Shuri Castle

Shuri Castle is different from other castles in Japan, and there is an explanation for this. In the 15th century, the Ryukyu kingdom was located in these places, over time it lost its independence and ended up under the rule of Japan, but there are also quite a lot of different Chinese manifestations here. In 2019, a major fire broke out on the castle grounds, and many buildings and facilities were severely damaged. Part of the exposition is closed, active restoration of the complex continues. The landmark is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Basic information

Already approaching the main entrance of Shuri Castle, the influence of two strong oriental cultures is felt. The stele dedicated to King Sho Xi has inscriptions in two languages. The fortress walls look very impressive, in some places their height reaches 15 meters and width up to 3 meters. They were built of coral stone, simply stacked on top of each other at a slight angle.

Next, visitors pass through the main gate of Shuri Castle, the entrance is guarded by two lions - these are also Chinese symbols. The welcome signs above the entrance are made in Chinese characters. In the main courtyard, you can see an ancient sundial and a replica of an ancient bell. A little further away are the majestic gates covered with red lacquer. In those days, this process was very complicated and took a lot of time. Therefore, such gates made a strong impression on the guests of the castle.

Features of Shuri Castle

The main gate is painted red. During the kingdom's time, only high-ranking officials, honored guests, and the king himself could pass through them. Next is the administrative part of the castle, where various important meetings used to take place. The entire territory of the complex is divided into 3 main parts, in addition to the administrative, there is also a ritual and residential. The king and his family, and later the Japanese governor, lived in the residential part. In the ritual part, people performed numerous religious rituals.

The main square is located in the administrative part of Shuri Castle, it is paved with tiles, and the hosts escorted the honored guests to the main building like a red carpet. It is also painted in a solemn red color, and its roof is decorated with many varnished elements.

Today, a visit to the castle and an inspection of its interiors is available to everyone. It is very interesting to observe how bright and festive elements of Chinese culture are combined with traditional Japanese minimalism. The museum of Shuri Castle features a wide variety of exhibits from the two great countries. You can see numerous paintings and statuettes of lions and dragons, as well as various models, weapons and clothing of both warriors and nobility. The showcase features a throne and crown, replicas of the era of the Ryukyu Kingdom.