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The castle is situated on a hill, 130m above sea level at its highest point<ref name=Turnbull44>Turnbull. p44.</ref>, selected for its excellent ''[[feng shui]]'' as a "dragon hollow" (C: ''lóng xué'') where ''[[qi]]'' flowing from "dragon veins" (C: ''lóngmài'') gathers and pools, and for the freshwater spring known as Ryûhi ("Dragon Spring") which could provide water to the castle.<ref name=akamine87>Akamine, "The Ryukyu Kingdom," 87-88.</ref> The grounds cover roughly 46,000 square meters, extending roughly 400 meters from east to west, and 270 meters from north to south. The compound includes four gates in the outer wall, and eight gates in the inner complex<ref name=shimpo/>. In contrast to most imperial and royal palaces in East Asia, which face south, the main palace hall (J: ''seiden'') at Shuri faces the west, in accordance with ''[[feng shui]]'' calculations determined by the kingdom's scholar-officials based on the natural topography of the area.<ref>And, perhaps, in the interests of facing towards China, as the center and source of Confucian virtue and civilization.</ref> Interestingly, the ''feng shui'' directional associations at Shuri are rotated, with west serving as though it were south. Thus, the Vermillion Bird (J: ''sujaku'') of the South is associated at Shuri with the west, the "Dark Warrior" (J: ''genbu'') of the north with the mountains to the east, and so forth.<ref name=akamine87/>

The castle is situated on a hill, 130m above sea level at its highest point<ref name=Turnbull44>Turnbull. p44.</ref>, selected for its excellent ''[[feng shui]]'' as a "dragon hollow" (C: ''lóng xué'') where ''[[qi]]'' flowing from "dragon veins" (C: ''lóngmài'') gathers and pools, and for the freshwater spring known as Ryûhi ("Dragon Spring") which could provide water to the castle.<ref name=akamine87>Akamine, "The Ryukyu Kingdom," 87-88.</ref> The grounds cover roughly 46,000 square meters, extending roughly 400 meters from east to west, and 270 meters from north to south. The compound includes four gates in the outer wall, and eight gates in the inner complex<ref name=shimpo/>. In contrast to most imperial and royal palaces in East Asia, which face south, the main palace hall (J: ''seiden'') at Shuri faces the west, in accordance with ''[[feng shui]]'' calculations determined by the kingdom's scholar-officials based on the natural topography of the area.<ref>And, perhaps, in the interests of facing towards China, as the center and source of Confucian virtue and civilization.</ref> Interestingly, the ''feng shui'' directional associations at Shuri are rotated, with west serving as though it were south. Thus, the Vermillion Bird (J: ''sujaku'') of the South is associated at Shuri with the west, the "Dark Warrior" (J: ''genbu'') of the north with the mountains to the east, and so forth.<ref name=akamine87/>

A gate in the eastern side of the outer walls known as the Keiseimon (継世門), built in 1546, serves essentially as the rear gate to the compound, situated as it is on the opposite end of the compound from the main gates to the castle, the Shureimon and Kankaimon. A pair of stelae which stand at the Keiseimon are said to have been erected in 1544, and were intended to serve as spiritual or symbolic protection against ''[[wako|wakô]]''<ref>"Shisetsu annai: Keiseimon." Shuri Castle Park Official Website.</ref>. Two other outer gates, called the Uekimon (右掖門) and Shukujunmon (淑順門), situated to the north side of the complex, provided access to an inner garden, called the ''ouchibara'' (御内原) in Okinawan. Today, tourists following the designated route pass through the Uekimon on their way out of the castle at the end of their visit<ref>"Shisetsu annai: Uekimon." Shuri Castle Park Official Website.</ref>.

A gate in the eastern side of the outer walls known as the Keiseimon (継世門), built in [[1543]] or [[1546]] in conjunction with an expansion of the castle walls,<ref name=shimposhurireki/> serves essentially as the rear gate to the compound, situated as it is on the opposite end of the compound from the main gates to the castle, the Shureimon and Kankaimon. Also known as the ''Akata gomon'' 赤田御門 and as the Suetsugi-ujô 継世門 in Okinawan, this gate at the rear of the complex was used by a crown prince when entering the castle after the death of his predecessor, in order to undertake his succession ceremony in the Yohokori-den 世誇殿. It was also by this gate that [[Sho Tai|Shô Tai]], the last king of Ryûkyû, departed the castle when abdicating the palace to the Japanese in [[1879]].<ref name=shuriqa/>

 

A pair of stelae which stand at the Keiseimon are said to have been erected in 1544, and were intended to serve as spiritual or symbolic protection against ''[[wako|wakô]]''<ref>"Shisetsu annai: Keiseimon." Shuri Castle Park Official Website.</ref>. Two other outer gates, called the Uekimon (右掖門) and Shukujunmon (淑順門), situated to the north side of the complex, provided access to an inner garden, called the ''ouchibara'' (御内原) in Okinawan. Today, tourists following the designated route pass through the Uekimon on their way out of the castle at the end of their visit<ref>"Shisetsu annai: Uekimon." Shuri Castle Park Official Website.</ref>.

