Gusuku Sites and Related Properties of the Kingdom of Ryukyu
List of sites
Table:
Name

Type

Location

Picture

Tamaudun (玉陵)

mausoleumMausoleum

nahaNaha, Okinawa

Sonohyan-utaki Ishimon (園比屋武御嶽石門, Okinawan: Sunuhwan-utaki)

utakiStone gate at utaki

nahaNaha, Okinawa

Nakijin Castle Site (今帰仁城跡, Nakijin-jō ato, Okinawan: Nachizin Gushiku)

gusuku ruinsGusuku ruins

kunigami nakijinNakijin, Kunigami, Okinawa

Zakimi Castle Site (座喜味城跡, Zakimi-jō ato, Okinawan: Zachimi Gushiku)

gusuku ruinsGusuku ruins

nakagami yomitanYomitan, Nakagami, Okinawa

Katsuren Castle Site (勝連城跡跡, Katsuren-jō ato, Okinawan: Katchin Gushiku)

gusuku ruinsGusuku ruins

nakagami urumaUruma, Nakagami, Okinawa

Nakagusuku Castle Site (中城城跡, Nakagusuku-jō ato, Okinawan: Nakagusiku Gushiku)[12]

gusuku ruinsGusuku ruins

nakagami nakagusukuNakagusuku, Nakagami, Okinawa

Shuri Castle Site (首里城跡, Shuri-jō ato, Okinawan: Sui Gushiku)

gusuku ruinsReconstructed Gusuku on site of ruins

Naha, Okinawa

Shikinaen (識名園)

gardenGarden

nahaNaha, Okinawa

Sefa-utaki (斎場御嶽, Seefa-utaki)

utakiUtaki

nanjoNanjō, Okinawa

Taking into account the accompanying table together with the relevant paragraphs below.

Respond to the question below: How many reside in the city which contains Katsuren Castle ? Respond with the correct answer (omit explanations) in JSON format as {"answer": "YOUR ANSWER"}. Use only the information given.

