Changes

A narrow staircase behind the throne led directly to the throne room above, allowing the king, queen, and other top-ranking royals and officials to make their appearance traveling directly from the throne room to the audience chamber. A system of ropes and bells were used to communicate between the two floors.<ref name=plaques/>

A narrow staircase behind the throne led directly to the throne room above, allowing the king, queen, and other top-ranking royals and officials to make their appearance traveling directly from the throne room to the audience chamber. A system of ropes and bells were used to communicate between the two floors.<ref name=plaques/>

[[File:Shuri-throne.jpg|right|thumb|320px|The throne in the second floor throne room. The plaque behind the throne, one of several in this room, bears the calligraphy of the [[Kangxi Emperor]], and reads ''Chûzan seido'', meaning roughly "this land has been ruled [benevolently] by Chûzan for generation after generation."<ref>"[http://okinawa-rekishi.cocolog-nifty.com/tora/2007/04/post_6b10.html 首里城にある「書」のヒミツ]." 目からウロコの琉球・沖縄史 blog, 14 April 2007.</ref>]]

[[File:Shuri-throne.jpg|right|thumb|400px|The throne in the second floor throne room. The plaque behind the throne, one of several in this room, bears the calligraphy of the [[Kangxi Emperor]], and reads ''Chûzan seido'', meaning roughly "this land has been ruled [benevolently] by Chûzan for generation after generation."<ref>"[http://okinawa-rekishi.cocolog-nifty.com/tora/2007/04/post_6b10.html 首里城にある「書」のヒミツ]." 目からウロコの琉球・沖縄史 blog, 14 April 2007.</ref>]]

The second floor was called the ''ufugui'' (大庫理), and was the site of more private rituals and ceremonies performed only amongst the royalty and court ladies. It contained the throne room, but was largely a women's space. The throne room itself (also called ''usasuka'' like the audience chamber below) was decorated lavishly in gold and vermillion, as was the entire Seiden, inside and out. Two dragon pillars, painted gold, flank the throne, a Chinese-style chair elaborately carved and painted gold and vermillion as well. The dais upon which the throne sat resembled that of a Buddha statue, and was adorned with carvings of grape vine and squirrel designs. Some other elements of the decor featured gold inlay in black lacquered wood. Plaques given as gifts to the king by Chinese Emperors, bearing inscriptions of the Emperors' own calligraphy, adorn the throne room, where various more private rituals, as well as royal banquets, were held. Various objects would be brought out for rituals, including [[incense]], candle-stands in the form of dragons, cedars, decorative golden flowers, and paintings of Confucius<ref name=seiden/>.

The second floor was called the ''ufugui'' (大庫理), and was the site of more private rituals and ceremonies performed only amongst the royalty and court ladies. It contained the throne room, but was largely a women's space. The throne room itself (also called ''usasuka'' like the audience chamber below) was decorated lavishly in gold and vermillion, as was the entire Seiden, inside and out. Two dragon pillars, painted gold, flank the throne, a Chinese-style chair elaborately carved and painted gold and vermillion as well. The dais upon which the throne sat resembled that of a Buddha statue, and was adorned with carvings of grape vine and squirrel designs. Some other elements of the decor featured gold inlay in black lacquered wood. Plaques given as gifts to the king by Chinese Emperors, bearing inscriptions of the Emperors' own calligraphy, adorn the throne room, where various more private rituals, as well as royal banquets, were held. Various objects would be brought out for rituals, including [[incense]], candle-stands in the form of dragons, cedars, decorative golden flowers, and paintings of Confucius<ref name=seiden/>.