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It was famously sieged in [[1609]], when [[invasion of Ryukyu|the kingdom fell]] to forces of the [[Shimazu clan]] of [[Satsuma han]]. Ryukyuan defenses fell quickly to the samurai invaders, who entered the castle on 1609/4/3; King [[Sho Nei|Shô Nei]] surrendered two days later. The castle was looted: many artifacts and documents were stolen or destroyed, and the king was taken hostage along with the queen, crown prince, and a great many government advisors and officials. Shô Nei was allowed to return to Shuri, however, in [[1611]], and to resume governance of the kingdom, under the watchful eye and strict guidelines of Satsuma; Shuri castle remained the center of governance until the abolition of the kingdom in [[1879]].

It was famously sieged in [[1609]], when [[invasion of Ryukyu|the kingdom fell]] to forces of the [[Shimazu clan]] of [[Satsuma han]]. Ryukyuan defenses fell quickly to the samurai invaders, who entered the castle on 1609/4/3; King [[Sho Nei|Shô Nei]] surrendered two days later. The castle was looted: many artifacts and documents were stolen or destroyed, and the king was taken hostage along with the queen, crown prince, and a great many government advisors and officials. Shô Nei was allowed to return to Shuri, however, in [[1611]], and to resume governance of the kingdom, under the watchful eye and strict guidelines of Satsuma; Shuri castle remained the center of governance until the abolition of the kingdom in [[1879]].

[[Commodore Perry]] entered the castle on two occasions in 1853 and 1854, the gates opened for him out of fear that he might bring force to bear upon them were he denied entry. The Ryukyuans were successful, however, in denying him an audience with the king or dowager queen, holding to their insistence that the regent would be the highest ranking official Perry would be permitted to meet. Both marches on the castle served essentially as shows of force or authority for Perry, who wished to prove to himself (and to the Ryukyuans) that he was of sufficient power and authority to make demands such as these and to have them met<ref>Kerr. pp307-328.</ref>.

[[Commodore Perry]] entered the castle on two occasions in 1853 and 1854, despite having been explicitly told that he would be "neither expected nor welcome"<ref>Kerr. p310.</ref>. The gates were opened for him out of fear that he might bring force to bear upon them were he denied entry. The Ryukyuans were successful, however, in denying him an audience with the king or dowager queen, holding to their insistence that the regent would be the highest ranking official Perry would be permitted to meet. Both marches on the castle served essentially as shows of force or authority for Perry, who wished to prove to himself (and to the Ryukyuans) that he was of sufficient power and authority to make demands such as these and to have them met<ref>Kerr. pp307-328.</ref>.

Shuri castle was destroyed by fire at least five times in its history, most recently by Allied bombing in World War II; reconstruction began in 1992.

Shuri castle was destroyed by fire at least five times in its history, most recently by Allied bombing in World War II; reconstruction began in 1992.