Chibana Castle

Chibana Castle (知花城, Chibana jō, Okinawan: Chibana gushiku[1]), also known as Goeku Castle (越来城, Goeku jō, Okinawan: Gwiiku gushiku[2]) was a Ryukyuan gusuku on Okinawa Island. In the Chibana district of Okinawa City, the castle site sits on a hill and is surrounded by jungle.[3]

Chibana Castle
知花城
Okinawa, Okinawa
Plaque on observation structure commemorating Chibana Castle
Chibana Castle
知花城
Chibana Castle
知花城
Coordinates26°21′46.5″N 127°48′39.0″E
TypeGusuku
Site information
Controlled by Ryūkyū Kingdom (15th century–1879)
 Empire of Japan (1879–1945)
United States Military Government of the Ryukyu Islands (1945-1950)
United States Civil Administration of the Ryukyu Islands (1950-1972)
 Japan (1972-present)
Open to
the public		yes
ConditionRuins
Site history
Built14th century
Built byAji of Goeku Magiri
In use14th century–15th century
MaterialsRyukyuan limestone, wood
Garrison information
OccupantsAji of Goeku Magiri, Uni-Ufugusuku

History

Chibana Castle was in use during the reign of the First Shō Dynasty and served as the residence of the Aji of Goeku Magiri.[3] The castle and Goeku Magiri was given to the Ryukyuan general Uni-Ufugusuku by King Shō Taikyū in return for defeating the Aji of Katsuren Castle, Amawari. After the fall of the First Shō Dynasty, Uni-Ufugusuku was expelled from the castle and later committed suicide.[3] His tomb, and that of his wife, was built at the bottom of the hill that Chibana Castle is atop.

In the early 1960s, a structure was built on top of the hill to commemorate the castle and serve as a tourist attraction, from which all of the former Goeku Magiri can be seen.[4]

References
  1. "チバナ". 首里・那覇方言音声データベース (in Japanese).
  2. "グィーク". 首里・那覇方言音声データベース (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2016-04-22. Retrieved 2019-11-04.
  3. "知花城跡." おきなわ物語. Okinawa Convention & Visitors Bureau, n.d. Web. 27 Jan 2014. <http://www.okinawastory.jp/view/portal/0020220900/ Archived 2014-07-30 at the Wayback Machine>.
  4. "知花城をゆく(ちばなグスク)." 日本のお城めぐり. L-internet, n.d. Web. 27 Jan 2014. <http://www.lint.ne.jp/~uematsu/chibana.html>.


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