cut by the Shijima River which runs behind the castle makes it almost entirely unapproachable from that side.<ref name=kitahara/>

In a less inner enclosure, located at a somewhat lower elevation, were four wooden structures, including both administrative buildings and residences for certain of the castle's closest vassals<ref name=kerr/>. As was typical of ''gusuku'' construction at this time, the stonework of the walls was very solid, but quite rough, with a relative lack of precision fitting or fine cutting<ref name=kerr/>. Roughly 1500 meters of limestone castle wall remain today<ref>"[http://ryukyushimpo.jp/news/storyid-42403-storytopic-121.html Nakijin-jô-seki]." ''Okinawa Konpakuto Jiten'' (沖縄コンパクト事典, "Okinawa Compact Encyclopedia"). Ryukyu Shimpo. 1 March 2003. Accessed 29 September 2009.</ref>; stones are piled three to eight meters high, and two to three meters thick. A deep valley cut by the Shijima River which runs behind the castle makes it almost entirely unapproachable from that side.<ref name=kitahara/>

The castle saw three generations of rulers before being attacked and seized by the armies of Chûzan in [[1416]]. So-called "[[Warden of the North|wardens of the North]]" (''Hokuzan kanshu'') appointed by the royal government beginning in [[1422]] would continue to make their residence there for several centuries afterwards. Though these ''Hokuzan kanshu'' are generally regarded as serving a political and military strategic purpose in holding the north for the kingdom, [[Gregory Smits]] suggests that even more so than those considerations, their primary purpose was in facilitating the maintenance of particular spiritual rites by the [[Aoriyae]] priestesses, whose rites at Nakijin mirrored and complemented those performed at [[Sonohyan utaki]] at Shuri.<ref>Gregory Smits, ''Maritime Ryukyu'', University of Hawaii Press (2019), 96-97.</ref>

The castle saw three generations of rulers before being attacked and seized by the armies of Chûzan in [[1416]]. So-called "[[Warden of the North|wardens of the North]]" (''Hokuzan kanshu'') appointed by the royal government beginning in [[1422]] would continue to make their residence there for several centuries afterwards. Though these ''Hokuzan kanshu'' are generally regarded as serving a political and military strategic purpose in holding the north for the kingdom, [[Gregory Smits]] suggests that even more so than those considerations, their primary purpose was in facilitating the maintenance of particular spiritual rites at the castle's [[Kanahyan utaki]] by the [[Aoriyae]] priestesses, whose rites at Nakijin mirrored and complemented those performed at [[Sonohyan utaki]] at Shuri.<ref>Gregory Smits, ''Maritime Ryukyu'', University of Hawaii Press (2019), 96-97.</ref>

Nakijin castle was burned down by invading armies from [[Satsuma han]] in [[1609]],<ref name=pamph>Pamphlets available on-site.</ref> and though rebuilt to some extent, and briefly restored to use by the ''Hokuzan kanshu'', the post was abolished in [[1665]] and the castle left to ruin.<ref name=kitahara/>

Nakijin castle was burned down by invading armies from [[Satsuma han]] in [[1609]],<ref name=pamph>Pamphlets available on-site.</ref> and though rebuilt to some extent, and briefly restored to use by the ''Hokuzan kanshu'', the post was abolished in [[1665]] and the castle left to ruin.<ref name=kitahara/> The village immediately outside the walls of the castle similarly fell into decline and was ultimately abandoned; left as it was at that time, this area has today become a valuable archaeological site for understanding medieval and early modern Ryukyuan village life.<ref>Uezato Takashi, ''Dare mo mita koto no nai Ryukyu'', Naha: Borderink (2008), 12.</ref>

As a tourist site, the ruins are particularly known for the beautiful view out over the South China Sea, for the impressive grandeur of the castle walls, and for the overall amount of space taken up by the castle grounds<ref name=kadekawa>Kadekawa, Manabu. "Nakijin-jô-seki." ''Okinawa Chanpurû Jiten'' (沖縄チャンプルー事典, "Okinawa Champloo Encyclopedia"). Tokyo: Yamatokei Publishers, 2003. p55.</ref>. Hokuzan in general was characterized by wider spaces, or at least less dense settlement and population, than [[Nanzan]] and [[Chuzan|Chûzan]], the other kingdoms on the island at that time. Nakijin is also consistently among the first places in the country to see, and celebrate, the ''sakura'' blooming each year<ref name=kadekawa/>.

As a tourist site, the ruins are particularly known for the beautiful view out over the South China Sea, for the impressive grandeur of the castle walls, and for the overall amount of space taken up by the castle grounds<ref name=kadekawa>Kadekawa, Manabu. "Nakijin-jô-seki." ''Okinawa Chanpurû Jiten'' (沖縄チャンプルー事典, "Okinawa Champloo Encyclopedia"). Tokyo: Yamatokei Publishers, 2003. p55.</ref>. Hokuzan in general was characterized by wider spaces, or at least less dense settlement and population, than [[Nanzan]] and [[Chuzan|Chûzan]], the other kingdoms on the island at that time. Nakijin is also consistently among the first places in the country to see, and celebrate, the ''sakura'' blooming each year<ref name=kadekawa/>.