Okinawan Art/Shuri Castle

Okinawa is a small chain of island located off the south side of Japan. Though it is considered to be part of Japan, it used to be known as the Ryukyu Kingdom up until the 1800s. It is the only tropical chain of islands in Japan, and it has a rich and diverse history, uniquely it's own and different from Japan. When it was an independent Kingdom it did trade with a large number of countries including China, Korea, Japan, Thailand, and Indonesia. But it's biggest two influences were definitely Japan and China. In fact, many items that came to Japan from Japan actually came from the Ryukyu Kingdom, because the Japanese and Chinese did not get along and refused to directly trade with each other. So the Ryukyu Kingdom was the go between, and they were a fairly important and influential little trading kingdom. It was, actually a Chinese tributary, but Japan invaded it and claimed it as their own. It then continued to operate more as a Japanese tributary, up until the Meiji restoration, when it was incorporated into Japan as the Okinawan Prefecture.There are many things that are Japanese, because Okinawa is a part of Japan nowadays, and most people who are born and raised there consider themselves to be Japanese, not Okinawan. But, there is still a distinct difference in dialect, language, pace of life, and cultural artifacts. Shuri castle was destroyed in WW2 and rebuilt in the 1980s. It is the royal castle where the king and his family used to live, and royal court activities used to take place. It is distinctly different then most other Japanese castles, and has strong Chinese influence (the red coloring and the images of the dragons), but the layout and interior floor plan of the royal families private quarters, are very similar to Japanese castles. Not only is this a very interesting and dynamic region of Japan, but this is also where my ancestors on my mom's side are from. So I am very intimately connected with this culture and area (as I mentioned in my earlier "My Culture" post about my family here). I am including some links if anyone is interested in learning more about the Ryukyu Kingdom:
http://oki-park.jp/shurijo/en/
Ryukyu dance
Ryukyu kimono
 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Okinawa_Island
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ryukyu_Kingdom
http://www.uchinanchu.org/uchinanchu/history_early.htm
Okinawa national theatre
2 books:
Ancient Ryukyu : an archaeological study of island communities by Richard Pearson
Okinawa, the history of an island people by George H Kerr

Entrance gate known as the Kankaimon gate to Shuri Castle, in Shuri, Okinawa. It is the front gate of the castle.Shuri castle is a completely unique castle, vastly different from all other castles in Japan. You can notice this immediately from the walls, which have smooth sides and curves and are made out of this grey ocean rock, whereas many Japanese castles have walls that surround them that are very straight lines, white, and have a bit of a tile roof on them.

 A gate leading up to Shuri castle called the "Shureimon". Very much different from traditional Japanese aesthetics, as the type and color of tiles on the roofs are unique to Okinawa, and the red coloring is influenced by China. Also, it's a big hard to see, but on the roof there are "Shisa". These are Okinawan spiritual symbols. They are a cross between a lion, dragon, and dog and are meant to offer protection the the buildings and homes they are placed on and ward of evil spirits. They can be found in every single Okinawan home (and many Okinawans take this with them even when they move. For instance, I have some in my home here in Tucson. I'll get more into that in another post later on!)

 Houshinmon Gate. The final gate leading to the main castle. There were three entrances, the middle was reserved specifically for royalty. Again, the red is very uncharacteristic of traditional Japanese castles but is a common color to find in building in Okinawa.

 

 The main castle (known as Shuri Castle Seiden) is the main body of the castle. The red (vermilion) coloring and the decorations are all heavily influenced by Chinese art and architecture. The pillars are adorned with dragons and flowers and Okinawan shisa. The roof also has the heads of 3 dragons (two on the top layer and one directly over the entrance). The reasoning is because China was so influential and such an important trading partner, that it was constructed with a lot of help and influence from the Chinese kingdom.

The ryuhi, provided clean and precious drinking water to the royal family. Again the influence of China is seen with the water coming out of a dragon's head.

 Known as the Nichiei-dai, this sundial is located outside the main walls of the castle. There is a building nearby containing a large iron bell in this area as well.

Sign on the left side of the Usasuka over the doorway. Notice the dragons, the colors, and the clouds, all very Chinese in design.

Sign on the right side of the Usasuka. Again with the same stylized colors and images.

