Urasoe Castle

Urasoe Castle
浦添城
Urasoe, Okinawa, Japan
Outer walls of Urasoe Castle
Urasoe Castle 浦添城 is located in Okinawa Prefecture
Urasoe Castle 浦添城
Urasoe Castle
浦添城
Urasoe Castle 浦添城 is located in Japan
Urasoe Castle 浦添城
Urasoe Castle
浦添城
TypeGusuku
Site information
Controlled byChūzan (late 13th century - 1429)
 Ryūkyū Kingdom (1429–1879)
 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)
ConditionRuins
Site history
Builtlate 13th – early 14th century; later expanded and refurbished
In uselate 13th century – 1609
MaterialsRyukyuan limestone, wood, ceramic roof tiles
Demolished1609 invasion of Ryukyu
Battles/warsInvasion of Ryukyu (1609)
Garrison information
OccupantsKings of Chūzan, incl. Eiso (r. 1260–1299)

Urasoe Castle (浦添城, Urasoe jō, Okinawan: Urashii Gushiku[1]) is a Ryukyuan gusuku which served as the capital of the medieval Okinawan principality of Chūzan prior to the unification of the island into the Ryukyu Kingdom, and the moving of the capital to Shuri. In the 14th century, Urasoe was the largest castle on the island, but today only ruins remain.

  1. ^ "ウラシー". 首里・那覇方言音声データベース (in Japanese).