Editing Shuri Castle (section)

==History==
{{See also|Shuri, Okinawa}}
The date of construction is uncertain, but it was clearly in use as a castle during the [[Sanzan period]] (1322–1429). It is thought that it was probably built during the [[Gusuku period]], like many other castles of Okinawa. When King [[Shō Hashi]] unified the three principalities of Okinawa and established the [[Ryukyu Kingdom]], he used Shuri as a residence.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://sitereports.nabunken.go.jp/17008|title=発見！首里城の食といのり|last=Okinawa Prefectural reserve cultural assets center|date=2016|website=Comprehensive Database of Archaeological Site Reports in Japan|access-date=2016-09-02}}</ref> At the same time, Shuri flourished as the capital and continued to do so during the [[Second Shō dynasty]].

For 450 years from 1429, it was the royal court and administrative center of the Ryukyu Kingdom. It was the focal point of foreign trade, as well as the political, economic, and cultural heart of the [[Ryukyu Islands]]. According to records, the castle burned down several times, and rebuilt each time. During the reign of [[Shō Nei]], samurai forces from the Japanese [[han (administrative division)|feudal domain]] of [[Satsuma Domain|Satsuma]] seized Shuri on 6 May 1609.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/samuraicaptureki00turn_0/page/58|author=Turnbull, Stephen|title=The Samurai Capture a King: Okinawa 1609|location=Oxford|publisher=Osprey Publishing|year=2009|pages=[https://archive.org/details/samuraicaptureki00turn_0/page/58 58]|isbn=9781846034428}}</ref> The Japanese withdrew soon afterwards, returning Shō Nei to his throne two years later, and the castle and city to the Ryukyuans, though the kingdom was now a vassal state under Satsuma's [[suzerainty]] and would remain so for roughly 250 years.

===Decline===
In the 1850s, Commodore [[Matthew C. Perry]] twice forced his way into Shuri Castle, but was denied an audience with the king both times.<ref>Kerr. pp. 315–317, 328.</ref> In 1879, the kingdom was annexed by the [[Empire of Japan]] and the last king, [[Shō Tai]], was compelled to move to Tokyo, and in 1884, he was “elevated” to the rank of marquess in the [[kazoku|Japanese aristocracy]]. Subsequently, the castle was used as a [[barracks]] by the [[Imperial Japanese Army]]. The Japanese garrison withdrew in 1896,<ref>Kerr. p. 460.</ref> but not before having created a series of tunnels and caverns below it.

In 1908, Shuri City bought the castle from the Japanese government; however, it did not have funding to renovate it. In 1923, thanks to Japanese architect [[Ito Chuta]], ''Seiden'' survived demolition after being re-designated a prefectural [[Shinto]] shrine known as [[Okinawa Shrine]]. In 1925, it was designated as a [[National treasures of Japan|national treasure]]. Despite its decline, historian [[George H. Kerr]] described the castle as "one of the most magnificent castle sites to be found anywhere in the world, for it commands the countryside below for miles around and looks toward distant sea horizons on every side."<ref name=Kerr50>[[George H. Kerr|Kerr, George H.]] (2000). ''Okinawa: The History of an Island People'' (revised ed.). Boston: Tuttle Publishing. p. 50.</ref>

===World War II===
{{See also|Battle of Okinawa}}
During World War II, the Imperial Japanese Army had set up its headquarters in the castle underground, and by early 1945 had established complex lines of defense and communications in the regions around Shuri, and across the southern part of the island as a whole. The Japanese defenses, centered on Shuri Castle, held off the massive American assault from 1 April through the month of May 1945. Beginning on 25 May, and as the final part of the Okinawa campaign, the American battleship ''[[USS Mississippi (BB-41)|Mississippi]]'' shelled it for three days<ref>Kerr, George. ''Okinawa: The History of an Island People''. Revised Edition. Tokyo: Tuttle Publishing, 2000. p. 470.</ref><ref name="wonder-okinawa.jp">{{cite web|url=http://www.wonder-okinawa.jp/001/002-e/004_03.html |title=The Ordeals of Shuri Castle |publisher=Wonder-okinawa.jp |date=August 15, 1945 |access-date=April 5, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090704145457/http://www.wonder-okinawa.jp/001/002-e/004_03.html |archive-date=July 4, 2009 |df=mdy }}</ref> and by 27 May it was ablaze.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wonder-okinawa.jp/001/002-e/004_03.html |title=The Ordeals of Shuri Castle |access-date=2010-04-05 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090704145457/http://www.wonder-okinawa.jp/001/002-e/004_03.html |archive-date=2009-07-04 }}</ref> The Japanese retreated during the night, abandoning Shuri, while the US forces continued to pursue them south. US Marine and Army units secured the castle against little resistance.<ref name="wonder-okinawa.jp" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nps.gov/archive/wapa/indepth/extcontent/usmc/pcn-190-003135-00/sec5a.htm |title=The Final Campaign: Marines in the Victory on Okinawa (Assault on Shuri) |publisher=Nps.gov |access-date=April 5, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100415060912/http://www.nps.gov/archive/wapa/indepth/extcontent/usmc/pcn-190-003135-00/sec5a.htm |archive-date=April 15, 2010 |url-status=dead |df=mdy }}</ref> On 29 May, Maj.&nbsp;Gen. [[Pedro del Valle]]—commanding the [[1st Marine Division]]—ordered Captain Julian D. Dusenbury of Company A, [[1st Battalion 5th Marines|1st Battalion]], [[5th Marine Regiment (United States)|5th Marines]] to capture the castle, which represented both strategic and psychological blows for the Japanese and was a milestone in the campaign.<ref name="valor.militarytimes.com">{{Cite web|url=http://valor.militarytimes.com/recipient.php?recipientid=7742|title=Valor awards for Julian D. Dusenbury|website=valor.militarytimes.com|access-date=2016-06-22}}</ref>

