484:), a plaza for gathering allied elites and subjects, a ritual area, a large external pond, and attached Buddhist temples, was already complete at Urasoe". Archaeologists point out in particular the wealth, power, and aesthetic grandeur indicated by elements of the site's structures. Roof tiles and other items, mostly ceramics, were imported from Korea, and stone coffins carved in the Chinese style, likely in Fujian, were also imported, indicating the tiny kingdom's extensive trade and diplomatic connections; items from Korea, in particular, are known to have been quite rare and expensive in Okinawa for many centuries, and have been excavated only in the most elite of sites. The Buddhist temples on the site indicate strong political and cultural connections to Japan, and the large pond or lake below the castle is a common symbol of elite power and prestige throughout
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413:(lion-dogs), and various Buddhist images, along with dragons and phoenixes on the lids, which are designed to look like tiled roofs. Eiso lived in the 13th century, however, based on the style of designs and decorations on the coffins, archaeologists believe these to be of later, 15th-century, construction. King
420:
Excavations in the last decades of the 20th century uncovered a ceremonial path leading from the castle to the tombs, along with the remains of an artificial lake, a tunnel entrance to the castle, and a series of residences believed to have belonged to a noble family. Over 30,000 artifacts were
367:. A series of interconnected enclosures cross the site from east–west. As much of the site has been extensively damaged, both historically and more recently, the overall size, layout and structure of the castle is difficult to ascertain, along with many other aspects of its history and use.
479:
Many scholars have traditionally seen the establishment of Shuri as royal capital as bringing with it great changes and developments in the representation of the monarchy. However, some scholars today believe that "the form for the royal capital at Shuri, which included a central palace
441:. Korean roof tiles were used in the expansions and construction at this time. Significant portions of the castle were taken away in the early 16th century to aid in the construction of Shuri Castle. The castle remained in use, however, and Shō Iko, the son of King
433:) in particular, in Okinawa. It is believed to have been grander in scale and complexity than sites which came before. Most of what is known about the castle's history comes from archaeological excavations, and not from narrative historical documentation.
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Low stone walls and post-holes indicate the original form of the castle, constructed in the late 13th–early 14th centuries. Over the next century or so, the castle was expanded, and came to encompass what is today labeled the
370:
A series of four separate ramparts and palisades defended the lower portion of the castle, along with a moat that has been dated to the late 14th or early 15th century. The upper portion of the castle, like many other
445:, took up residence there in 1509. Finding it largely in ruins, he oversaw its refurbishment, and it is believed he moved the residential section of the castle from the
405:(r. 1260–1299) ruled Chūzan from Urasoe, and is entombed near the northwest cliff of the castle. His mausoleum contains three stone coffins from China, possibly from
464:, along with the Ryufuku-ji temple which sat below it on the hillside. The castle and the ridge it was built upon were also a Japanese defensive position during the
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409:; it is believed that Eiso is buried in the largest one, his father and grandfather in the other two. The coffins are decorated with birds, flowers, deer,
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As royal capital, Urasoe represents the first instance of a major shift in the construction of elite structures, and castles (
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Pearson, Richard (2001). "Archaeological
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which served as the capital of the medieval
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late 13th – early 14th century; later expanded and refurbished
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together cover an area roughly 380m long by 60-70m wide, the
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United States
Military Government of the Ryukyu Islands
394:, the site of the royal mausolea of several kings of
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530:585: 116–113. Quoted in Pearson (2001), p 271.
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16:Castle in central Okinawa
569:26.246619°N 127.732319°E
231:late 13th century – 1609
885:Historic Sites of Japan
875:Former castles in Japan
686:Gushikawa Castle (Kume)
347:, today the capital of
32:Urasoe, Okinawa, Japan
801:Uegusuku Castle (Kume)
574:26.246619; 127.732319
266:Garrison information
844:Furusutobaru Castle
565: /
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522:Asato, S. (1997).
458:invasion of Ryukyu
349:Okinawa Prefecture
259:Invasion of Ryukyu
249:invasion of Ryukyu
137:Controlled by
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736:Kyan Castle
696:Ikei Castle
638:Beru Castle
614:Fort style
572: /
560:127°43′56″E
472:earned his
388:Gokuraku-ji
378:The oldest
335:Description
228:In use
189:(1950–1972)
179:(1945–1950)
169:(1879–1945)
156:(1429–1879)
869:Categories
741:Mie Castle
726:Kin Castle
701:Iso Castle
691:Iha Castle
557:26°14′48″N
492:References
384:Ryufuku-ji
244:Demolished
486:East Asia
300:Urasoe jō
271:Occupants
236:Materials
207:Condition
451:migusuku
447:kogusuku
443:Shō Shin
439:kogusuku
365:migusuku
361:kogusuku
357:Migusuku
353:Kogusuku
305:Okinawan
277:, incl.
538:Sources
462:Satsuma
449:to the
425:History
415:Shō Nei
616:Gusuku
506:"ウラシー"
482:seiden
431:gusuku
411:shishi
407:Fujian
396:Chūzan
373:gusuku
341:Urasoe
321:Chūzan
316:gusuku
261:(1609)
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141:Chūzan
125:Gusuku
401:King
329:Shuri
247:1609
220:Built
210:Ruins
200:Japan
403:Eiso
386:and
345:Naha
279:Eiso
120:Type
460:by
294:浦添城
104:浦添城
72:浦添城
26:浦添城
871::
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