Changes

New Year's celebrations included, among other activities, three major ceremonies held in the ''Unaa'' (central plaza) of [[Shuri castle]], both on the first day of the new year, and on the 15th. The court busily devoted itself to preparations for new years beginning, particularly, from 12/27.

New Year's celebrations included, among other activities, three major ceremonies held in the ''Unaa'' (central plaza) of [[Shuri castle]], both on the first day of the new year, and on the 15th. The court busily devoted itself to preparations for new years beginning, particularly, from 12/27.

In the first of these ceremonies, called ''Ni-nu-faa nu unu-fee'' (子之方御拝), the king and other members of the royal family, along with members of the court and representatives of the common people, lined up in the ''unaa'' and bowed towards an altar, burning incense and offering prayers towards Heaven and the gods. The ''unaa'' plaza was paved in alternating rows of red brick and grey gravel, providing "marks" on which officials lined up; the leading officials of the [[Kumemura]] community, along with members of the [[Sanshikan]] and other top level officials stood in the front row, nearest to the altar after the royal family. Behind them were figures of ''[[anji]]'' and ''ueekata'' [[Ryukyuan court ranks|court rank]], followed by those of ''peechin'', ''satunushi'', and other lower ranks. The officials all faced the Seiden (main palace hall) as the King made a formal appearance, accompanied by the banging of a gong and the blowing of trumpets (''rappa'' and ''dôkaku''), and by ''uzagaku'' (Chinese-style court music). He then made his way to the altar, located within the plaza, where he offered incense, and bowed along with all those behind him. The ''chagushi'', a high-ranking Kumemura official, called out the protocols in Chinese, telling all those assembled when to bow (which they did three times), when to raise their heads from the bow, and when to call out "Wansui" (lit. "10,000 years," equiv. to J. ''banzai''). Prayers were also offered to Heaven and to the gods, in celebration of the new year, and in hope for peace and prosperity.

Beginning early in the morning on the first day of the new year, before dawn, the new [[Sanshikan]] royal council for the year officially began their duties. As part of continued preparations for the day's ceremonies, scribes and stonemasons in service to the court performed a ritual sprinkling of white sand in the ''unaa'' in front of the dragon pillars around dawn. This was then followed by other palace staff arranging a group of five flags and incense burners within the ''unaa''; offerings to be made during New Year's rituals, including foods and other products from various parts of the kingdom, were also moved from the palace kitchens to the Hôshinmon.

The second ceremony, known by in Okinawan as ''Chô nu unu-fee'' (朝之御拝) or also as (in the Japanese pronunciation) ''karahafû kohai kishiki'' (唐破豊向拝規式), took place around noon on the first day of the new year. Court officials lined up in the ''unaa'', facing the Seiden, to pay respects to the king, reaffirming their loyalty and offering new year's greetings to him. Officials lined up within the plaza according to their ranks, with the highest-ranking officials closest to the front, and the lowest-ranking ones at the back. Sliding panels underneath the ''[[karahafu]]'' gable at the front of the second story of the palace were opened, revealing the King, on a throne. As in the ''Ni-nu-faa nu unu-fee'' ceremony, ''uzagaku'', trumpets, and gongs accompanied the audience. The ''chagushi'' served as master of ceremonies, instructing all those assembled, in Chinese, to [[kowtow]] to the king, three times. Top-ranking officials, representing the entire court, approached an altar directly in front of the steps to the Seiden, lighting incense and offering prayers for the king's long life (''wansui'') and prosperity.

The day's formal ceremonies began sometime after dawn, around what in modern terms would be 8 AM. Music was played, and some 311 individuals associated with the court, from high-ranking ''ueekata'' down to commoners, formally departed from the palace in order to offer prayers at the [[Ryukyu Eight Shrines]]. Members of the court then prepared for a ritual known (in Japanese pronunciation) as ''Gokaiin ukishiki'' (御開御規式); officials of various ranks gathered in the ''shichagui'' (first floor throne room), and the Sanshikan took seats below the throne, as the king, in Ryukyuan court costume, formally pressed his seal onto his first work of calligraphy of the year (''kissho'', 吉書). The king then returned to the ''shoin'' to change into Chinese-style court costume.

The third of the New Year's ceremonies is known as ''ufu tuui'' (大通り), and involved the king sharing bottles of [[awamori]] with the members of the court, in celebration of the New Year. Doors were opened on the first floor of the Seiden, revealing the king and queen seated on thrones, before a stand bearing bottles of awamori, and drinking cups. After the king and queen drank from the cups, pages (''koshô'') provided awamori to the gathered officials. A special type of liquor bottle known as ''utamasuki'' (御玉貫), covered within a beaded jacket, was used for this ritual purpose.

The first of the three major New Year's ceremonies began shortly afterwards, around what would today be regarded as 10 AM. In this ''Ni-nu-faa nu unu-fee'' or ''Ninufa ugami'' (子之方御拝) ritual, the king and other members of the royal family, along with members of the court and representatives of the common people, lined up in the ''unaa'' and bowed towards an altar, burning incense and offering prayers towards Heaven and the gods.  

These ceremonies are annually reenacted at the castle today, albeit on the solar New Year's (January 1st and 2nd), rather than in accordance with the lunar calendar. The above descriptions are based in large part on the reenactments; how these differ from the ceremonies as actually performed historically is unclear.

 

 

 

 

 

These ceremonies are annually reenacted at the castle today, albeit on the solar New Year's (January 1st and 2nd), rather than in accordance with the lunar calendar.

==2nd Month==

==2nd Month==