===Post-war===
After the war, the [[Ryukyu University|University of the Ryukyus]] was established in 1950 on the castle site, where it remained until 1975. In 1958, ''[[Shureimon]]'' was reconstructed and, starting from 1992, the 20th anniversary of reversion, the main buildings and surrounding walls of the central castle were reconstructed. At present, the entire area around the castle has been established as "Shuri Castle Park". In 2000, along with other ''[[gusuku]]'' and related sites, it was designated as a [[United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization|UNESCO]] [[World Heritage Site]]. However, only remnants such as stone walls and building foundations extant before 1950 are officially designated as World Heritage. In addition, 2000 saw the [[Shureimon]] gate at Shuri Castle featured on the new [[2000 yen note]], which entered circulation to commemorate the new millennium and the [[26th G8 summit]], which was held in Okinawa.

===2019 fire===
In the morning of 31 October 2019, a large fire broke out and burned down the ''Seiden'', the main hall, and also the ''Hokuden'' and ''Nanden'', adjacent buildings to the north and south.<ref name="jp-times">{{Cite news|url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2019/10/31/national/shuri-castle-fire/|title=Shuri Castle, a symbol of Okinawa, destroyed in fire|date=2019-10-31|work=The Japan Times Online|access-date=2019-10-31|language=en-US|issn=0447-5763 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191031050530/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2019/10/31/national/shuri-castle-fire/ |archive-date=2019-10-31}}</ref> A security alarm went off around 2:30&nbsp;a.m., and a call to emergency services was placed around 10 minutes later. The ''Seiden'', ''Hokuden'', ''Nanden'' and ''Bandokoro'' were completely destroyed.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J00CH5G8fZM |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/J00CH5G8fZM |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|title=焼け落ちる正殿 未明に首里城で火災 消火活動続く|author=<!--Not stated-->|date=31 October 2019|website=ANNnewsCH|access-date=31 October 2019}}{{cbignore}}</ref> According to domestic news sources, "Six castle buildings occupying some {{convert|4,200|m2}} in total were gutted."<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20191031/p2g/00m/0na/001000c|title=Historic Okinawa castle gutted as predawn blaze rages|date=2019-10-31|work=Mainichi Daily News|access-date=2019-10-31|language=en|archive-date=2019-10-31|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191031031133/https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20191031/p2g/00m/0na/001000c|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20191031_18/|title=Fire destroys Okinawa's Shuri Castle {{!}} NHK WORLD-JAPAN News|website=NHK WORLD|language=en|access-date=2019-10-31}}</ref> The fire was put out around 1:30&nbsp;p.m.<ref>{{cite news |title=首里城の火災鎮火 |url=https://www.jiji.com/jc/article?k=2019103100862&g=soc |access-date=31 October 2019 |work=Jiji.com |agency=Jiji |date=31 October 2019 |language=ja |archive-date=1 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191101043704/https://www.jiji.com/jc/article?k=2019103100862&g=soc |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Okinawa Police later told domestic broadcaster [[NHK]] that a security guard who checked on the alarm found that the main entrance doors to the ''Seiden'' were closed. When the guard unlocked the shutter and went inside, the interior was already filled with smoke.<ref name="NHK011119">{{cite web |url=https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20191101_06/|title=Entrance to Shurijo main hall shut at time of fire|author=<!--Not stated--> |date=1 November 2019|website=www3.nhk.or.jp|publisher=NHK World-Japan|access-date=1 November 2019}}</ref> After police initially ruled out [[arson]],<ref name="KYODO021119">{{cite web |url=https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2019/11/25c806db7438-investigation-starts-after-fire-destroys-okinawas-shuri-castle.html|title=Police believe arson unlikely in Okinawa castle fire|author=<!--Not stated--> |date=2 November 2019|website=english.kyodonews.net|publisher=Kyodo News|access-date=3 November 2019}}</ref> authorities said that the fire was likely caused by an electrical fault after a burned electrical distribution board was found in the northeast side of where the ''Seiden'' had stood.