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====Ouchibara====

====Ouchibara====

Beyond the Seiden lay a series of nine or so rooms/buildings which constituted the Ouchibara, the private residential areas of the palace. It housed the king and his immediate family (including both royal princesses, and royal princes who had not yet [[genpuku|come of age]]), as well as roughly one hundred court ladies; the king and other members of the royal family were the only men permitted in this portion of the palace. Women used the Shukujunmon or the Nakamon attached to the kitchens (Yuinchi, 寄満) to come in and out of the ''ouchibara''.<ref name=plaques/>

Beyond the Seiden lay a series of nine or so rooms/buildings which constituted the Ouchibara, the private residential areas of the palace. It housed the king and his immediate family (including both royal princesses, and royal princes who had not yet [[genpuku|come of age]]), as well as the various queens and concubines to the king; the king's mother and grandmother; wetnurses to the king, princes, and/or princesses; and roughly one hundred additional court ladies. These court ladies were divided into two main groups: one, the ''usuba gufuukuu'' 御側御奉公, were ladies-in-waiting who came from elite families (often of some relation to the royal family) and who were in service to the queen or royal concubines; the other, known as ''gusukunchu'' (城人, lit. "people of the palace/castle"), handled a wide range of palace business. The ''gusukunchu'' were selected from families from Naha or Shuri or from elsewhere in the kingdom, and helped look after the king and other members of the royal family.<ref name=women>Gallery labels, "Women of the Ouchibara," Shuri castle.[https://www.flickr.com/photos/toranosuke/15440305095/sizes/h/]</ref>

 

In addition to handling a variety of other responsibilities pertaining to the operation of the palace, the care of the royal family, and so forth, women of the Ouchibara also spent much time making thread, weaving cloth, and sewing garments; these included clothing for themselves, members of the royal family, and others, made from a variety of materials including ''[[bashofu|bashôfu]]'' and ''[[karamushi]]'', among others.<ref name=women/>

 

The king and other members of the royal family were the only men permitted in this portion of the palace. Women used the Shukujunmon or the Nakamon attached to the kitchens (Yuinchi, 寄満) to come in and out of the ''ouchibara''.<ref name=plaques/>

Four of the buildings which constituted the ''Ouchibara'' were organized around an open space directly behind the Seiden, known as the ''Kushi-nu-unaa'', or "rear garden" (後之御庭). These included the Yosoeden (世添殿),<ref name=yosoeden>The Shinbyôden and Yosoeden were first built in [[1753]]. Gallery labels, Tamaudun.[https://www.flickr.com/photos/toranosuke/15282268389/sizes/h/]</ref> West Storehouse (''Nishi-no-tôgura'', 西之当蔵), and court ladies' sleeping quarters (''nyokan kyoshitsu'', 女官居室).<ref name=plaques/> The Yosoeden was the chief residence of the queen, and the center of administration of the Ouchibara.

Four of the buildings which constituted the ''Ouchibara'' were organized around an open space directly behind the Seiden, known as the ''Kushi-nu-unaa'', or "rear garden" (後之御庭). These included the Yosoeden (世添殿),<ref name=yosoeden>The Shinbyôden and Yosoeden were first built in [[1753]]. Gallery labels, Tamaudun.[https://www.flickr.com/photos/toranosuke/15282268389/sizes/h/]</ref> West Storehouse (''Nishi-no-tôgura'', 西之当蔵), and court ladies' sleeping quarters (''nyokan kyoshitsu'', 女官居室).<ref name=plaques/> The Yosoeden was the chief residence of the queen, and the center of administration of the Ouchibara.

To the south of the Yosoeden, a door called the Saekimon (左掖門) or Kurashin-ujo (暗シン御門), located on the southern end of the Seiden, led from the Seiden into the Kugani-udun (黄金御殿), a two-story area containing living rooms and bedrooms for the king, queen, and queen mother. Behind this (to the east) was a long narrow area known as the Yuinchi, which contained kitchens where chefs and female servants prepared food for the court. Today, these two areas have been reconstructed, with the Kugani-udun hosting an exhibit space, and the Yuinchi serving as vital storage space.<ref name=plaques/> Another section of this same wing of the palace, a two-story section containing further living rooms, was known as the Niikee-udun (二階御殿); it connected into a small garden.

To the south of the Yosoeden, a door called the Saekimon (左掖門) or Kurashin-ujo (暗シン御門), located on the southern end of the Seiden, led from the Seiden into the Kugani-udun (黄金御殿), a two-story area containing living rooms and bedrooms for the king, queen, and queen mother. Behind this (to the east) was a long narrow area known as the Yuinchi, which contained kitchens where chefs and female servants prepared food for the court. Today, these two areas have been reconstructed, with the Kugani-udun hosting an exhibit space, and the Yuinchi serving as vital storage space.<ref name=plaques/> Another section of this same wing of the palace, a two-story section containing further living rooms, was known as the Niikee-udun (二階御殿); it connected into a small garden. Several of these buildings associated with the Ouchibara were among the last to be restored following the 1992 restoration of the Main Hall, only being completed in early 2019, less than a year before being destroyed or severely damaged in a major fire on 31 October 2019.

Deeper into the palace, to the east beyond the rear garden, were additional buildings such as the Yohokoriden (世誇殿) and Kanegura (金蔵); in the deepest portion of the palace, beyond the Hakuginmon gate, lay a space known as the ''shinbyôden'' (寝廟殿), and a viewing tower known as the Higashi-no-azana.<ref name=plaques/><ref name=yosoeden/> The Yohokoriden was the chief residence of royal princesses, but on the occasion of a king's death, the Crown Prince's accession ceremonies were held here. Meanwhile, the king's body would be carried into the ''shinbyôden'' via the ''hakuginmon'' ("Silver Gate," 白銀門), and would be laid there in state for a period.

Deeper into the palace, to the east beyond the rear garden, were additional buildings such as the Yohokoriden (世誇殿) and Kanegura (金蔵); in the deepest portion of the palace, beyond the Hakuginmon gate, lay a space known as the ''shinbyôden'' (寝廟殿), and a viewing tower known as the Higashi-no-azana.<ref name=plaques/><ref name=yosoeden/> The Yohokoriden was the chief residence of royal princesses, but on the occasion of a king's death, the Crown Prince's accession ceremonies were held here. Meanwhile, the king's body would be carried into the ''shinbyôden'' via the ''hakuginmon'' ("Silver Gate," 白銀門), and would be laid there in state for a period.