Changes

Succession disputes which broke out following the death of King [[Sho Kinpuku|Shô Kinpuku]] in [[1453]] led to the destruction of the palace buildings at that time, and the loss of many artifacts including silver seals granted the kings of Ryûkyû by the Hongwu Emperor as signs of authority<ref>Kerr. p97.</ref>. The castle was rebuilt shortly afterward.

Succession disputes which broke out following the death of King [[Sho Kinpuku|Shô Kinpuku]] in [[1453]] led to the destruction of the palace buildings at that time, and the loss of many artifacts including silver seals granted the kings of Ryûkyû by the Hongwu Emperor as signs of authority<ref>Kerr. p97.</ref>. The castle was rebuilt shortly afterward.

Little is known about the appearance of the castle in this early period. However, the accounts of Korean castaway Ryang Seong give some sense of it. According to Ryang, the castle resembled those in Korea, with high, winding walls and numerous buildings within the grounds. Shuri in particular incorporated three sets of walls; stables and a storehouse were located within the outermost wall, barracks for about 200 soldiers were located within the second enclosure, and a three-story building stood at the center of the innermost enclosure. This three-story structure was the seat of government and the residence of the king on certain lucky days of the calendar; it contained stores for food and wine in the bottom floor and for royal treasures on the top floor. The roof was of planks or slats, not ceramic tiles. The king, who otherwise resided in a two-story building nearby, possibly attached to the three-story structure, was regularly attended by around one hundred male servants and another one hundred female attendants, many or all of whom were armed with swords and served as the king's guard.<ref name=smits93/>

Little is known about the appearance of the castle in this early period. However, the accounts of Korean castaway Ryang Seong give some sense of it. According to Ryang, the castle resembled those in Korea, with high, winding walls and numerous buildings within the grounds. Shuri in particular incorporated three sets of walls; stables and a storehouse were located within the outermost wall, barracks for about 200 soldiers were located within the second enclosure, and a three-story building stood at the center of the innermost enclosure. This three-story structure was the seat of government and the residence of the king on certain lucky days of the calendar; it contained stores for food and wine in the bottom floor and for royal treasures on the top floor. The roof was of planks or slats, not ceramic tiles. The king, who otherwise resided in a two-story building nearby, possibly attached to the three-story structure, was regularly attended by around one hundred male servants and another one hundred female attendants, many or all of whom were armed with swords and served as the king's guard.<ref name=maritime93/>

Archaeological excavations have revealed that an area in the western portion of the castle grounds, known as the Iri no Azana, was home to metalworking facilities. The remains or at least indications of the former presence of a furnace, trenches, crucibles, and molds have been found; it is believed that large temple bells, among other items, were produced here, within the castle grounds.<ref name=smits93/>

Archaeological excavations have revealed that an area in the western portion of the castle grounds, known as the Iri no Azana, was home to metalworking facilities. The remains or at least indications of the former presence of a furnace, trenches, crucibles, and molds have been found; it is believed that large temple bells, among other items, were produced here, within the castle grounds.<ref name=maritime93/>

The reigns of [[Sho Shin|Shô Shin]] (r. 1477-1526) and [[Sho Sei (尚清)|Shô Sei]] (r. 1527-1555) saw considerable renovation and expansion of the castle, including the construction or expansion of the outer ring of stone walls in [[1544]]-[[1546]], addition of the stone dragon pillars at the entrance to the Seiden in [[1508]],<ref>Though some sources have indicated there was confusion, during the reconstruction of the palace in the 1990s as to which direction the dragons should face, pre-war photos clearly show the dragons facing inwards, towards the staircase and towards one another. Kikuchi Yuko, ''Japanese Modernisation and Mingei Theory'', Routledge Curzon (2004), 146. In the end, today, they once again stand facing one another.</ref> and the construction of a number of temples and secondary buildings outside the castle complex proper, including the royal mausoleum of [[Tamaudun]], completed in [[1501]]<ref name=Kerr109>Kerr. p109.</ref>. The castle would remain through the centuries largely in the form it took at this time<ref name=chanpuru>Kadekawa, Manabu. ''Okinawa Chanpurû Jiten'' (沖縄チャンプルー事典, "Okinawa Champloo Encyclopedia"). Tokyo: Yamakei Publishing, 2001. p54.</ref>.

The reigns of [[Sho Shin|Shô Shin]] (r. 1477-1526) and [[Sho Sei (尚清)|Shô Sei]] (r. 1527-1555) saw considerable renovation and expansion of the castle, including the construction or expansion of the outer ring of stone walls in [[1544]]-[[1546]], addition of the stone dragon pillars at the entrance to the Seiden in [[1508]],<ref>Though some sources have indicated there was confusion, during the reconstruction of the palace in the 1990s as to which direction the dragons should face, pre-war photos clearly show the dragons facing inwards, towards the staircase and towards one another. Kikuchi Yuko, ''Japanese Modernisation and Mingei Theory'', Routledge Curzon (2004), 146. In the end, today, they once again stand facing one another.</ref> and the construction of a number of temples and secondary buildings outside the castle complex proper, including the royal mausoleum of [[Tamaudun]], completed in [[1501]]<ref name=Kerr109>Kerr. p109.</ref>. The castle would remain through the centuries largely in the form it took at this time<ref name=chanpuru>Kadekawa, Manabu. ''Okinawa Chanpurû Jiten'' (沖縄チャンプルー事典, "Okinawa Champloo Encyclopedia"). Tokyo: Yamakei Publishing, 2001. p54.</ref>.