Chinen Castle

26°9′37.4″N 127°48′42.9″E / 26.160389°N 127.811917°E / 26.160389; 127.811917TypeGusukuSite informationControlled byChūzan (before 1314)
Nanzan (1314–1429)

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)Open to
the publicyesConditionRuinsSite historyIn usepre-14th century–1893MaterialsRyukyuan limestone, woodGarrison informationOccupantsAji of Chinen Magiri Map

Chinen Castle (知念城, Chinen jō, Okinawan: Chinin Gushiku) is a Ryukyuan gusuku in Nanjō, Okinawa. It is the second oldest castle in the Ryukyu Islands. The ruins consist of the old castle to the east being made out of rock and the other newer castle to the west being made out of ashlar masonry.^[1]

History

Before the Sanzan Period, the "King of the Ryukyu Islands" and the chief priestess would make a pilgrimage to Chinen Castle. The castle was the home of the Aji of Chinen Magiri. The new castle was built^[2] under Shō Shin who reigned from 1477 to 1526. In 1972 the ruins of Chinen Castle were designated as a National Historic Site.^[3]

References

^ "Chinen Castle Ruins | 南城市役所". 南城市役所 (in Japanese). Retrieved 2021-05-29.
^ 名嘉, 正八郎 (July 2010). グスク探訪ガイド―沖縄・奄美の歴史文化遺産〈城〉 (in Japanese) (5th ed.). Naha City, Okinawa: Border Ink. p. 113. ISBN 4899820240.
^ "Chinen Castle Ruins | 南城市公式Webサイト". 南城市公式サイト. Retrieved 2018-06-11.