Ryukyu seasonal observances
In the Ryûkyû Kingdom, members of the royal family and the scholar-aristocracy of Ryukyu, as well as others associated with the royal court, took part in a variety of ceremonies and observances on certain occasions of every year.
New Year
New Year's celebrations included, among other activities, three major ceremonies held in the Unaa (central plaza) of Shuri castle.
In the first of these ceremonies, called Ni-nu-faa nu unu-fee (子之方御拝), the king and other members of the royal family, along with members of the court and representatives of the common people, lined up in the unaa and bowed towards an altar, burning incense and offering prayers towards Heaven and the gods. The unaa plaza was paved in alternating rows of red brick and grey gravel, providing "marks" on which officials lined up; the leading officials of the Kumemura community, along with members of the Sanshikan and other top level officials stood in the front row, nearest to the altar after the royal family. Behind them were figures of anji and ueekata court rank, followed by those of peechin, satunushi, and other lower ranks. The officials all faced the Seiden (main palace hall) as the King made a formal appearance, accompanied by the banging of a gong and the blowing of trumpets (rappa and dôkaku), and by uzagaku (Chinese-style court music). He then made his way to the altar, located within the plaza, where he offered incense, and bowed along with all those behind him. The chagushi, a high-ranking Kumemura official, called out the protocols in Chinese, telling all those assembled when to bow (which they did three times), when to raise their heads from the bow, and when to call out "Wansui" (lit. "10,000 years," equiv. to J. banzai). Prayers were also offered to Heaven and to the gods, in celebration of the new year, and in hope for peace and prosperity.
In the second ceremony, known as Chô nu unu-fee (朝之御拝), court officials lined up in the unaa, facing the Seiden, to pay respects to the king, reaffirming their loyalty and offering new year's greetings to him. Officials lined up within the plaza according to their ranks, with the highest-ranking officials closest to the front, and the lowest-ranking ones at the back. Doors at the front of the second story of the palace were opened, revealing the King, on a throne. As in the Ni-nu-faa nu unu-fee ceremony, uzagaku, trumpets, and gongs accompanied the audience. The chagushi served as master of ceremonies, instructing all those assembled, in Chinese, to kowtow to the king, three times. Top-ranking officials, representing the entire court, approached an altar directly in front of the steps to the Seiden, lighting incense and offering prayers for the king's long life (wansui) and prosperity.
The third of the New Year's ceremonies is known as ufu tuui (大通り), and involved the king sharing bottles of awamori with the members of the court, in celebration of the New Year. Doors were opened on the first floor of the Seiden, revealing the king and queen seated on thrones, before a stand bearing bottles of awamori, and drinking cups. After the king and queen drank from the cups, pages (koshô) provided awamori to the gathered officials. A special type of liquor bottle known as utamasuki (御玉貫), covered within a beaded jacket, was used for this ritual purpose.
These ceremonies are annually reenacted at the castle today, albeit on the solar New Year's (January 1st and 2nd), rather than in accordance with the lunar calendar. The above descriptions are based in large part on the reenactments; how these differ from the ceremonies as actually performed historically is unclear.
References
- "Shinshun no en" (Shurijo Castle Park's New Year's Celebration), pamphlet, 2017.
