Shuri Castle (in Japanese 首里城 Shurijō) is a gusuku (Ryūkyūan castle) in Shuri, Okinawa. It was the palace of the Ryukyu Kingdom. In 1945, during the Battle of Okinawa, it was almost completely destroyed, with only a few walls standing not even one meter high. In 1992, it was reconstructed on the original site based on photographs, historical records, and memory. For 450 years from the beginning of the 15th century, it was the royal court and administrative center of the Ryūkyūan Kingdom. It was the focal point of foreign trade, as well as the political, economical and cultural heart of the Ryūkyūs.
According to records, Shuri Castle burned several times, and was reconstructed each time. Before the war, it was designated a National Treasure, but during the war, the Japanese military set up its headquarters underground at the castle, and beginning on May 25, 1945, the American battleship Missouri and others shelled it for three days. On May 27 it burned.
After the war, the University of the Ryūkyūs moved to the castle site. In 1958, the Shureimon gate was rebuilt, and in 1992, the main building of the castle was reconstructed. At present, the entire area around the castle has been established as Shuri Castle Park.
P.S. For you Lindsborg people... yep, that's the Lindsborg News Record I'm holding... this same pic may be in the paper in late September :)
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1 comment:
It's pretty amazing to be in a place with history that goes back that far! I'm proud of y'all for making sure you find out all about the history and cultural wonders of your new home.
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