Standing on a hill overlooking the modern city of Naha on the Okinawan main island, Shuri castle is a World Heritage site and probably the most visited tourist attraction on the island.
There had been a castle here since at least the 14th Century but the current one is a modern reconstruction as the original was completely destroyed in the battle of Okinawa in 1945.
It was where the Ryukyu royalty lived and controlled the international trading that built the wealth and power of the Ryukyus.
Recently renovated is the garden of the royal living quarters. Shuri was a palace as well as a fortress.
The interior of the main hall is reconstructed as it was originally with throne room etc.
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As always, I’m captivated by your images.
ReplyDeleteThat first picture is very interesting for showing the dominate Chinese influence on Okinawa at that time. One of the Imperial Palaces in Seoul is quite similar in layout, though considerably larger and grander.
ReplyDeletehttps://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/02/Korean_royal_palace.JPG