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Originally a [[utaki|sacred space]] of the native [[Ryukyuan religion]], due to its location and natural beauty, it was dedicated to ''[[nirai kanai]]'', the mythical source of all life, and to the sea. At some point it came to be known as ''Hana [[gusuku]]'' and ''Nanminsan''<ref>''Nanmin'' is the [[Okinawan language|Okinawan]] reading of 波上, meaning "above the waves", which is pronounced as Naminoue in [[Japanese language|Japanese]].</ref>, and later was incorporated into the Japanese system of Shinto shrines.
Originally a [[utaki|sacred space]] of the native [[Ryukyuan religion]], due to its location and natural beauty, it was dedicated to ''[[nirai kanai]]'', the mythical source of all life, and to the sea. At some point it came to be known as ''Hana [[gusuku]]'' and ''Nanminsan''<ref>''Nanmin'' is the [[Okinawan language|Okinawan]] reading of 波上, meaning "above the waves", which is pronounced as Naminoue in [[Japanese language|Japanese]].</ref>, and later was incorporated into the Japanese system of Shinto shrines.
The shrine contains a temple bell cast in Korea in [[956]], though the details of how it came to be there are unclear.
==History==
==History==
According to the historical document ''[[Ryukyu-koku yurai-ki|Ryûkyû-koku yûrai-ki]]'' (琉球国由来記, "Record of the Origin of the [[Kingdom of Ryukyu|Kingdom of Ryûkyû]]), a [[Buddhist temple]] was founded on the site, to be associated with the shrine, in [[1367]], by [[Raiju|Raijû]], a monk from Japan's [[Satsuma province]]. This was called ''Naminoue-san [[Gokoku-ji (Okinawa)|Gokoku-ji]]'' (波上山護国寺, "Temple for the Protection of the Country, Naminoue Mountain").
According to the historical document ''[[Ryukyu-koku yurai-ki|Ryûkyû-koku yûrai-ki]]'' (琉球国由来記, "Record of the Origin of the [[Kingdom of Ryukyu|Kingdom of Ryûkyû]]), a [[Buddhist temple]] was founded on the site, to be associated with the shrine, in [[1367]], by [[Raiju|Raijû]], a monk from Japan's [[Satsuma province]]. This was called ''Naminoue-san [[Gokoku-ji (Okinawa)|Gokoku-ji]]'' (波上山護国寺, "Temple for the Protection of the Country, Naminoue Mountain").
Another Buddhist monk, [[Nisshu Shonin|Nisshû Shônin]], is said to have himself, in [[1522]], carved three sculptures - one of [[Amida]], one of Thousand-Armed [[Kannon]], and one of [[Yakushi]] - and placed them in three halls at Naminoue. These statues were later moved to the Gokoku-ji, and so escaped harm when the main hall of the Naminoue temple burned down in [[1633]]/6, when [[Raiyu osho|Raiyû Oshô]] was chief priest there. Two years later, [[Raikei osho|Raikei Oshô]] of [[Kooji|Kôôji]], who had been sent to Japan by King [[Sho Ho|Shô Hô]] to obtain three Buddhist sculptures, returned and rebuilt the temple.<ref name=jiten>"Naminoue-gû" 波上宮。 ''Okinawa Encyclopedia – Okinawa daihyakka jiten'' 沖縄大百科事典。Naha: Okinawa Times, 1983. vol. 3. pp78-79.</ref>
The shrine then came to be associated with protection of the many ships coming and going from Naha's port, as Okinawa's trade with Korea, China, Japan, and regions to the south expanded. Prayers were made for safe journeys, and ''kami'' of the sea, of navigation and related matters were enshrined there. In addition, at the beginning of each year, the King visited the shrine and formally prayed on behalf of all the nation for good harvests and good fishing, and for the peace and prosperity of the nation. Thus, Naminoue came to be the top shrine of the kingdom. It was officially recorded as such in 1605, in ''Ryûkyû Shintô-ki'' (A Record of Ryûkyû Shinto) by Taichû Shônin, a Japanese Buddhist monk.
