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*''Type: Okinawan [[gusuku]]''
*''Built: 14th century''
*''Status: Ruins''
*''Other Names'': 島添大里城 ''(Shimasoe Ôzato gusuku)''
*''Japanese/Okinawan'': 大里城 ''(Oozato gusuku / Ufuzato gushiku, Ufuzato gusuku)''
Ôzato gusuku, or Ufuzato gusuku, was the seat of power of the kingdom of [[Nanzan]], which controlled southern [[Okinawa Island|Okinawa]] in the 14th-15th centuries. Also known as Shimasoe Ôzato gusuku, it is not to be confused with Shimajiri Ôzato gusuku, also known as [[Nanzan gusuku]].
According to the ''[[Chuzan seikan|Chûzan seikan]]'', Ôzato gusuku was first built in the 14th century by [[Ufuzato]] ''[[anji]]'', King of Nanzan. Located about 180 meters above sea level on a cliff in Ôzato village in the town of Nishibaru, it was protected by the cliff on the north and west sides, and by tall stone walls.
The castle grounds cover roughly 20,000 square meters, making Ôzato one of the five largest ''gusuku'' on the island. The enclosures range from east to west, and the first (highest & central-most) enclosure is surrounded to the north, but left open to the south and east. Little remains of the walls, which were used as construction materials elsewhere in later centuries. The grounds also include a well, called Chichin-ga, located at the bottom of an eight-meter (43 steps) stone staircase, which was built when the castle's natural spring, known as Sukuyamanu-ga, dried up.
The Lord of Nanzan sent [[tribute]] to [[Ming dynasty|Ming China]] on eight occasions, and received letters and goods in return. Ultimately, however, it would be [[Chuzan|Chûzan]] and not Nanzan that would be recognized by China as the sole true authority in the Ryukyus. Nanzan is also mentioned in the ''[[Omoro soshi|Omoro sôshi]]'' as being widely renowned, and a site of great treasure, which has drink (saké) in
abundance.
Ôzato, and all of the kingdom of Nanzan, fell to [[Sho Hashi|Shô Hashi]], king of [[Chuzan|Chûzan]], around [[1429]]. Having already conquered [[Hokuzan]] a decade earlier, in seizing Ôzato, Hashi united the entire island under his rule, marking the establishment of the [[Kingdom of Ryukyu|Kingdom of Ryûkyû]].
==References==
*Kitahara Shûichi. ''A Journey to the Ryukyu Gusuku'' 琉球城紀行。 Naha: Miura Creative, 2003. pp63, 71.
[[Category:Castles]]
[[Category:Ryukyu]]
*''Built: 14th century''
*''Status: Ruins''
*''Other Names'': 島添大里城 ''(Shimasoe Ôzato gusuku)''
*''Japanese/Okinawan'': 大里城 ''(Oozato gusuku / Ufuzato gushiku, Ufuzato gusuku)''
Ôzato gusuku, or Ufuzato gusuku, was the seat of power of the kingdom of [[Nanzan]], which controlled southern [[Okinawa Island|Okinawa]] in the 14th-15th centuries. Also known as Shimasoe Ôzato gusuku, it is not to be confused with Shimajiri Ôzato gusuku, also known as [[Nanzan gusuku]].
According to the ''[[Chuzan seikan|Chûzan seikan]]'', Ôzato gusuku was first built in the 14th century by [[Ufuzato]] ''[[anji]]'', King of Nanzan. Located about 180 meters above sea level on a cliff in Ôzato village in the town of Nishibaru, it was protected by the cliff on the north and west sides, and by tall stone walls.
The castle grounds cover roughly 20,000 square meters, making Ôzato one of the five largest ''gusuku'' on the island. The enclosures range from east to west, and the first (highest & central-most) enclosure is surrounded to the north, but left open to the south and east. Little remains of the walls, which were used as construction materials elsewhere in later centuries. The grounds also include a well, called Chichin-ga, located at the bottom of an eight-meter (43 steps) stone staircase, which was built when the castle's natural spring, known as Sukuyamanu-ga, dried up.
The Lord of Nanzan sent [[tribute]] to [[Ming dynasty|Ming China]] on eight occasions, and received letters and goods in return. Ultimately, however, it would be [[Chuzan|Chûzan]] and not Nanzan that would be recognized by China as the sole true authority in the Ryukyus. Nanzan is also mentioned in the ''[[Omoro soshi|Omoro sôshi]]'' as being widely renowned, and a site of great treasure, which has drink (saké) in
abundance.
Ôzato, and all of the kingdom of Nanzan, fell to [[Sho Hashi|Shô Hashi]], king of [[Chuzan|Chûzan]], around [[1429]]. Having already conquered [[Hokuzan]] a decade earlier, in seizing Ôzato, Hashi united the entire island under his rule, marking the establishment of the [[Kingdom of Ryukyu|Kingdom of Ryûkyû]].
==References==
*Kitahara Shûichi. ''A Journey to the Ryukyu Gusuku'' 琉球城紀行。 Naha: Miura Creative, 2003. pp63, 71.
[[Category:Castles]]
[[Category:Ryukyu]]
