is a Ryukyuan ''
gusuku
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 ...
'' in
Nanjō, Okinawa. It was built with Ryūkyūan limestone in the mid-14th century. It is now in ruins.
Itokazu Ruins
/ref>
History
The castle was built in the Gusuku Period
The is an era in the history of the Ryukyu Islands, an island chain now part of Japan. The period corresponds to the spread of agriculture and Japonic languages, Japonic culture from Japan alongside increased social organization, eventually lead ...
of Ryukyuan history. It was the home of the Aji of Tamagusuku
was a legendary local ruler of Okinawa Island.
Life
According to Ryukyu's official history, Okinawa was split into Sanzan period, three polities during the reign of Tamagusuku.Kerr,
He was the third son of Eiji (Ryukyu), Eiji (r. 1309–13 ...
Magiri
The administrative divisions of the Ryukyu Kingdom were a hierarchy composed of districts, ''magiri'', or cities, villages, and islands established by the Ryukyu Kingdom throughout the Ryukyu Islands.
Divisions
There were three or ''hō'': , , ...
. After Nanzan was conquered in 1429 by Shō Hashi
Shō Hashi (1372–1439) was a king of Chūzan, one of Sanzan period, three tributary states to China on the western Pacific island of Okinawa Island, Okinawa. He is traditionally described as the unifier of Okinawa and the founder of the Ryuky ...
, it came under the control of the Ryukyu Kingdom
The Ryukyu Kingdom was a kingdom in the Ryukyu Islands from 1429 to 1879. It was ruled as a Tributary system of China, tributary state of Ming dynasty, imperial Ming China by the King of Ryukyu, Ryukyuan monarchy, who unified Okinawa Island t ...
.
References
External links
Itokazu Gusuku
Itokazu Castle Remains by the Okinawa Film Office
Itokazu Castle Ruins and Neishi Gusuku by Nanjo City
Local Music Group, Okinawa Soundscape performing at Itokazu Castle
Castles in Okinawa Prefecture
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