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The ''shicha-nu-unâ'' contains the "Shuri forest ''[[utaki]]''", or [[Suimui utaki]], a sacred grove surrounded by its own low stone walls, which features in myths about the origins of the kingdom, and appears numerous times in the ''[[Omoro Soshi|Omoro Sôshi]]'', a collection of Okinawan myths in the form of songs or poems. Another important sacred site related to the origins of the castle and the kingdom, the ''kyô-no-uchi'' (京之内), is located along the southern wall of the ''shicha-nu-unâ'' and contains a number of ''utaki'' within it, including one known as Madanmui utaki 真玉森御嶽.<ref>Also known as Madanmui gusuku and Kunda gusuku. Amidst the shift from the First to the Second Shô Dynasty following the death of King [[Sho Toku|Shô Toku]] in [[1469]], Toku's queen and heir, along with the heir's wet nurse, were slaughtered at Madanmui by forces loyal to the new king [[Sho En|Shô En]], and buried there. Smits, ''Maritime Ryukyu'', 122-124.</ref> The high priestess (''[[kikoe-ogimi|kikoe-ôgimi]]'') regularly performed rituals at sites within the Kyô-no-uchi to pray for the prosperity of the kingdom, safety for important sea voyages, good harvests and the like on behalf of the king and kingdom.<ref>"Shisetsu annai: Kyô no uchi." Shuri Castle Park Official Website.</ref> ''Noro'' (priestesses) traditionally made their way around these various sacred sites within the castle compound on four occasions each year. The ''kyô no uchi'' was traditionally forbidden to men as its sacred power was considered too strong for them; once the area was restored in the 2010s, however, it was opened to all visitors.<ref>"Hôdô shashin shû Shurijô" 報道写真集・首里城, Okinawa Times (2019), 37.</ref>
 
The ''shicha-nu-unâ'' contains the "Shuri forest ''[[utaki]]''", or [[Suimui utaki]], a sacred grove surrounded by its own low stone walls, which features in myths about the origins of the kingdom, and appears numerous times in the ''[[Omoro Soshi|Omoro Sôshi]]'', a collection of Okinawan myths in the form of songs or poems. Another important sacred site related to the origins of the castle and the kingdom, the ''kyô-no-uchi'' (京之内), is located along the southern wall of the ''shicha-nu-unâ'' and contains a number of ''utaki'' within it, including one known as Madanmui utaki 真玉森御嶽.<ref>Also known as Madanmui gusuku and Kunda gusuku. Amidst the shift from the First to the Second Shô Dynasty following the death of King [[Sho Toku|Shô Toku]] in [[1469]], Toku's queen and heir, along with the heir's wet nurse, were slaughtered at Madanmui by forces loyal to the new king [[Sho En|Shô En]], and buried there. Smits, ''Maritime Ryukyu'', 122-124.</ref> The high priestess (''[[kikoe-ogimi|kikoe-ôgimi]]'') regularly performed rituals at sites within the Kyô-no-uchi to pray for the prosperity of the kingdom, safety for important sea voyages, good harvests and the like on behalf of the king and kingdom.<ref>"Shisetsu annai: Kyô no uchi." Shuri Castle Park Official Website.</ref> ''Noro'' (priestesses) traditionally made their way around these various sacred sites within the castle compound on four occasions each year. The ''kyô no uchi'' was traditionally forbidden to men as its sacred power was considered too strong for them; once the area was restored in the 2010s, however, it was opened to all visitors.<ref>"Hôdô shashin shû Shurijô" 報道写真集・首里城, Okinawa Times (2019), 37.</ref>
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The ''[[keizuza]]'' (系図座) and ''yômotsuza'' (用物座) were also located in the ''shicha-nu-una''. These two offices handled, respectively, aristocrats' official geneologies, and supplies for the castle<ref>"Shisetsu annai: Keizusa / Yômotsuza." Shuri Castle Park Official Website.</ref>.
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The ''[[keizuza]]'' (系図座) and ''yômotsuza'' (用物座) were also located in the ''shicha-nu-una''. While the ''keizuza'' was the chief office overseeing the compilation of aristocratic genealogies and official kingdom histories, the ''yômotsuza'' managed supplies for the castle as well as goods prepared for presentation to the Ming or Qing imperial courts, Satsuma domain, and the Tokugawa shogunate.<ref>"Shisetsu annai: Keizusa / Yômotsuza." Shuri Castle Park Official Website.; Explanatory plaques, Shurijô Castle Park.[https://www.flickr.com/photos/toranosuke/15253505669/in/photostream/]</ref>.
    
