Changes

==History==

==History==

The castle may have been built as early as the 1230s,<ref>Kerr, George. ''Okinawa: The History of an Island People''. Revised Edition. Tokyo: Tuttle Publishing (2000), 50. </ref> or sometime in the 1350s-1390s according to most sources, but it was certainly in place, in any case, by [[1427]], just before the unification of Okinawa & establishment of the Ryûkyû Kingdom under King [[Sho Hashi|Shô Hashi]]. Shô Hashi made Shuri his capital, leaving the former royal palace at Urasoe. A secondary royal mansion, built for the Crown Prince and called [[Ufumi udun]], was built just outside the castle sometime before [[1487]]; it would later be used as a maternity hut for members of the royal family, as a secondary residence, and in the 1850s as the regent's mansion.

The castle may have been built as early as the 1230s,<ref>Kerr, George. ''Okinawa: The History of an Island People''. Revised Edition. Tokyo: Tuttle Publishing (2000), 50. </ref> or sometime in the 1350s-1390s according to most sources, but it was certainly in place, in any case, by [[1427]], just before the unification of Okinawa & establishment of the Ryûkyû Kingdom under King [[Sho Hashi|Shô Hashi]]. Shô Hashi made Shuri his capital, leaving the former royal palace at Urasoe. An earthen embankment called [[Chokotei|Chôkôtei]] was constructed in [[1452]], connecting Shuri to the port city of Naha. A secondary royal mansion, built for the Crown Prince and called [[Ufumi udun]], was built just outside the castle sometime before [[1487]]; it would later be used as a maternity hut for members of the royal family, as a secondary residence, and in the 1850s as the regent's mansion.

The city was considerably expanded as King Shô Shin (r. [[1477]]-[[1526]]) consolidated power into the capital, as well as under his successor, [[Sho Sei (1497-1555)|Shô Sei]] ([[1527]]-[[1555]]). [[Engaku-ji]], the chief family temple of the [[Sho Dynasty|Shô Dynasty]], was established in [[1492]]. The royal mausoleum at Tamaudun was completed in [[1501]],<ref>Kerr, 109.</ref> the [[Benten]] Hall and its attached Tennyo Bridge at [[Ryutan|Ryûtan]] Pond were built the following year, and the cobblestone road to the south in [[1522]].

The city was considerably expanded as King Shô Shin (r. [[1477]]-[[1526]]) consolidated power into the capital, as well as under his successor, [[Sho Sei (1497-1555)|Shô Sei]] ([[1527]]-[[1555]]). [[Engaku-ji]], the chief family temple of the [[Sho Dynasty|Shô Dynasty]], was established in [[1492]]. The royal mausoleum at Tamaudun was completed in [[1501]],<ref>Kerr, 109.</ref> the [[Benten]] Hall and its attached Tennyo Bridge at [[Ryutan|Ryûtan]] Pond were built the following year, and the cobblestone road to the south in [[1522]].

The city, and the castle, fell to samurai invaders from Satsuma han in [[1609]]/4. Following the [[invasion of Ryukyu|invasion]], the Ryukyuan government, bureaucracy, and society were left intact, and King [[Sho Nei|Shô Nei]] restored to his throne two years later. The kingdom was permitted to retain considerable autonomy in its domestic affairs, with Satsuma being chiefly interested in exploiting Ryûkyû for its commercial connections, and the prestige of claiming a foreign kingdom as a vassal. Shuri was rebuilt following its destruction at the hands of these samurai invaders, and came to house an office/residence for Satsuma officials, but otherwise was largely unaffected by the political shift, in terms of the city's character, layout, and even administration.

The city, and the castle, fell to samurai invaders from Satsuma han in [[1609]]/4. Following the [[invasion of Ryukyu|invasion]], the Ryukyuan government, bureaucracy, and society were left intact, and King [[Sho Nei|Shô Nei]] restored to his throne two years later. The kingdom was permitted to retain considerable autonomy in its domestic affairs, with Satsuma being chiefly interested in exploiting Ryûkyû for its commercial connections, and the prestige of claiming a foreign kingdom as a vassal. Shuri was rebuilt following its destruction at the hands of these samurai invaders, and came to house an office/residence for Satsuma officials, but otherwise was largely unaffected by the political shift, in terms of the city's character, layout, and even administration.

In the 17th century, the city was divided into three wards, which were then referred to as Shuri Mihira (首里三平等). The people of Shuri also called the city the "motherland" (''Sui ueeguni'', 首里親国).<ref name=pamph/>

In the 17th century, the city was divided into three wards, which were then referred to as Shuri Mihira (首里三平等). The people of Shuri also called the city the "motherland" (''Sui ueeguni'', 首里親国).<ref name=pamph/> While a significant number of townspeople lived in the city, peasants were banned from doing so in [[1654]], enhancing all the more so the aristocratic character of the city.

Shuri suffered fires in [[1660]], [[1690]], [[1709]],<ref>Kerr, 221.</ref> and [[1730]], but then survived without such disasters for over 200 years, until 1945.

Shuri suffered fires in [[1660]], [[1690]], [[1709]],<ref>Kerr, 221.</ref> and [[1730]], but then survived without such disasters for over 200 years, until 1945.