Several buildings stood inside these outer gates. One, known in Japanese as ''zenikura'' 銭蔵, was a two-story storehouse where [[awamori]], oils, and other materials, as well as money for the court's everyday use, was stored. A stables for three to five horses stood nearby, along with an office for those overseeing these two buildings, and overseeing or guarding the castle throughout the day and night.<ref name=plaques>Plaques on-site.</ref>

Several buildings stood inside these outer gates. One, known in Japanese as ''zenikura'' 銭蔵, was a two-story storehouse where [[awamori]], oils, and other materials, as well as money for the court's everyday use, was stored. A stables for three to five horses stood nearby, along with an office for those overseeing these two buildings, and overseeing or guarding the castle throughout the day and night.<ref name=plaques>Plaques on-site.</ref>

[[Image:Zuisenmon.jpg|right|thumb|Zuisenmon (瑞泉門)|250px]]

[[Image:Zuisenmon.jpg|right|thumb|Zuisenmon (瑞泉門)|250px]]

[[Image:Rokokumon.jpg|right|thumb|Rôkokumon (漏刻門)|250px]]

[[Image:Rokokumon.jpg|right|thumb|Rôkokumon (漏刻門)|250px]]

The castle historically boasted thirteen gates. The outermost gates leading up to the castle, the Chûzanmon and Shureimon, were built in a Chinese ''paifang'' style as roofed wooden structures straddling the road. Most of the gates in the outer walls of the castle, including the Kankaimon, Kobikimon, Kyûkeimon, and Keiseimon

The castle historically boasted thirteen gates. The outermost gates leading up to the castle, the Chûzanmon and Shureimon, were built in a Chinese ''paifang'' style as roofed wooden structures straddling the road. The Kankaimon, Kobikimon, Kyûkeimon, and Keiseimon consisted chiefly of arches built (cut) directly into the stone, something more typical of Chinese architecture than of Japanese. Several of the inner gates of the castle, including the Zuisenmon and Rôkokumon, by contrast, consist of a wooden gatehouse stretched across a gap in the wall, forming a rectangular opening; though this type of gate construction is commonly seen in Japanese castles, the gatehouses at Shuri were built in a Chinese-influenced architectural style and painted red.<ref name=shuriqa/>

Some distance to the west was the outermost gate of the castle, known as Chûzanmon. Built in the style of a Chinese ''paifang'' gate in [[1428]], it was originally known as Kenkokumon ("Establishment of the Country Gate"). It was the same size and same style as the Shureimon, and had its roof switched from wooden planks to ceramic tiles in 1681. The name "Chûzanmon" derives from a plaque hung on the gate, reading "Chûzan," gifted to the kingdom by [[Chai Shan]]<!--柴山-->, a [[Ming Dynasty]] official who came to Ryûkyû in [[1425]] for the [[investiture]] of King [[Sho Hashi|Shô Hashi]]. Following the abolition of the kingdom, the gate was allowed to simply fall into decay, and in [[1908]] it was torn down and has not been re-erected. Marking the entrance to Shuri's Aijo-ufumichi (Aijo Boulevard), the Chûzanmon was previously also known as ''shimu nu aijo'' (J: ''shita no ayamon'') and ''shimun tui'' (J: ''shita no [[torii]]''). A ''[[bingata]]'' [[Ryukyuan textiles|textiles]] workshop and shop stands today at the former site of the gate.<ref>Plaque at the former site of the Chûzanmon.[https://www.flickr.com/photos/toranosuke/15466021215]</ref>

Some distance to the west was the outermost gate of the castle, known as Chûzanmon. Built in the style of a Chinese ''paifang'' gate in [[1428]], it was originally known as Kenkokumon ("Establishment of the Country Gate"). It was the same size and same style as the Shureimon, and had its roof switched from wooden planks to ceramic tiles in 1681. The name "Chûzanmon" derives from a plaque hung on the gate, reading "Chûzan," gifted to the kingdom by [[Chai Shan]]<!--柴山-->, a [[Ming Dynasty]] official who came to Ryûkyû in [[1425]] for the [[investiture]] of King [[Sho Hashi|Shô Hashi]]. Following the abolition of the kingdom, the gate was allowed to simply fall into decay, and in [[1908]] it was torn down and has not been re-erected. Marking the entrance to Shuri's Aijo-ufumichi (Aijo Boulevard), the Chûzanmon was previously also known as ''shimu nu aijo'' (J: ''shita no ayamon'') and ''shimun tui'' (J: ''shita no [[torii]]''). A ''[[bingata]]'' [[Ryukyuan textiles|textiles]] workshop and shop stands today at the former site of the gate.<ref>Plaque at the former site of the Chûzanmon.[https://www.flickr.com/photos/toranosuke/15466021215]</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>  

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>  

Upon entering the Kankaimon or Kyûkeimon (both built c. [[1477]]),<ref name=shimposhurireki/> a visitor, official, or royal would next ascend a set of stairs flanked by seven stone tablets of investiture, representing prior kings and the authority of the Throne. Even the king himself would dismount here from his [[palanquin]] and bow before proceeding further into the complex.

Upon entering the Kankaimon or Kyûkeimon (both built c. [[1477]]),<ref name=shimposhurireki/> a visitor, official, or royal would next ascend a set of stairs flanked by seven stone tablets of investiture, representing prior kings and the authority of the Throne. Even the king himself would dismount here from his [[palanquin]] and bow before proceeding further into the complex.