Shuri Castle

Shurijo Castle, located on a small hill in Okinawa, symbolizes the history and culture of the Ryukyu Kingdom. The castle is protected by curving walls and contains numerous open squares and sacred sites, features that can also be seen in other castles in Okinawa known as Gusuku. Shurijo Castle stood out among the other Gusuku, as it maintained its features and flourished while the others were defeated and ruined. The castle is divided into inner and outer baileys or wards, with the inner ward completed in the early 15th century and the outer ward completed in mid-16th century. The Seiden and other buildings within the castle are built along an east-west axis, with their fronts facing west, a distinctive feature of Shurijo Castle. Due to historical exchange with China and Japan, the castle displays a mix of architectural cultures from both countries. Shurijo Castle served as the royal residence for the king and his family, and also functioned as the Shuri Royal Government and a religious center for the kingdom. It was also a center for cultural arts, performance and music. However, in 1879, the king was banished and the Ryukyu Kingdom was annexed and became Okinawa Prefecture. Shurijo Castle was then turned into a Japanese military post and was completely destroyed in an attack by American forces in 1945. Today, the restored Shurijo Castle is modeled after the castle from the 18th century and later and the site was registered as a World Heritage in December 2000.