The Usasuka. This is where many political ceremonies occurred. The throne is very much Chinese (Japan didn't use thrones, they used mats.) As well as the various images of the dragon on the red pillars and the two gold dragon pillars in front of the chair. The chair is located on top of a black lacquered wood stand (which is something the Ryukyu Kingdom was known for creating and exporting.)

A less elegant throne just in front of the Usasuka. This would be used only when the king needed to oversee a ceremony or event held in the central courtyard.

A model of one of the ceremonies that would have occurred in the central courtyard. The king would be looking from the window throne. Notice how everyone is seated on their knees (a very Japanese thing) and the clothes they wear are very similar to Japanese kimonos, but their head wear is similar to that of the Chinese.

In the back of the castle is a more simple area. Built with light woods and white walls and tatami mats, this area was known as the Shoin and Sasunoma. There is also a garden here. This is where daily activities were held and the king would casually meet with other princes and envoys. It is also where the royal family would have resided. It's a stark difference from the heavily Chinese influenced front areas of the castle. This area is far more simple, peaceful, and Japanese in design.

Another room in the Shoin and Sasunoma. An aesthetic of both China and Japan was to have simple hanging scroll artwork on the walls. Almost always, it will only be a single scroll.

One of the longer rooms. Tatami mats cover the entire floor and the light wood work are very Japanese. However, the wooden doors slide and mimic Japanese shoji rice paper screens, but would be more Chinese in function because China used doors but Japan used screens. So that's another instance of both cultures being blended in Okinawa to create something unique to these islands.

A beautiful ceremonial umbrella. This would be used during royal parades and envoys and travels. Not practical for rain, but very pretty to look at. All the dragons are again very Chinese in influence. Japan had dragons as well, but it was very slim compared to China.

These are Ryukyu royal stamps that would have been used for signing important documents.

The Ryukyu crown. A very unique crown. I'm sure you can find similarities to both Japan and China in this, I however just think it looks somewhat gaudy.

 Moving away from the Shuri castle, we now explore regular Okinawan life. The house style and layout is very Japanese and the use of light woods is something somewhat unique to Okinawa (Japan used both light and dark woods). The red tile rood is more influenced by China (because red is a Chinese color). But when you combine all these elements you get a very unique Okinawan style.

A decorating place in an Okinawan home. Notice the scroll that shows koi fish, which is very common in Japan). There is a taxidermy sea turtle (because Okinawa is a small tropical island), various pottery that are distinctive in that they are Japanese style, but the images they show are of Okinawan creatures and fish. Also there is a sanshin instrument (which I will get more into later).

This would be the traditional center of the house. Instead of tatami mats, most people could not afford these and simply had wood floors. All the light wood is again very common in Okinawa. The round mats are where people would sit and there is a small hearth in the corner (another element that can be found in Japanese homes especially in the colder and northern regions).

A traditional altar place. This is common in both Okinawa and mainland Japan and is used to display and honor ancestors and spirits in the home. Simple, but very elegant. Also efficient because there are a variety of drawers and cupboards hidden away so it doubles as storage.

Japanese and Okinawa kitchens always happened to be inside the home, but on the dirt floor. So in traditional homes, you would put on shoes to go to the kitchen. You have two traditional stoves (made of stone with openings so you can see the fire, you would place metal pots on top of the hole and cook).

The Ryukyu Kingdom was a seafaring and trading nation so this is one of their ships. Black lacquered wood and red coloring as well as straw sails.

Okinawa bingata is a very famous type of cloth. It is one of the things that the Okinawan islands were known for. They are bright colored and seem Chinese in style, but they are worn like looser Japanese kimonos and are covered in Japanese plants and animals and designs.

Okinawan kimonos that show the separate of class in the royal court. Only those who are in these positions can where these outfits.

Royal clothing of the king's sister. Far more Chinese in style then the normal Okinawan kimonos. Long sleeves, colors, and images all appear more Chinese influenced.

Okinawan sanshin is the musical instrument of Okinawa. Made from the skin of the habu snake, it has a very peaceful sound that represents the island lifestyle. Originally the sanxian from China, it came to Okinawa through trade. From Okinawa it traveled to Japan and became the shamisen.

 

 Image of a Ryukyu envoy in Edo (Taken from Wikipedia)