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====Seiden====

====Seiden====

The chief royal residence, or Seiden (正殿), the structure at the heart of Shuri castle, faces and overlooks the ''unâ''. The largest wooden building in the Ryûkyû Kingdom, it is three stories tall, and lavishly painted and otherwise decorated in vermillion and gold, with intricate carvings and other embellishments painted in bold colors. Its construction incorporates Chinese, Japanese, and native Okinawan architectural elements, including among many other features a Japanese ''[[karahafu]]'' gabled arch over the entrance, and Chinese-style two-tiered roof modeled upon that of the Chinese Imperial Palace. From the time of its reconstruction in the early 1990s until its destruction in an Oct 2019 fire, the Seiden was the largest wooden building in Okinawa prefecture. Sadly, regulations did not require a structure of its size and character to have a built-in sprinkler system; this, combined with the inaccessibility of the site and the early morning outbreak of the fire, contributed to the ultimate outcome of the structure burning to the ground before firefighters could get the fire under control.<ref name=nhkfire/>

The chief royal residence, or Seiden (正殿), the structure at the heart of Shuri castle, faces and overlooks the ''unâ''. The largest wooden building in the Ryûkyû Kingdom, it is three stories tall, and lavishly painted and otherwise decorated in vermillion and gold, with intricate carvings and other embellishments painted in bold colors. Its construction incorporates Chinese, Japanese, and native Okinawan architectural elements, including among many other features a Japanese ''[[karahafu]]'' gabled arch over the entrance, and Chinese-style two-tiered roof modeled upon that of the Chinese Imperial Palace. Over one hundred vertical pillars are incorporated into the structure; though some have suggested this may have been aimed at protecting the structure from earthquakes, others have suggested it was more likely a measure against typhoons.<ref name=shuriqa>"Shurijô no Q&A," ''Ryukyu Shimpo'', 1 Nov 1992.</ref>

 

From the time of its reconstruction in the early 1990s until its destruction in an Oct 2019 fire, the Seiden was the largest wooden building in Okinawa prefecture. Sadly, regulations did not require a structure of its size and character to have a built-in sprinkler system; this, combined with the inaccessibility of the site and the early morning outbreak of the fire, contributed to the ultimate outcome of the structure burning to the ground before firefighters could get the fire under control.<ref name=nhkfire/>

Two stone dragon pillars, roughly three meters in height, flank the central stair of the Seiden; these, like just about everything on the grounds today, are reconstructions, though pieces of the pre-1945 pillars are now housed at the Okinawa Prefectural Museum. While most elements of the castle's design reflects Chinese, Korean, and Japanese influence, these dragon pillars resemble not those found anywhere in East Asia, but rather, a form distinctive of Ryûkyûan architecture, and perhaps bearing connections to elements seen in palaces and temples of Cambodia and Thailand<ref name=Kerr109/>, two of the many regions with which Ryûkyû traded heavily in the 14th-16th centuries. Dragons could also be found carved into and painted onto handrails, ceiling beams, and pillars throughout the structure<ref name=seiden>"Shisetsu annai: Seiden." Shuri Castle Park Official Website.</ref>.

Two stone dragon pillars, roughly three meters in height, flank the central stair of the Seiden; these, like just about everything on the grounds today, are reconstructions, though pieces of the pre-1945 pillars are now housed at the Okinawa Prefectural Museum. While most elements of the castle's design reflects Chinese, Korean, and Japanese influence, these dragon pillars resemble not those found anywhere in East Asia, but rather, a form distinctive of Ryûkyûan architecture, and perhaps bearing connections to elements seen in palaces and temples of Cambodia and Thailand<ref name=Kerr109/>, two of the many regions with which Ryûkyû traded heavily in the 14th-16th centuries. Dragons could also be found carved into and painted onto handrails, ceiling beams, and pillars throughout the structure<ref name=seiden>"Shisetsu annai: Seiden." Shuri Castle Park Official Website.</ref>.

Though palaces in China, in accordance with the principles of Chinese geomancy, generally face south, those same principles were applied to Okinawa with the result that it was deemed most appropriate for the Seiden to face, not south, but west. It does so with the mountains at its back, facing the port of Naha, it being believed that dragon lines connect the two points, the palace sitting on a spot which is a source of energy, which then flows down to the harbor.<ref>Kitahara Shûichi. ''A Journey to the Ryukyu Gusuku'' 琉球城紀行。 Naha: Miura Creative, 2003. p11.</ref>

Though palaces in China, in accordance with the principles of Chinese geomancy, generally face south, those same principles were applied to Okinawa with the result that it was deemed most appropriate for the Seiden to face, not south, but west. It does so with the mountains at its back, facing the port of Naha, it being believed that dragon lines connect the two points, the palace sitting on a spot which is a source of energy, which then flows down to the harbor.<ref>Kitahara Shûichi. ''A Journey to the Ryukyu Gusuku'' 琉球城紀行。 Naha: Miura Creative, 2003. p11.</ref> Though Ryukyuan sources explaining this westerly facing have not been found, having the members of the court face east as they faced the throne may have helped heighten the association of the king with the sun (which rises in the east) and with ''[[nirai kanai]]'', the mythical origin of the gods, somewhere east across the seas; multiple [[Chinese investiture envoys]] suggested that the westerly facing was an act of propriety and loyalty towards China.<ref name=shuriqa/>

The first floor, called the ''shicha-gui'' (下庫理) in Okinawan, was mainly used for government matters, and for more public rituals and ceremonies in which the king himself participated<ref name=seiden/> A series of sliding doors at the center of the front of the building opened directly onto the main audience chamber, or ''usasuka'' (御差床), above which (on the second floor) was the throne room. A throne sat here as well, where the king would sit to preside over government business, formal audiences and various rituals. Seats to his sides were reserved for the queen, their children, and royal grandchildren. The vermillion pillars to both sides of the throne were adorned with paintings of gold dragons and multi-colored clouds; hanging scroll paintings of ''[[kirin]]'' and [[phoenix]]es flanked the throne as well<ref name=seiden/>.

The first floor, called the ''shicha-gui'' (下庫理) in Okinawan, was mainly used for government matters, and for more public rituals and ceremonies in which the king himself participated<ref name=seiden/> A series of sliding doors at the center of the front of the building opened directly onto the main audience chamber, or ''usasuka'' (御差床), above which (on the second floor) was the throne room. A throne sat here as well, where the king would sit to preside over government business, formal audiences and various rituals. Seats to his sides were reserved for the queen, their children, and royal grandchildren. The vermillion pillars to both sides of the throne were adorned with paintings of gold dragons and multi-colored clouds; hanging scroll paintings of ''[[kirin]]'' and [[phoenix]]es flanked the throne as well<ref name=seiden/>.