<ref name="NHK061119">{{cite web |url=https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20191106_35/|title=Electrical fault likely caused Shuri Castle fire|author=<!--Not stated--> |date=6 November 2019|website=www3.nhk.or.jp|publisher=NHK World-Japan|access-date=6 November 2019}}</ref> Police investigations later revealed that the lighting panel had no signs of short circuiting, though a surveillance camera did capture flashing light in the ''Seiden'' main hall shortly before and after the fire.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2019/11/06/national/power-line-fire-okinawa-shuri-castle/#.Xca5MVczZEY|title=Electrical fault could have caused inferno at Okinawa's Shuri Castle, police say|work=The Japan Times|date=6 November 2019|access-date=1 December 2020}}</ref>
[[File:焼失首里城 11.jpg|thumb|Foundation remains of the main hall after it was destroyed by fire in 2019]]
The fire was the fifth time that Shuri Castle has been destroyed following previous incidents in 1453, 1660, 1709 and 1945.<ref name="OKI20191102">{{cite web|url=http://oki-park.jp/userfiles/files/pdf/shurijo/lang/history_en.pdf|title=History of Shuri Castle|author=<!--Not stated-->|date=<!--Not stated-->|website=oki-park.jp|publisher=Oki Park Official Site|access-date=2 November 2019}}</ref> [[List of governors of Okinawa Prefecture|Okinawa Governor]] [[Denny Tamaki]] said after the fire that Shuri Castle is "a symbol of the Ryukyu Kingdom, an expression of its history and culture", and has vowed to rebuild it.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-japan-castle-fire/fire-destroys-japans-world-heritage-listed-shuri-castle-idUSKBN1X92SJ|title=Fire destroys Japan's World Heritage-listed Shuri Castle|last1=Ando|first1=Ritsuko|last2=Kim|first2=Chang-Ran|date=31 October 2019|website=reuters.com|publisher=[[Reuters]] |access-date=31 October 2019}}</ref> Japan's [[Chief Cabinet Secretary]] [[Yoshihide Suga]] said that Shuri Castle is "an extremely important symbol of Okinawa".<ref name="NHK011119" /> The Japanese Government is considering supplemental appropriations to support restoration work.<ref name="NHK011119" /> UNESCO also said it would be ready to assist with Shuri Castle's reconstruction.<ref name="NHK011119B">{{cite web |url=https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20191101_11/|title=UNESCO ready for Shurijo Castle reconstruction|author=<!--Not stated--> |date=1 November 2019|website=www3.nhk.or.jp|publisher=NHK World-Japan|access-date=1 November 2019}}</ref> A [[crowdfunding]] campaign set up by Naha City officials for the rebuilding of Shuri Castle had received over $3.2 million in donations as of 6 November 2019.<ref name="NHK061119B">{{cite web |url=https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20191106_28/|title=Shuri Castle rebuilding fund over $3 mil.|author=<!--Not stated--> |date=6 November 2019|website=www3.nhk.or.jp|publisher=NHK World-Japan|access-date=6 November 2019}}</ref>

Rebuilding efforts to restore the destroyed sections of Shuri Castle began in February 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-02-10|title=Shuri Castle Reconstruction Work Begins|url=https://www.nippon.com/en/news/yjj2020021000929/shuri-castle-reconstruction-work-begins.html|access-date=2020-06-15|website=nippon.com|language=en}}</ref> Restoration of the roof tiles began in July 2024, and at that time it was expected that the renovations would be fully completed by the autumn of 2026.<ref name=nwj150724>{{cite web |url=https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20240716_03/|title=Okinawa's Shuri Castle: Red roof tile restoration begins|date=15 July 2024|publisher=NHK World-Japan|access-date=15 July 2024}}</ref>

In May 2021, a scale replica of the castle measuring one twenty fifth of the size of the actual structure was recreated at the [[Tobu World Square]] theme park in [[Kinugawa Onsen]].<ref>[https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2021/05/3687595b6657-fire-hit-shuri-castle-recreated-in-miniature-form-at-theme-park.html "Fire-hit Shuri Castle recreated in miniature form at theme park,"] Kyodo News, 3 May 2021, retrieved 26 July 2021</ref>