Tamaudun ( 玉陵 ) is one of the three royal mausoleums of the Ryukyu Kingdom , along with Urasoe yōdore at Urasoe Castle and Izena Tamaudun near Izena Castle in Izena , Okinawa . The mausoleum is located in Shuri , Okinawa , and was built for Ryūkyūan royalty in 1501 by King Shō Shin , the third king of the Second Shō Dynasty a short distance from Shuri Castle .
A mausoleum is an external free-standing building constructed as a monument enclosing the interment space or burial chamber of a deceased person or people . A monument without the interment is a cenotaph . A mausoleum may be considered a type of tomb , or the tomb may be considered to be within the mausoleum .
Naha ( 那覇市 , Naha-shi , Japanese : [ naꜜha ] , Okinawan : Nāfa or Nafa ) is the capital city of the Okinawa Prefecture , the southernmost prefecture of Japan . As of 1 June 2019 , the city has an estimated population of 317,405 and a population density of 7,939 persons per km² . The total area is 39.98 km² . Naha is a city on the East China Sea coast of the southern part of Okinawa Island , the largest of Okinawa Prefecture . The modern city was officially founded on May 20 , 1921 . Before that , Naha had been for centuries one of the most important and populous sites in Okinawa . Naha is the political , economic and education center of Okinawa Prefecture . In the medieval and early modern periods , it was the commercial center of the Ryūkyū Kingdom .
Okinawa Prefecture ( Japanese : 沖縄県 , Hepburn : Okinawa-ken , Okinawan : ウチナー Uchinaa , Kunigami : フチナー Fuchinaa ) is the southernmost prefecture of Japan . It encompasses two thirds of the Ryukyu Islands in a chain over 1,000 kilometres ( 620 mi ) long . The Ryukyu Islands extend southwest from Kagoshima Prefecture on Kyushu ( the southwesternmost of Japan 's four main islands ) to Taiwan . Naha , Okinawa 's capital , is located in the southern part of Okinawa Island .
Sonohyan-utaki ( 園比屋武御嶽 , Okinawan : スヌファンウタキ Sunufan-utaki ) is a sacred grove of trees and plants ( utaki ) of the traditional indigenous Ryukyuan religion . It is located on the grounds of Shuri Castle in Naha , Okinawa , a few paces away from the Shureimon castle gate . The utaki , or more specifically its stone gate ( 石門 , ishimon ) , is one of a number of sites which together comprise the UNESCO World Heritage Site officially described as Gusuku Sites and Related Properties of the Kingdom of Ryukyu , and has been designated an Important Cultural Property by the Japanese national government . While the gates were once opened only for the king , today they are always closed , and so the gates have in a way become a sacred space themselves , representative of the actual sacred space behind them . Many travellers and locals come to pray at the gates . The stone gate was first built in 1519 , during the reign of Ryukyuan king Shō Shin , though the space had been recognized as a sacred utaki prior to that . Whenever the king left the castle on a journey , he would first stop at Sonohyan-utaki to pray for safe travels . The site also played an important role in the initiation of the High Priestess ( 聞得大君 , kikoe-ōgimi ) of the native religion . The gate is said to be a prime example of traditional Okinawan architecture , and shows many signs of Chinese influence , along with a Japanese-influenced gable in the karahafu style . It was severely damaged in the 1945 battle of Okinawa , but was restored in 1957 , and officially designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000 , along with a number of other sites across Okinawa Island . The utaki , i.e . the sacred grove itself , was once much larger than it is today , an elementary school and other buildings having encroached upon the space .
The Okinawan language ( 沖縄口/ウチナーグチ , Uchināguchi , [ ʔut͡ɕinaːɡut͡ɕi ] ) or Central Okinawan , is a Northern Ryukyuan language spoken primarily in the southern half of the island of Okinawa , as well as in the surrounding islands of Kerama , Kumejima , Tonaki , Aguni and a number of smaller peripheral islands . Central Okinawan distinguishes itself from the speech of Northern Okinawa , which is classified independently as the Kunigami language . Both languages are listed by UNESCO as endangered . Though Okinawan encompasses a number of local dialects , the Shuri-Naha variant is generally recognized as the de facto standard , as it had been used as the official language of the Ryūkyū Kingdom since the reign of King Shō Shin ( 1477-1526 ) . Moreover , as the former capital of Shuri was built around the royal palace , the language used by the royal court became the regional and literary standard , which thus flourished in songs and poems written during that era . Today , most Okinawans speak Okinawan Japanese , although there is a small number who still speaks the Okinawan language , most often the elderly . Within Japan , Okinawan is often not seen as a language unto itself but is referred to as the Okinawan dialect ( 沖縄方言 , Okinawa hōgen ) or more specifically the Central and Southern Okinawan dialects ( 沖縄中南部諸方言 , Okinawa Chūnanbu Sho hōgen ) . Okinawan speakers are undergoing language shift as they switch to Japanese , since language use in Okinawa today is far from stable . Okinawans are assimilating and accenting standard Japanese due to the similarity of the two languages , standardized and centralized education system , the media , business and social contact with mainlanders and previous attempts from Japan to suppress the native languages . Okinawan is still kept alive in popular music , tourist shows and in theaters featuring a local drama called Uchinā shibai , which depict local customs and manners .