The largest gate in the complex, the Hôshinmon (O: ''Kimihokori ujô''), leads into the central bailey, or ''unâ'' (J: ''honmaru''). Completed some time before 1562, the gate was overhauled in 1754 to better follow Chinese models. The structure was used as storage for documents and materials related to musical entertainments, tobacco, tea and the like, and for rituals and ceremonies; today, it serves as the central administrative office of the heritage site & public park. Of the three gateways in the Hôshinmon structure, use of the central one was restricted to the king, Chinese imperial envoys, and others of similar rank<ref>"Shisetsu annai: Hôshinmon." Shuri Castle Park Official Website.</ref>.
 
The largest gate in the complex, the Hôshinmon (O: ''Kimihokori ujô''), leads into the central bailey, or ''unâ'' (J: ''honmaru''). Completed some time before 1562, the gate was overhauled in 1754 to better follow Chinese models. The structure was used as storage for documents and materials related to musical entertainments, tobacco, tea and the like, and for rituals and ceremonies; today, it serves as the central administrative office of the heritage site & public park. Of the three gateways in the Hôshinmon structure, use of the central one was restricted to the king, Chinese imperial envoys, and others of similar rank<ref>"Shisetsu annai: Hôshinmon." Shuri Castle Park Official Website.</ref>.
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The ''Unâ'' (御庭) is a square, open plaza, bounded by the Hôshinmon on one side, the Seiden, the chief royal residence, facing it, and the Hokuden and Nanden on the remaining two sides. The plaza itself was the site of many important rituals and ceremonies, including New Year's ceremonies, and the formal investiture of each king, for which a symbolic model of the Chinese Imperial Court throne room would be constructed on the plaza. Red and white tiles form ranks (''sen'', 磚) filling the plaza and marking where officials and aristocrats of various ranks would stand for these ceremonies; a raised path cutting through the plaza and leading directly across the plaza from the Hôshinmon to the Seiden was called the ''ukimichi'' (浮道, lit. "floating path") in Japanese, and was used only by the king, representatives of the Chinese Emperor, and others of similar rank<ref>"Shisetsu annai: Unâ." Shuri Castle Park Official Website.</ref>. Originally raised some 15 cm above the plaza (hence the name "floating path"), the reconstructed ''ukimichi'' today is raised by only five cm.<ref>''Ukimichi no nazo'' 浮道のなぞ, ''Fee nu kaji'' 南ぬ風 36 (2015), 9.</ref> Overall, the plaza, and buildings within it, were conceived as a miniature of the Forbidden City (the Imperial Palace) in Beijing<ref name=Turnbull44/>.
 
