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[[Commodore Perry]] entered the castle on two occasions in 1853 and 1854, despite having been explicitly told that he would be "neither expected nor welcome"<ref>Kerr. p310.</ref>. The gates were opened for him out of fear that he might bring force to bear upon them were he denied entry. The Ryukyuans were successful, however, in denying him an audience with the king or dowager queen, holding to their insistence that the regent would be the highest ranking official Perry would be permitted to meet. Both marches on the castle served essentially as shows of force or authority for Perry, who wished to prove to himself (and to the Ryukyuans) that he was of sufficient power and authority to make demands such as these and to have them met<ref>Kerr. pp307-328.</ref>.
[[Commodore Perry]] entered the castle on two occasions in 1853 and 1854, despite having been explicitly told that he would be "neither expected nor welcome"<ref>Kerr. p310.</ref>. The gates were opened for him out of fear that he might bring force to bear upon them were he denied entry. The Ryukyuans were successful, however, in denying him an audience with the king or dowager queen, holding to their insistence that the regent would be the highest ranking official Perry would be permitted to meet. Both marches on the castle served essentially as shows of force or authority for Perry, who wished to prove to himself (and to the Ryukyuans) that he was of sufficient power and authority to make demands such as these and to have them met<ref>Kerr. pp307-328.</ref>.
Shuri castle was destroyed by fire at least five times in its history, most recently by Allied bombing in World War II; reconstruction began in 1992.
Shuri castle was destroyed by fire at least five times in its history, most recently on Oct 31, 2019, in a conflagration started perhaps by an electrical fault, which ultimately consumed the main hall and six other buildings.
Records from the time indicate that when the castle was rebuilt in [[1672]], following a [[1660]] fire, the roofs were tiled where they had been previously covered in wooden shingles, as a precautionary measure towards better fire-proofing. Archaeological excavations, however, have found both Korean and Japanese roof tiles dating to before this fire, indicating that at least some sections of the castle bore tiled roofs much earlier<ref name=shimpo>Okinawa Compact Encyclopedia.</ref>. The castle burned again and was rebuilt in [[1690]], [[1709]] (rebuilt [[1712]]), and [[1730]]. Considerable repair work was done in [[1837]], and again in [[1846]] and [[1851]] with several of the gates being given double- and then triple-doors,<ref>「二重扉」, 「三重扉」 Gallery labels, [[Tamaudun]].</ref> but the castle would not suffer destruction again until 1945.<ref name=loo>Loo, Tze M. “Shuri Castle’s Other History: Architecture and Empire in Okinawa.” The Asia-Pacific Journal: Japan Focus 41 (12 Oct 2009).</ref>
Records from the time indicate that when the castle was rebuilt in [[1672]], following a [[1660]] fire, the roofs were tiled where they had been previously covered in wooden shingles, as a precautionary measure towards better fire-proofing. Archaeological excavations, however, have found both Korean and Japanese roof tiles dating to before this fire, indicating that at least some sections of the castle bore tiled roofs much earlier<ref name=shimpo>Okinawa Compact Encyclopedia.</ref>. The castle burned again and was rebuilt in [[1690]], [[1709]] (rebuilt [[1712]]), and [[1730]]. It was this 1730 iteration of the castle which stood until World War II. Considerable repair work was done in [[1837]], and again in [[1846]] and [[1851]] with several of the gates being given double- and then triple-doors,<ref>「二重扉」, 「三重扉」 Gallery labels, [[Tamaudun]].</ref> but the castle would not suffer destruction again until 1945.<ref name=loo>Loo, Tze M. “Shuri Castle’s Other History: Architecture and Empire in Okinawa.” The Asia-Pacific Journal: Japan Focus 41 (12 Oct 2009).</ref>
The kingdom was abolished and replaced with [[Ryukyu han|Ryûkyû han]] in [[1872]]; the abolition of Ryûkyû ''han'' in turn and establishment of [[Okinawa prefecture]] in [[1879]] was the final nail in the coffin for the Ryûkyû Kingdom. The castle was occupied by [[Imperial Japanese Army|Imperial Japanese forces]], specifically the [[Kumamoto Garrison]]<!--熊本鎮台分遣隊兵営-->, immediately upon being vacated by the former king and his court.
The kingdom was abolished and replaced with [[Ryukyu han|Ryûkyû han]] in [[1872]]; the abolition of Ryûkyû ''han'' in turn and establishment of [[Okinawa prefecture]] in [[1879]] was the final nail in the coffin for the Ryûkyû Kingdom. The castle was occupied by [[Imperial Japanese Army|Imperial Japanese forces]], specifically the [[Kumamoto Garrison]]<!--熊本鎮台分遣隊兵営-->, immediately upon being vacated by the former king and his court.