Utaki ( 御嶽 ) is an Okinawan term for a sacred place , often a grove , cave , or mountain . They are central to the Ryukyuan religion and the former noro priestess system . Although the term utaki is used throughout the Ryukyu Islands , the terms suku and on are heard in the Miyako and Yaeyama regions respectively . Utaki are usually located on the outskirts of villages and are places for the veneration of gods and ancestors . Most gusuku have places of worship , and it is theorized that the origins of both gusuku and utaki are closely related .
Nakijin Castle ( 今帰仁城 , Nakijin Gusuku , Kunigami : Nachijin Gushiiku , Okinawan : Nachijin Gushiku ) is a Ryukyuan gusuku located in Nakijin , Okinawa . It is currently in ruins . In the late 14th century , the island of Okinawa consisted of three principalities : Nanzan to the south , Chūzan in the central area , and Hokuzan in the north . Nakijin was the capital of Hokuzan . The fortress includes several sacred Utaki groves , reflecting the castle 's role as a center of religious activity . It is today known for the Hikan cherries which bloom in northern Okinawa between mid-January and early February , providing the first cherry blossoms each year in Japan .
Gusuku ( グスク , 城 , Okinawan : gushiku ) often refers to castles or fortresses in the Ryukyu Islands that feature stone walls . However , the origin and essence of gusuku remain controversial . In the archaeology of Okinawa Prefecture , the Gusuku period refers to an archaeological epoch of the Okinawa Islands that follows the shell-mound period and precedes the Sanzan period , when most gusuku are thought to have been built . Many gusuku and related cultural remains on Okinawa Island have been listed by UNESCO as World Heritage Sites under the title Gusuku Sites and Related Properties of the Kingdom of Ryukyu .
Nakijin ( 今帰仁村 , Nakijin-son , Kunigami : Nachizin , Okinawan : Nachijin ) is a village located in Kunigami District , Okinawa Prefecture , Japan . As of 2003 , the village has an estimated population of 9,529 and a population density of 239.00 persons per km² . The total area is 39.87 km² .
Kunigami ( 国頭郡 , Kunigami-gun , Kunigami : Kunzan , Okinawan : Kunjan ) is a district located in Okinawa Prefecture , Japan . Roughly translated , kunigami means head of the country , referring to its northern location on the island of Okinawa . Compare this to Shimajiri District , Okinawa . As of 2003 , the district has an estimated population of 64,670 and the density of 112.19 persons per km² . The total area is 576.43 km² . Kunigami district includes a section of Okinawa Island and several smaller islands .
Zakimi Castle ( 座喜味城 , Zakimi jō , Okinawan : Zachimi Gushiku ) is a Ryukyuan gusuku in Yomitan , Okinawa . It is in ruins , but the walls and foundations have been restored .
Yomitan ( 読谷村 , Yomitan-son , Okinawan : Yuntan ) is a village located in Nakagami District , Okinawa Prefecture , Japan .
Nakagami ( 中頭郡 , Nakagami-gun , Okinawan : Nakajan ) is a district located in Okinawa Prefecture , Japan . As of 2003 , the district has an estimated population of 169,332 and the density of 1,216.03 persons per km² . The total area is 139.25 km² .
Katsuren Castle ( 勝連城 , Katsuren jō , Okinawan : Kacchin Gushiku ) is a Ryukyuan gusuku in Uruma , Okinawa . It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site .
Uruma ( うるま市 , Uruma-shi ) is a city located in Okinawa Prefecture , Japan . The modern city of Uruma was established on April 1 , 2005 , when the cities of Gushikawa and Ishikawa were merged with the towns of Katsuren and Yonashiro ( both from Nakagami District ) . As of May 1 , 2013 , the city has an estimated population of 118,330 and a population density of 1,400 persons per km² . The total area is 86.00 km² . The city covers part of the east coast of the south of Okinawa Island , the Katsuren Peninsula , and the eight Yokatsu Islands . The Yokatsu Islands include numerous sites important to the Ryukyuan religion , and the city as a whole has numerous historical sites , including : Katsuren Castle , Agena Castle , and Iha Castle and the Iha Shell Mound . It is home to the largest venue for Okinawan bullfighting . The Mid-Sea Road , which crosses the ocean and connects the Yokatsu Islands to the main island of Okinawa , is now a symbol of Uruma . Uruma is noted for its role in hosting large-scale refugee camps and the initial organization of local government of Okinawa immediately after the Battle of Okinawa in 1945 . As such the city is considered the home of the starting point of the restoration of civil life in Okinawa immediately after the end of World War II . United States maintains four military bases in Uruma , some of which span other municipalities in Okinawa : Kadena Ammunition Storage Area , Camp McTureous , Camp Courtney , and White Beach Naval Facility . The bases cover 12.97% of the total area of the city .
