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[[File:Urasoe-gusuku.JPG|right|thumb|320px|A section of the walls of the castle]]

[[File:Urasoe-gusuku.JPG|right|thumb|400px|A section of the walls of the castle]]

*''Location: [[Urasoe]], [[Okinawa]]''

*''Location: [[Urasoe]], [[Okinawa]]''

*''Built: late 13th to early 14th c.''

*''Built: late 13th to early 14th c.''

A series of four separate ramparts and palisades defended the lower portion of the castle, along with a moat that has been dated to the late 14th-early 15th century. The upper portion of the castle, like many other ''gusuku'', was situated in such a way that it was sufficiently defended by sheer cliffs and the sea and likely lacked significant defensive walls or ramparts.

A series of four separate ramparts and palisades defended the lower portion of the castle, along with a moat that has been dated to the late 14th-early 15th century. The upper portion of the castle, like many other ''gusuku'', was situated in such a way that it was sufficiently defended by sheer cliffs and the sea and likely lacked significant defensive walls or ramparts.

The former sites of the two oldest [[Buddhist temples]] in Okinawa, the [[Ryufuku-ji|Ryûfuku-ji]] and [[Gokuraku-ji]], are nearby, along with [[Urasoe yodore|Urasoe yôdore]], the royal mausolea of several kings of Chûzan, dug directly into the cliffside.

The former sites of oldest [[Buddhist temple]] in Okinawa, the [[Gokuraku-ji (Okinawa)|Gokuraku-ji]] (relocated several times and renamed Ryûfuku-ji in the late 15th c.), are nearby, along with [[Urasoe yodore|Urasoe yôdore]], the royal mausolea of several kings of Chûzan, dug directly into the cliffside.

King [[Eiso]] (r. 1260-1299) ruled from Urasoe, and is entombed at Urasoe yôdore, near the northwest cliff of the castle. His mausoleum contains three stone coffins from China, possibly from [[Fujian]]; it is believed that Eiso is buried in the largest one, his father and grandfather in the other two. The coffins are decorated with birds, flowers, deer, ''[[shishi]]'' (lion-dogs), and various Buddhist images, along with dragons and phoenixes on the lids, which are designed to look like tiled roofs. Though Eiso lived in the 13th century, however, based on the style of designs and decorations on the coffins, archaeologists believe these to be of later, 15th century, construction. King [[Sho Nei|Shô Nei]] (r. 1597-1620), is also entombed here.

King [[Eiso]] (r. 1260-1299) ruled from Urasoe, and is entombed at Urasoe yôdore, near the northwest cliff of the castle. His mausoleum contains three stone coffins from China, possibly from [[Fujian]]; it is believed that Eiso is buried in the largest one, his father and grandfather in the other two. The coffins are decorated with birds, flowers, deer, ''[[shishi]]'' (lion-dogs), and various Buddhist images, along with dragons and phoenixes on the lids, which are designed to look like tiled roofs. Though Eiso lived in the 13th century, however, based on the style of designs and decorations on the coffins, archaeologists believe these to be of later, 15th century, construction. King [[Sho Nei|Shô Nei]] (r. 1597-1620), is also entombed here.

Low stone walls and post-holes indicate the original form of the castle, constructed in the late 13th century, possibly by King Eiso, who was born at [[Iso gusuku]], and who is also credited with the construction of the royal tombs at Urasoe yôdore and the temple of Gokuraku-ji. During the reign of King [[Satto]] a century later, the castle was expanded, and came to encompass what is today labeled the ''kogusuku''. Korean roof tiles were used in the expansions and construction at this time.<ref name=kitahara/>

Low stone walls and post-holes indicate the original form of the castle, constructed in the late 13th century, possibly by King Eiso, who was born at [[Iso gusuku]], and who is also credited with the construction of the royal tombs at Urasoe yôdore and the temple of Gokuraku-ji. During the reign of King [[Satto]] a century later, the castle was expanded, and came to encompass what is today labeled the ''kogusuku''. Korean roof tiles were used in the expansions and construction at this time.<ref name=kitahara/>

It is unclear whether Satto then relocated the capital to [[Shuri]], building [[Shuri castle]] by [[1372]] or [[1392]], or whether it was not until the reign of King [[Sho Hashi|Shô Hashi]] in the 1420s, that this took place.<ref>Interview with Matayoshi Shinzô 又吉真三, "Shurijô ha Ryûkyû kenchiku bunka no shûtaisei" 首里城は琉球建築文化の集大成, ''Shurijô fukugen charity tokubetsu kôen'' 首里城復元チャリティ特別公演 (Naha: Kudaka Shôkichi geinô kikaku 久高将吉芸能企画, 1987), 104-105.</ref> In any case, in most accounts Urasoe castle was simply abandoned to ruin.<ref name=kitahara/> Significant portions of the castle were taken away to aid in the construction of Shuri castle. Shô Iko, the son of King [[Sho Shin|Shô Shin]], took up residence there, however, in 1509. Finding it largely in ruins, he oversaw its refurbishment, and it is believed he moved the residential section of the castle from the ''kogusuku'' to the ''migusuku'' at this time.

It is unclear whether Satto then relocated the capital to [[Shuri]], building [[Shuri castle]] by [[1372]] or [[1392]], or whether it was not until the reign of King [[Sho Hashi|Shô Hashi]] in the 1420s, that this took place.<ref>Interview with Matayoshi Shinzô 又吉真三, "Shurijô ha Ryûkyû kenchiku bunka no shûtaisei" 首里城は琉球建築文化の集大成, ''Shurijô fukugen charity tokubetsu kôen'' 首里城復元チャリティ特別公演 (Naha: Kudaka Shôkichi geinô kikaku 久高将吉芸能企画, 1987), 104-105.</ref> In any case, Urasoe castle was then either simply abandoned to ruin,<ref name=kitahara/> or according to some accounts, burned down in [[1406]].<ref>Gregory Smits, ''Maritime Ryukyu'', University of Hawaii Press (2019), 93.</ref> Significant portions of the castle were taken away to aid in the construction of Shuri castle. Shô Iko, the son of King [[Sho Shin|Shô Shin]], took up residence at Urasoe, however, in 1509. Finding it largely in ruins, he oversaw its refurbishment, and it is believed he moved the residential section of the castle from the ''kogusuku'' to the ''migusuku'' at this time.

The castle was burned and destroyed in the [[1609]] [[invasion of Ryukyu]] by [[Satsuma han|Satsuma]], along with the Ryûfuku-ji temple which sat below it on the hillside.

The castle was burned and destroyed in the [[1609]] [[invasion of Ryukyu]] by [[Satsuma han|Satsuma]], along with the Ryûfuku-ji temple which sat below it on the hillside.