Matsuzaki riding grounds
- Japanese: 松崎馬場 (Matsuzaki baba)
The Matsuzaki-baba was a horse-riding grounds located just outside the walls of Shuri castle, the royal palace of the Ryûkyû Kingdom. It was one of the chief horse-riding and training grounds used by the royal court, and was lined with rows of pine trees (matsu), from which it takes its name.
When Chinese investiture envoys visited the island kingdom, platforms were set up within the riding grounds allowing the Chinese visitors, and Ryukyuan courtiers, to see dragon boats on the Ryûtan ("Dragon Pond") nearby.
The grounds were also the site of the national academy, or Kokugaku, established in 1801, and of a Confucian shrine, built in 1837. Some sections of the stone walls of these structures survive today.
The site was also the starting point for the shuku michi (post road) connecting Shuri and Urasoe.
References
- Plaques on-site at Matsuzaki-baba and Adani-gaa.