Nakagusuku Castle ( 中城城 , Nakagusuku jō , Okinawan : Nakagushiku ) is a gusuku in the village of Kitanakagusuku , Okinawa , Japan . It is one of a number of castles built on the island of Okinawa by the Ryukyu Kingdom now in ruins . The legendary Ryukyuan commander , Gosamaru , built the fortress in the early 15th century to defend against attacks from the east by Lord Amawari of Katsuren Castle . Amawari attacked the castle in 1458 and defeated Gosamaru shortly before his own castle was attacked by Uni-Ufugusuku . The castle was visited by Commodore Matthew C. Perry in 1853 , who noted that the walls seemed to be designed to absorb cannon fire . The six courtyards of this fortress with stacked stone walls make it a prime example of a gusuku . It was added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 2000 . It is regarded as one of the 100 most famous castles in Japan . Less than 50 metres ( 55 yards ) away from the castle is the Nakagusuku Hotel ruins .
Nakagusuku ( 中城村 , Nakagusuku-son , Okinawan : Nakagushiku ) is a village located in Nakagami District , Okinawa Prefecture , Japan . As of 2016 , the village has an estimated population of 20,030 and a density of 1,300 persons per km² . The total area is 15.46 km² . The ruins of a gusuku ( Ryukyuan castle ) , Nakagusuku Castle , are also in this village . It is famous for its ancient Chinese dance , Tafaku , which has been handed down for generations . The village is well known among Okinawans as an agricultural farming village , with its staple crop being sugar cane ( Okinawan : wuuji . Japanese : satokibi ) . It is also known for its white or yellow colored carrots . Ryukyu University is partially located within Nakagusuku , and partially in the neighboring town of Nishihara . Nakagusuku features one of the largest percentages of people of Okinawan descent who immigrated overseas out of all the districts in Okinawa .
Shuri Castle ( 首里城 , Shuri-jō , Okinawan : Sui Gushiku ) is a Ryukyuan gusuku castle in Shuri , Okinawa Prefecture , Japan . Between 1429 and 1879 , it was the palace of the Ryukyu Kingdom , before becoming largely neglected . In 1945 , during the Battle of Okinawa , it was almost completely destroyed . After the war , the castle was re-purposed as a university campus . Beginning in 1992 , the central citadel and walls were largely reconstructed on the original site based on historical records , photographs , and memory . On the morning of 31 October 2019 , the main courtyard structures of the castle were again destroyed in a fire .
The gardens of Shikina-en ( 識名園 ) are located on a small hill to the south of Shuri Castle in Naha , Okinawa . The residence and its gardens are also known as Shichina-nu-Udun ( シチナヌウドゥン ) or Southern Gardens ( 南苑 ) , as opposed to the Eastern Gardens ( 東苑 ) or Uchayaudun ( 御茶屋御殿 ) , laid out on a small hill east of Shuri Castle in 1677 . In 1992 Hiroshi Shō , the great-grandson of Shō Tai , the last king of the Ryūkyū Kingdom , donated the royal mausoleum of Tamaudun and Shikina-en to the City of Naha .
Sefa-utaki ( 斎場御嶽 , Okinawan : シェーファウタキ Seefa-utaki ) , meaning purified place of Utaki , is a historical sacred space , overlooking Kudaka Island , that served as one of the key locations of worship in the native religion of the Ryukyuan people for millennia . Later as a part of assimilation of Okinawa by Japan , it was shifted to serve as a Shinto Shrine . It is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Gusuku Sites and Related Properties of the Kingdom of Ryukyu in Nanjō , Okinawa . Sefa Utaki is on the Chinen Peninsula , and has been recognized as a sacred place since the earliest period of Ryukyuan history . According to Chūzan Seikan , this was the spot where Amamikyu , goddess of creation , made landfall on Okinawa . The shrine area itself comprises a number of caves and overhanging ledges opening to the east and south among towering rock formations of a high promontory over the sea . All buildings have been destroyed , but the outer and inner precincts can still be traced .
Nanjō ( 南城市 , Nanjō-shi , Okinawan : Nangushiku ) is a city located in the southern part of Okinawa Island in Okinawa Prefecture , Japan . Translated literally , the name Nanjō means southern castle . Many castle ruins , called gusuku in the Okinawan language , can be found throughout the city . The modern city of Nanjō was established on January 1 , 2006 , from the merger of the town of Sashiki , and the villages of Chinen , Ōzato and Tamagusuku ( all from Shimajiri District ) . Nanjō has an area of 49.69 km² and , on the date of its inception , a population of 41,305 , and a density of 831.25 per km² . Of the eleven cities in Okinawa Prefecture , Nanjō has the smallest population . It does not have a separate police station nor a high school . For those services , citizens have to refer to the neighbouring towns of Yonabaru and Yaese . The city hosts a fire station responsible for Chinen , Ōzato and Tamagusuku and parts of Yaese , while Sashiki is served by a separate station . The city 's main economical activities are agriculture and tourism . Important crops include sugarcane , for sugar and vinegar production , and turmeric , a popular medicinal herb in Okinawa . Several turmeric processing plants are based in the city , producing semi-processed goods to be used by industries on the mainland or consumer products like tea and dietary supplements .