Changes

Two stone bridges passing over the pond were constructed in a southern Chinese style, using techniques also from southern China, to create tall, high arches, allowing boats to pass underneath more easily. The stones used in these bridges, pieces of Ryukyuan limestone from the wave-battered seashore, were chosen for their resemblance to the rocks of [[Lake Tai]], treasured for their twisted and pockmarked appearance and displayed as [[scholars' rocks]].

Two stone bridges passing over the pond were constructed in a southern Chinese style, using techniques also from southern China, to create tall, high arches, allowing boats to pass underneath more easily. The stones used in these bridges, pieces of Ryukyuan limestone from the wave-battered seashore, were chosen for their resemblance to the rocks of [[Lake Tai]], treasured for their twisted and pockmarked appearance and displayed as [[scholars' rocks]].

A small viewing pavilion, after the fashion of Chinese gardens, is also located on the pond. Originally, this was a four-sided pavilion with an ''[[irimoya]]''-style roof, but in the 1920s it was replaced with the ''rokkakudô'' (lit. "six corner hall"), a small six-sided pavilion with a tiled roof with swooping eaves, in the Chinese style.

A small viewing pavilion, after the fashion of Chinese gardens, is also located on the pond. Originally, this was a four-sided pavilion with an ''[[irimoya]]''-style roof, but in the 1920s it was replaced with the ''rokkakudô'' (lit. "six corner hall"), a small six-sided pavilion with a tiled roof with swooping eaves, in the Chinese style. Previously, an eight-sided pavilion called the ''hakkaku-dô'' stood on the other side of the pond, near a ''takiguchi'' (lit. "waterfall mouth") which funneled any overflow water from the pond into a controlled waterfall. A ''funa-ageba'' off to one corner of the pond stored pleasure boats which the royalty and their guests enjoyed riding on the pond.

 

An observatory pavilion called ''Kankôdai'' also stands on the grounds; the name derives from the inscription on a stele nearby, erected in honor of Lin Hongnian, chief envoy of the 1838 Chinese investiture mission. The pavilion and stele were destroyed in 1945 but have been reconstructed. The view here faces south, and is a rare viewpoint in Okinawa at which the sea cannot be seen; the Ryukyuan kings were proud of this vista, as an opportunity to show Chinese envoys that Ryûkyû was not a small country.

==Udun==

==Udun==

Just outside of the first reception room (''ichibanza'') stood a number of pine trees, along with a stone wash basin, stone lantern, and white [[plum blossoms|plum trees]] which would have bloomed beautifully right around the first month of the year (on the traditional lunar calendar).

Just outside of the first reception room (''ichibanza'') stood a number of pine trees, along with a stone wash basin, stone lantern, and white [[plum blossoms|plum trees]] which would have bloomed beautifully right around the first month of the year (on the traditional lunar calendar).

As in most traditional Japanese structures, the kitchen, called ''gudeeju'' in Okinawan, was located in an area called the ''doma'', with earthen floors and no ceiling; smoke from the kitchen's six fireplaces (''takiguchi'') rose directly into the thatch of the roof, helping protect the thatch from insects and from fire.

As in most traditional Japanese structures, the kitchen, called ''gudeeju'' in Okinawan, was located in an area called the ''doma'', with earthen floors and no ceiling; smoke from the kitchen's six fireplaces (''takiguchi'', "cooking mouth") rose directly into the thatch of the roof, helping protect the thatch from insects and from fire.

A carriage house, or ''kagoya'', is located just behind the villa. This was used to store palanquins (御輿, O: ''ukushi''), and as a place where palanquin carriers would rest.

A carriage house, or ''kagoya'', is located just behind the villa. This was used to store palanquins (御輿, O: ''ukushi''), and as a place where palanquin carriers would rest.

The garden & villa were destroyed in the Battle of Okinawa in 1945, but were rebuilt; reconstruction was completed in 1995, and the site is now administered by the City of Naha. It is a nationally-designated "site of scenic beauty," and was designated a [[World Heritage Site]] in 2000 alongside a number of other sites, comprising the collective World Heritage Site "Gusuku Sites and Related Properties of the Kingdom of Ryukyu."

The garden & villa were destroyed in the Battle of Okinawa in 1945, and some dugouts created by soldiers during the Battle can still be seen in the grounds. Shrapnel, possibly from an American shell, was also discovered on the site. Reconstruction of the garden and buildings was completed in 1995, and the site is now administered by the City of Naha. It is a nationally-designated "site of scenic beauty," and was designated a [[World Heritage Site]] in 2000 alongside a number of other sites, comprising the collective World Heritage Site "Gusuku Sites and Related Properties of the Kingdom of Ryukyu."

==References==

==References==