The shrine then came to be associated with protection of the many ships coming and going from Naha's port, as Okinawa's trade with Korea, China, Japan, and regions to the south expanded. Prayers were made for safe journeys, and ''kami'' of the sea, of navigation and related matters were enshrined there. In addition, at the beginning of each year, the King visited the shrine and formally prayed on behalf of all the nation for good harvests and good fishing, and for the peace and prosperity of the nation. Thus, Naminoue came to be the top shrine of the kingdom. It was officially recorded as such in 1605, in ''Ryûkyû Shintô-ki'' (A Record of Ryûkyû Shinto) by Taichû Shônin, a Japanese Buddhist monk.
Following the [[Meiji Restoration]], the Kingdom of Ryûkyû was dissolved and formally annexed by Japan as Okinawa Prefecture. The shrine was formally established as a Shinto shrine under the [[Imperial Household Agency]] in [[1890]], and designated as the shrine for the protection of the tranquility of all Okinawa (沖縄総鎮守社, ''Okinawa sôchinshu sha''). In 1924, it was officially designated the center of religious affairs on the island. Symbols of [[Minamoto no Tametomo]], and Ryukyuan kings [[Shunten]], [[Sho En|Shô En]], [[Sho Nei|Shô Nei]], and [[Sho Tai|Shô Tai]] were enshrined there as the primary objects of worship, as part of efforts to integrate the Ryukyuan royal line into the Japanese system of [[kazoku|nobility]] and Imperial authority<ref>Kerr, George H. (2000). ''Okinawa: the History of an Island People''. (revised ed.) Boston: Tuttle Publishing. p452.</ref>.
Following the [[Meiji Restoration]], the Kingdom of Ryûkyû was dissolved and formally annexed by Japan as Okinawa Prefecture. The shrine was formally established as a Shinto shrine under the [[Imperial Household Agency]] on [[1890]]/1/20<ref name=jiten/>, and designated as the shrine for the protection of the tranquility of all Okinawa (沖縄総鎮守社, ''Okinawa sôchinshu sha''). In 1924, it was officially designated the center of religious affairs on the island. Symbols of [[Minamoto no Tametomo]], and Ryukyuan kings [[Shunten]], [[Sho En|Shô En]], [[Sho Nei|Shô Nei]], and [[Sho Tai|Shô Tai]] were enshrined there as the primary objects of worship, as part of efforts to integrate the Ryukyuan royal line into the Japanese system of [[kazoku|nobility]] and Imperial authority<ref>Kerr, George H. (2000). ''Okinawa: the History of an Island People''. (revised ed.) Boston: Tuttle Publishing. p452.</ref>.
During the [[First Sino-Japanese War|Sino-Japanese War]] (1894-5) and [[Russo-Japanese War]] (1904-5), it was common for women to come to Naminoue to pray that their sons be deemed unfit for military service to the Japanese Empire<ref>Kerr. p460.</ref>.
During the [[First Sino-Japanese War|Sino-Japanese War]] (1894-5) and [[Russo-Japanese War]] (1904-5), it was common for women to come to Naminoue to pray that their sons be deemed unfit for military service to the Japanese Empire<ref>Kerr. p460.</ref>.
The shrine was rebuilt in 1923 to better match Japanese Shinto shrine architectural styles, and so, today, the unique or distinctive Ryukyuan elements of the shrine's architecture have been lost.
The shrine was destroyed in the 1945 battle of Okinawa; the ''honden'' (main hall) and shrine office were rebuilt in 1953, as was the worship hall (''haiden''), eight years later. Construction of a number of other buildings, including a number of smaller shrines within the grounds, was completed in 1993.
The shrine was destroyed in the 1945 battle of Okinawa; the ''honden'' (main hall) and shrine office were rebuilt in 1953, as was the worship hall (''haiden''), eight years later. Construction of a number of other buildings, including a number of smaller shrines within the grounds, was completed in 1993.