The ''Unâ'' (御庭) is a square, open plaza, bounded by the Hôshinmon on one side, the Seiden, the chief royal residence, facing it, and the Hokuden and Nanden on the remaining two sides. The plaza itself was the site of many important rituals and ceremonies, including New Year's ceremonies, and the formal investiture of each king, for which a symbolic model of the Chinese Imperial Court throne room would be constructed on the plaza. Red and white tiles form ranks (''sen'', 磚) filling the plaza and marking where officials and aristocrats of various ranks would stand for these ceremonies; a raised path cutting through the plaza and leading directly across the plaza from the Hôshinmon to the Seiden was called the ''ukimichi'' (浮道, lit. "floating path") in Japanese, and was used only by the king, representatives of the Chinese Emperor, and others of similar rank<ref>"Shisetsu annai: Unâ." Shuri Castle Park Official Website.</ref>. Originally raised some 15 cm above the plaza (hence the name "floating path"), the reconstructed ''ukimichi'' today is raised by only five cm.<ref>''Ukimichi no nazo'' 浮道のなぞ, ''Fee nu kaji'' 南ぬ風 36 (2015), 9.</ref> Overall, the plaza, and buildings within it, were conceived as a miniature of the Forbidden City (the Imperial Palace) in Beijing<ref name=Turnbull44/>.
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The two-story Nanden (南殿), or "South Hall," on one size of the plaza, is known as the ''Fee-nu-udun'' (南風御殿) in Okinawan. A Japanese-style structure, it was regularly used for receiving Satsuma officials and for other Japanese-style ceremonies. The one-story Bandokoro (番所) attached to it was used by Ryukyuan officials departing for the day to pass off paperwork or duties to those arriving. Records indicate that the Nanden was first built c. [[1628]], though archaeological excavations have discovered earlier foundations. There do not appear to be any records of it ever having been painted and so, in accordance with one school of Japanese traditional architectural customs, it remains composed primarily of bare wood. The two buildings today include exhibition spaces, where artifacts related to the castle and the royal family are put on display<ref>"Shisetsu annai: Nanden / Bandokoro." Shuri Castle Park Official Website.</ref>. Attached to the eastern end of the Nanden was a space known as the Kinjûtsumesho (近習詰所), where about twenty officials and scribed attached to the king were based; a number of them typically accompanied the king as he moved through the castle on daily business.<ref name=plaques/> Beyond this space was a small inner writing studio, or ''okushoin'' (奥書院). Three by three and a half bays (''ma'') in size, it was used by the king as a place to take a break from his duties, and also contained a space where the ''okushoin'' magistrate (''okushoin [[bujo|bujô]]'') worked. The ''okushoin'' faced a garden to the south, and the Kawarume utaki (苅銘御嶽) to the east.<ref name=plaques/>
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The two-story Nanden (南殿), or "South Hall," on one size of the plaza, is known as the ''Fee-nu-udun'' (南風御殿) in Okinawan. A Japanese-style structure, it was regularly used for receiving Satsuma officials and for other Japanese-style ceremonies. The one-story Bandokoro (番所) attached to it was used by Ryukyuan officials departing for the day to pass off paperwork or duties to those arriving. Records indicate that the Nanden was first built c. [[1628]], though archaeological excavations have discovered earlier foundations. There do not appear to be any records of it ever having been painted and so, in accordance with one school of Japanese traditional architectural customs, it remains composed primarily of bare wood. The two buildings today include exhibition spaces, where artifacts related to the castle and the royal family are put on display<ref>"Shisetsu annai: Nanden / Bandokoro." Shuri Castle Park Official Website.</ref>. Attached to the eastern end of the Nanden was a space known as the Kinjûtsumesho (近習詰所), where about twenty officials and scribed attached to the king were based; a number of them typically accompanied the king as he moved through the castle on daily business.<ref name=plaques/> Beyond this space was a small inner writing studio, or ''okushoin'' (奥書院). Three by three and a half bays (''ma'') in size, it was used by the king as a place to take a break from his duties, and also contained a space where the ''okushoin'' magistrate (''okushoin [[bujo|bujô]]'') worked. The ''okushoin'' faced a garden to the south, and the Kawarume utaki (苅銘御嶽) to the east.<ref name=plaques/> In contrast to the gardens attached to the Shoin and Sasu-no-ma which were more front-facing, the ''okushoin'' garden was a more private space.<ref>Gallery label, "[https://www.flickr.com/photos/toranosuke/15253693508/sizes/h/ Okushoin teien]," Shurijo Castle Park.</ref>
    
The Hokuden (北殿), or "North Hall," also known as the ''giseiden'' (議政殿), faces the Nanden across the plaza, and is known as the ''Nishi-no-udun'' (北之御殿) in Okinawan. Built around 1506-1521, it is a structure more Chinese in style, which housed visiting Chinese officials and Chinese-style ceremonies and, as the site of the chief administrative offices of the royal government, was on an average day the busiest and most active building in the compound. Commodore Perry was also entertained and banqueted here on two occasions when he forced his way into the castle. Like the Nanden, the Hokuden today contains exhibition space devoted to material related to the castle, the royal family, and the kingdom's relationship with China<ref>"Shisetsu annai: Hokuden." Shuri Castle Park Official Website.</ref>.
 
The Hokuden (北殿), or "North Hall," also known as the ''giseiden'' (議政殿), faces the Nanden across the plaza, and is known as the ''Nishi-no-udun'' (北之御殿) in Okinawan. Built around 1506-1521, it is a structure more Chinese in style, which housed visiting Chinese officials and Chinese-style ceremonies and, as the site of the chief administrative offices of the royal government, was on an average day the busiest and most active building in the compound. Commodore Perry was also entertained and banqueted here on two occasions when he forced his way into the castle. Like the Nanden, the Hokuden today contains exhibition space devoted to material related to the castle, the royal family, and the kingdom's relationship with China<ref>"Shisetsu annai: Hokuden." Shuri Castle Park Official Website.</ref>.
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