Gusuku Sites and Related Properties of the Kingdom of Ryukyu

Lore & Background

The construction of gusuku began during the Gusuku Period (1187–1314) as chieftains called Aji rose in power. People moved from coastlines to higher ground, developing agriculture and designating sacred groves called utaki. Overseas trading opened, and Sueki ware and Chinese ceramics in the Amami Islands evidence cultural development. By the early 13th century, Aji oversaw taxes and religious rites with Noro priestesses, and trade led them to control harbors like Naha and Yomitan.

The Sanzan Period (1314–1429) saw Okinawa Island divided into three kingdoms: Hokuzan (capital Nakijin Castle), Chūzan (capital Urasoe Castle), and Nanzan (capital Nanzan Castle). In 1429, King Shō Hashi conquered them, forming the Ryukyu Kingdom with its capital at Shuri Castle. The kingdom expanded to the Amami Islands by the mid-15th century and Sakishima Islands by 1500. Notable gusuku built then include Nakagusuku Castle and Yarazamori Castle, along with the Hanta Road.

In 1609, Satsuma Domain of Japan invaded Ryukyu, destroying Nakijin Castle and Urasoe Castle and capturing Shuri Castle. Satsuma vassalized the kingdom and annexed the Amami Islands. Gusuku-building stopped after the 17th century. After Japan annexed Ryukyu in 1879, some gusuku were used by the Imperial Japanese Army. During the Battle of Okinawa in World War II, most gusuku used by the Japanese military, especially Shuri Castle, were damaged or destroyed. Shuri Castle was rebuilt in the 1990s, and in 2000 the sites were added to the UNESCO list.

Reader's Guide

The Gusuku Sites and Related Properties of the Kingdom of Ryukyu were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list on November 30, 2000, along with 60 other global sites. They were selected based on three criteria: they exhibit the importance of human values over more than 500 years of cultural and ethnic history (Criteria ii); they show an exceptional cultural tradition by a civilization that has disappeared (Criteria iii); and they tangibly link events and traditions with ideals, beliefs, and literary and artistic works (Criteria vi). The listing represents Ryukyuan history from the 12th to the 17th century, encompassing the rise of gusuku, the Sanzan Period, the unified Ryukyu Kingdom, and the end of gusuku-building after the 1609 Satsuma invasion. The sites include both intact and ruined structures, as well as sacred groves and a mausoleum, reflecting the unique blend of Japanese and Chinese influences that made the kingdom a crucial economic and cultural junction. Their preservation highlights the cultural legacy of a vanished civilization and the tangible remains of its political, religious, and architectural traditions.

Did You Know?

• The heritage sites include two utaki: one a gate and the other a grove.
• Shuri Castle was rebuilt during the 1990s after being damaged or destroyed in the Battle of Okinawa.
• The Sanzan Period (1314–1429) ended when King Shō Hashi conquered the three kingdoms of Okinawa Island.
• Gusuku-building stopped after the 17th century following the 1609 invasion by Satsuma Domain.