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Beyond the symbolic Shureimon, the main gate granting entry through the outer walls of the compound is the Kankaimon (歓会門), flanked by two stone ''[[shisa]]'' (lion dogs). Like most of the gates in the walls of Shuri Castle, the Kankaimon consists of a gap in the stone wall, with a wooden structure atop it, with a flared tiled roof. "Kankaimon" can be translated as "Gate of Welcome," a name given to it to better convey a spirit of welcome for visiting envoys of the Chinese Emperor; the Okinawan language name of the gate, ''Amae ujô'' (あまへ御門), has a similar meaning. The Kankaimon was built originally sometime around 1477-1500<ref>"Shisetsu annai: Kankaimon." Shuri Castle Park Official Website.</ref>, and was most recently rebuilt or restored in 1974.<ref>Plaques on-site at the Kankaimon.</ref>

Beyond the symbolic Shureimon, the main gate granting entry through the outer walls of the compound is the Kankaimon (歓会門), flanked by two stone ''[[shisa]]'' (lion dogs). Like most of the gates in the walls of Shuri Castle, the Kankaimon consists of a gap in the stone wall, with a wooden structure atop it, with a flared tiled roof. "Kankaimon" can be translated as "Gate of Welcome," a name given to it to better convey a spirit of welcome for visiting envoys of the Chinese Emperor; the Okinawan language name of the gate, ''Amae ujô'' (あまへ御門), has a similar meaning. The Kankaimon was built originally sometime around 1477-1500<ref>"Shisetsu annai: Kankaimon." Shuri Castle Park Official Website.</ref>, and was most recently rebuilt or restored in 1974.<ref>Plaques on-site at the Kankaimon.</ref>

A short distance down the wall from the Kankaimon is the Kyûkeimon (久慶門), the women's gate, which is elevated somewhat, and reached by a short staircase. Constructed during the reign of Shô Shin, the Kyûkeimon was also used when the king paid official visits to temples and shrines, or to sites in [[Urasoe]] or further north. Rainwater falling on and around the castle naturally gathered here, at a pair of springs which thus served to supply fresh water to the castle<ref>"Shisetsu annai: Kyûkeimon." Shuri Castle Park Official Website.</ref>.

A short distance down the wall from the Kankaimon is the Kyûkeimon (久慶門), the women's gate, which is elevated somewhat, and reached by a short staircase. Constructed during the reign of Shô Shin, the Kyûkeimon was also used when the king paid official visits to temples and shrines, or to sites in [[Urasoe]] or further north. Rainwater falling on and around the castle naturally gathered here, at a pair of springs which thus served to supply fresh water to the castle<ref>"Shisetsu annai: Kyûkeimon." Shuri Castle Park Official Website.</ref>. Rainwater was also collected in large terracotta pots known as ''tensuigame'' (天水瓷), arranged around the compound.

An additional external gate, the Bifukumon (美福門), used to face the southeast. There are no known extant photographs of the gate, only a painting by oil painter [[Yamamoto Hosui|Yamamoto Hôsui]] which is believed to depict the gate; Hôsui visited Okinawa in [[1887]], and the gate is believed to have been lost soon afterwards. Excavations on this, and other sections of the site continue, and the gate may be rebuilt someday, along with other parts of the castle compound.<ref>This and seven others of Hôsui's Okinawa paintings are now held by the [[Museum of the Imperial Collections]] (''Sannomaru shôzôkan'') in Tokyo.<br>Takashina Erika 高階絵里加. "''Yamamoto Hôsui no Okinawa hômon ni kansuru shiron''" 山本芳翠の沖縄訪問に関する試論. ''Bijutsushi'' 144:2 (Mar 1998). pp141-142.</ref>

An additional external gate, the Bifukumon (美福門), used to face the southeast. There are no known extant photographs of the gate, only a painting by oil painter [[Yamamoto Hosui|Yamamoto Hôsui]] which is believed to depict the gate; Hôsui visited Okinawa in [[1887]], and the gate is believed to have been lost soon afterwards. Excavations on this, and other sections of the site continue, and the gate may be rebuilt someday, along with other parts of the castle compound.<ref>This and seven others of Hôsui's Okinawa paintings are now held by the [[Museum of the Imperial Collections]] (''Sannomaru shôzôkan'') in Tokyo.<br>Takashina Erika 高階絵里加. "''Yamamoto Hôsui no Okinawa hômon ni kansuru shiron''" 山本芳翠の沖縄訪問に関する試論. ''Bijutsushi'' 144:2 (Mar 1998). pp141-142.</ref>