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*''Japanese'': 今帰仁城 ・ 今帰仁グスク ''(Nakijin-jou / Nakijin gusuku)''
*''Japanese'': 今帰仁城 ・ 今帰仁グスク ''(Nakijin-jou / Nakijin gusuku)''
*''Okinawan'': 今帰仁城 ''(Nachijin gusuku / Nachijin gushiku)''
*''Type: Okinawan [[Gusuku]]''
*''Type: Okinawan [[Gusuku]]''
*''Founder: [[Haniji]]''
*''Founder: [[Haniji]]''
*''Year: c. 1315-1320s''
*''Year: c. 1315-1320s''
*''Destroyed: [[1416]]?''
*''Destroyed: after [[1665]]''
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.
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. The fortress covers roughly 38,000 square meters - double the territory of [[Nakagusuku castle]], and roughly the same land area as [[Shuri castle]] - and is often cited as the largest of Okinawa's ''gusuku''.<ref name=kitahara>Kitahara Shûichi. ''A Journey to the Ryukyu Gusuku'' 琉球城紀行。 Naha: Miura Creative, 2003. p47.</ref>
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.
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, or perhaps later; some sources give the year [[1383]] as the year that Haniji, generally cited as the first king of Hokuzan, became lord of Nakijin gusuku.<ref name=kitahara/> The fortress 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 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 compound is divided into nine enclosures, which move up the hill from west to east. The widest enclosure, the ''uushimi'' enclosure<!--大隅の郭-->, contains the Heirômon<!--平郎門-->, as well as areas for martial arts practice, training of horses, and a quarry. The ''kaazafu'' enclosure lies to the right, and stone steps lined with [[sakura|cherry trees]] lead higher and deeper into the compound. The ''uumya''<!--大庭--> enclosure contained the Hokuden and Nanden (North and South Halls). The next enclosure, moving further up the incline and closer towards the areas of central importance, is the ''uuchibaru''<!--御内原-->, which contains a sacred stone that represents the guardian deity of Nakijin. The topmost enclosure contains a shrine to a fire god.<ref name=kitahara/> The royal residence was located here, 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.<ref name=kerr/>
A path leads from here to a rear gate of the castle, called the Shijimajô<!--志慶真門-->. Excavations in this area uncovered numerous Chinese [[celadon]]s, Vietnamese and Thai ceramics, and Chinese coins, indications of Nakijin's maritime power and activity.<ref name=kitahara/>
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/>.
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>; stones are piled three to eight meters high, and two to three meters thick. A deep valley cut by the Shijima River which runs behind the castle makes it almost entirely unapproachable from that side.<ref name=kitahara/>
The castle saw three generations of rulers before being attacked and seized by the armies of Chûzan in [[1416]]. So-called "[[Warden of the North|wardens of the North]]" (''Hokuzan kanshu'') appointed by the royal government would continue to make their residence here for several centuries afterwards. The post was abolished in [[1665]] and the castle was left to ruin.<ref name=kitahara/>
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==
