Changes

Each time that [[Chinese investiture envoys]] came to Ryûkyû to invest a new king, a ''yusai'' memorial ceremony would be held at Sôgen-ji mourning the spirit of his late predecessor. The ''[[ihai]]'' memorial tablet would be placed out, along with offerings for the spirit of the late king, before which the new king would then perform a full ''[[kowtow]]'' (three kneelings, nine bows). The Ming or Qing lead and vice-envoys would then light incense in front of the memorial tablet and make an offering of liquor. Another Ming/Qing official would then read out a formal memorial statement, and then ritually burn the document. Finally, the heads of the investiture mission would perform a partial (one kneeling, three bows) ''kowtow'' toward the memorial tablet. This was followed by a formal banquet.<ref>"Sappôshi kankei chôsai ni tsuite"「冊封使関係調査について」, ''Fee nu kaji'' 南ぬ風 5 (2007/10-12), 14.</ref>

Each time that [[Chinese investiture envoys]] came to Ryûkyû to invest a new king, a ''yusai'' memorial ceremony would be held at Sôgen-ji mourning the spirit of his late predecessor. The ''[[ihai]]'' memorial tablet would be placed out, along with offerings for the spirit of the late king, before which the new king would then perform a full ''[[kowtow]]'' (three kneelings, nine bows). The Ming or Qing lead and vice-envoys would then light incense in front of the memorial tablet and make an offering of liquor. Another Ming/Qing official would then read out a formal memorial statement, and then ritually burn the document. Finally, the heads of the investiture mission would perform a partial (one kneeling, three bows) ''kowtow'' toward the memorial tablet. This was followed by a formal banquet.<ref>"Sappôshi kankei chôsai ni tsuite"「冊封使関係調査について」, ''Fee nu kaji'' 南ぬ風 5 (2007/10-12), 14.</ref>

Many of the temple's buildings were declared [[National Treasures]] in 1933, but were then destroyed in the 1945 Battle of Okinawa, leaving only sections of the stone walls/gates intact.

Many of the temple's buildings were declared [[National Treasures]] in 1933, but were then destroyed in the 1945 Battle of Okinawa, leaving only sections of the stone walls/gates intact. Some restoration work was undertaken in the early 1950s, the first major project to restore cultural properties damaged in the war.<ref>Tze May Loo, ''Heritage Politics: Shuri Castle and Okinawa's Incorporation into Modern Japan, 1879-2000'', Lexington Books (2014), 159.</ref>

==References==

==References==