Around 1925, with the considerable contributions of architect [[Ito Chuta|Itô Chûta]], the castle was converted into "Okinawa Shrine", a [[Shinto shrine]] within the national networks of [[State Shinto]]. This was done so that the castle could be designated a [[National Treasure]], which it was that same year, in order for considerable national funds to be diverted to funding restoration and preservation efforts. This transformation of the castle into a shrine was necessary because at the time, up until 1932, Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples were the only sites which could be declared National Treasures.<ref name=loo/>
Around 1925, with the considerable contributions of architect [[Ito Chuta|Itô Chûta]], the castle was converted into "Okinawa Shrine", a [[Shinto shrine]] within the national networks of [[State Shinto]]. This was done so that the castle could be designated a [[National Treasure]], which it was that same year, in order for considerable national funds to be diverted to funding restoration and preservation efforts. This transformation of the castle into a shrine was necessary because at the time, up until 1932, Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples were the only sites which could be declared National Treasures.<ref name=loo/>
Some repairs were made to Shuri castle in 1930, but the castle - which hid a major military command post below it by this time - was destroyed in 1945. The University of the Ryukyus had its main campus on the castle site for many years after the war, until, after decades of popular movements and pushes to see the castle rebuilt, the university moved and reconstruction finally began on the castle in 1992, on the 20th anniversary of the reversion of Okinawa to Japanese sovereignty following the US Occupation. The grounds beneath and around the reconstructed castle were named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000, and the reconstructed castle became the site of regular reenactments of royal court ceremonies and numerous other cultural performances, as well as regularly-cycling temporary exhibits of artworks and other treasures related to the kingdom.
===Destruction and Restoration===
Some repairs were made to Shuri castle in 1930, but the castle - which hid a major military command post below it by this time - was destroyed in 1945. The University of the Ryukyus had its main campus on the castle site for many years after the war, until, after decades of popular movements and pushes to see the castle rebuilt, the university moved and reconstruction finally began on the castle in 1992, on the 20th anniversary of the reversion of Okinawa to Japanese sovereignty following the US Occupation.
This was a long process, however. The Shureimon gate was the first portion of the castle to be restored, in 1958. Ten years later, in 1968-69, the main gate at the nearby [[Engaku-ji]] temple, along with the Benten-dô (Benten Hall) and Tennyo-bashi (Tennyo Bridge) at the [[Ryutan|Ryûtan Pond]] were restored. The Ryukyu Government<ref>The civilian government of Okinawan elected representatives governing alongside the US military government during the Occupation.</ref> decided upon a plan in 1970 to restore the castle and various cultural assets (artifacts) lost in the war. The same year, the national government of Japan reached a cabinet decision regarding the reversion of Okinawa to Japanese authority (i.e. the end of the Occupation), and made clear its support for the restoration of the castle and cultural assets. The following year, funds were explicitly set aside for the restoration project within the budget of the Ministry of State for Okinawa and the [[Northern Territories]]. In 1972, the US Occupation ended and Japanese administration of Okinawa prefecture was resumed; an official Okinawa Promotion and Development Plan that year explicitly included discussion of a plan to restore the castle and associated cultural assets. Work then began on restoring other portions of the castle compound and surrounding areas, with the Kankaimon being restored over a two-year process from 1972-74 and the royal mausoleum at [[Tamaudun]] in 1973-76. An "Association for Realizing the Restoration of Shuri Castle" (''Shurijô fukugen kisei kai'') was established in 1973, and work began on the castle's Kyûkeimon gate in 1976. The Second Okinawa Promotion and Development Plan, put out in 1982, explicitly discussed matters including determining the extent of the grounds that should be made a public park, and the areas that should be made areas for historical and cultural preservation.
The grounds beneath and around the reconstructed castle were named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000, and the reconstructed castle became the site of regular reenactments of royal court ceremonies and numerous other cultural performances, as well as regularly-cycling temporary exhibits of artworks and other treasures related to the kingdom.
The Seiden caught fire early in the morning on Oct 31, 2019; the fire soon spread, and by the time it was put out in the early afternoon that same day, the Seiden and Hokuden had been completely destroyed, with the Nanden and four other structures (for a total of seven structures) suffering severe damage. Some number of historical treasures were lost in the fire. There are plans to rebuild the lost structures, however it is unclear how long this will take, or the extent of the losses of irreplaceable cultural artifacts and the like.<ref name=nhkfire>"[https://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/20191031/amp/k10012157881000.html 首里城で火災「正殿」などが全焼 那覇]," NHK News Web, 31 Oct 2019.</ref>
The Seiden caught fire early in the morning on Oct 31, 2019; the fire soon spread, and by the time it was put out in the early afternoon that same day, the Seiden and Hokuden had been completely destroyed, with the Nanden and four other structures (for a total of seven structures) suffering severe damage. Some number of historical treasures were lost in the fire. There are plans to rebuild the lost structures, however it is unclear how long this will take, or the extent of the losses of irreplaceable cultural artifacts and the like.<ref name=nhkfire>"[https://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/20191031/amp/k10012157881000.html 首里城で火災「正殿」などが全焼 那覇]," NHK News Web, 31 Oct 2019.</ref>
