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*''Japanese'': 今帰仁城 ・ 今帰仁グスク ''(Nakijin-jou / Nakijin gusuku)''
*''Type: Okinawan [[Gusuku]]''
*''Founder: [[Haniji]]''
*''Year: c. 1315-1320s''
*''Destroyed: [[1416]]?''
Nakijin gusuku was the residence and administrative center of the Okinawan kingdom of [[Hokuzan]], which controlled the northern part of [[Okinawa Island]] in the [[Sanzan Period]] of the 14th-15th centuries.
Though there had been [[anji|Lords]] of Nakijin prior to the creation of the Hokuzan kingdom, and thus some form of chiefly residence can be presumed to have been on or near the site before, it is believed that the ''gusuku'' form of Nakijin castle only emerged at the founding of the kingdom. It is located on the Motobu peninsula, on a rocky outcropping, facing out over the South China Sea.
The castle is separated from the main mountain mass of Motobu on the east by a steep drop into a gorge with a stream at the bottom. A steep drop to the north and northeast from the castle drops down to the shoreline. A small harbor inlet here once served the castle, while [[Unten harbor]], the main port of the Hokuzan kingdom, lay roughly 5-6 miles to the east<ref name=kerr>Kerr, George H. ''Okinawa: the History of an Island People''. Revised Ed. Tokyo: Tuttle Publishing, 2000. pp. 61-62.</ref>.
The royal residence was located at the highest and innermost part of the complex and was surrounded by a small garden with a spring. Three shrines (''[[uganju]]'') stood at the highest point of the precipice. In a less inner enclosure, located at a somewhat lower elevation, were residences for certain vassals, along with administrative buildings<ref name=kerr/>. As was typical of ''gusuku'' construction at this time, the stonework of the walls was very solid, but quite rough, with a relative lack of precision fitting or fine cutting<ref name=kerr/>. Roughly 1500 meters of limestone castle wall remain today<ref>"[http://ryukyushimpo.jp/news/storyid-42403-storytopic-121.html Nakijin-jô-seki]." ''Okinawa Konpakuto Jiten'' (沖縄コンパクト事典, "Okinawa Compact Encyclopedia"). Ryukyu Shimpo. 1 March 2003. Accessed 29 September 2009.</ref>.
The castle saw three generations of rulers before being attacked and destroyed by the armies of Chûzan in 1416. Lords of Hokuzan governing in subordination to the royal capital at [[Shuri]] would continue to make their residence here for several centuries afterwards.
As a tourist site, the ruins are particularly known for the beautiful view out over the South China Sea, for the impressive grandeur of the castle walls, and for the overall amount of space taken up by the castle grounds<ref name=kadekawa>Kadekawa, Manabu. "Nakijin-jô-seki." ''Okinawa Chanpurû Jiten'' (沖縄チャンプルー事典, "Okinawa Champloo Encyclopedia"). Tokyo: Yamatokei Publishers, 2003. p55.</ref>. Hokuzan in general was characterized by wider spaces, or at least less dense settlement and population, than [[Nanzan]] and [[Chuzan|Chûzan]], the other kingdoms on the island at that time. Nakijin is also consistently among the first places in the country to see, and celebrate, the [[sakura]] blooming each year<ref name=kadekawa/>.
==References==
<references/>
[[Category:Ryukyu]]
[[Category:Castles]]
*''Type: Okinawan [[Gusuku]]''
*''Founder: [[Haniji]]''
*''Year: c. 1315-1320s''
*''Destroyed: [[1416]]?''
Nakijin gusuku was the residence and administrative center of the Okinawan kingdom of [[Hokuzan]], which controlled the northern part of [[Okinawa Island]] in the [[Sanzan Period]] of the 14th-15th centuries.
Though there had been [[anji|Lords]] of Nakijin prior to the creation of the Hokuzan kingdom, and thus some form of chiefly residence can be presumed to have been on or near the site before, it is believed that the ''gusuku'' form of Nakijin castle only emerged at the founding of the kingdom. It is located on the Motobu peninsula, on a rocky outcropping, facing out over the South China Sea.
The castle is separated from the main mountain mass of Motobu on the east by a steep drop into a gorge with a stream at the bottom. A steep drop to the north and northeast from the castle drops down to the shoreline. A small harbor inlet here once served the castle, while [[Unten harbor]], the main port of the Hokuzan kingdom, lay roughly 5-6 miles to the east<ref name=kerr>Kerr, George H. ''Okinawa: the History of an Island People''. Revised Ed. Tokyo: Tuttle Publishing, 2000. pp. 61-62.</ref>.
The royal residence was located at the highest and innermost part of the complex and was surrounded by a small garden with a spring. Three shrines (''[[uganju]]'') stood at the highest point of the precipice. In a less inner enclosure, located at a somewhat lower elevation, were residences for certain vassals, along with administrative buildings<ref name=kerr/>. As was typical of ''gusuku'' construction at this time, the stonework of the walls was very solid, but quite rough, with a relative lack of precision fitting or fine cutting<ref name=kerr/>. Roughly 1500 meters of limestone castle wall remain today<ref>"[http://ryukyushimpo.jp/news/storyid-42403-storytopic-121.html Nakijin-jô-seki]." ''Okinawa Konpakuto Jiten'' (沖縄コンパクト事典, "Okinawa Compact Encyclopedia"). Ryukyu Shimpo. 1 March 2003. Accessed 29 September 2009.</ref>.
The castle saw three generations of rulers before being attacked and destroyed by the armies of Chûzan in 1416. Lords of Hokuzan governing in subordination to the royal capital at [[Shuri]] would continue to make their residence here for several centuries afterwards.
As a tourist site, the ruins are particularly known for the beautiful view out over the South China Sea, for the impressive grandeur of the castle walls, and for the overall amount of space taken up by the castle grounds<ref name=kadekawa>Kadekawa, Manabu. "Nakijin-jô-seki." ''Okinawa Chanpurû Jiten'' (沖縄チャンプルー事典, "Okinawa Champloo Encyclopedia"). Tokyo: Yamatokei Publishers, 2003. p55.</ref>. Hokuzan in general was characterized by wider spaces, or at least less dense settlement and population, than [[Nanzan]] and [[Chuzan|Chûzan]], the other kingdoms on the island at that time. Nakijin is also consistently among the first places in the country to see, and celebrate, the [[sakura]] blooming each year<ref name=kadekawa/>.
==References==
<references/>
[[Category:Ryukyu]]
[[Category:Castles]]
