Culture & History #8 of 11 in this area

main gate of a pleasure house

This is the first main gate into the outer wall of Shuri Castle. It was built during the reign of King Shojin (1477-1526) and restored in 1974 after being destroyed by fire during the Battle of Okinawa. It is a Chinese-style gate with a stone arch and a wooden turret with a tile roof, and stone lions to ward off evil spirits are placed on both sides. Also known as the "Amae Gate," it is where the Chinese envoys to Japan were welcomed.

What is the Happiness Gate?

Kankaimon is the first main gate into the outer wall of Shuri Castle. It was built during the reign of King Shojin (1477-1526) and was destroyed by fire during the Battle of Okinawa in World War II, but was restored in 1974.

Familiarly known as "Amae-gomon" (Gate of Amae)

Amae" means "to welcome," and the gate was used to warmly welcome visitors to Shuri Castle, such as the Chinese emperor's envoys, the Sahpo-shi. In the old Okinawan language, it is also called "Amae-Ujou," and "Amae" means "joyful" in the Ryukyuan language.

Architectural Features

Amae-gomon is a gate with a Chinese design, consisting of a stone arched castle gate overlaid with a wooden turret (yagura) with a hon-tile roof. It is one of the precious structures that tell us today that the Ryukyu Kingdom had a book-entry relationship with China (Ming and Qing Dynasties).

Guardian Shisa

A pair of stone lion statues (shisa) are placed on either side of the gate. These statues are used to ward off evil spirits (mazimun) and to protect the castle grounds.

World Heritage Site, Shuri Castle Park

The Huangaimon Gate is part of the Shurijo Castle Ruins, a component of the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site "Gusuku and Related Properties of the Kingdom of Ryukyu". It is located within the free zone of Shurijo Park, so anyone is free to visit.

Tips for visiting

The standard route is to go along Shureimon Gate → Hwanaimon Gate → Ruisenmon Gate → Leakumon Gate.
Pay attention to the structure of the city walls and the masonry technique (aikata-zukuri).
In the morning, there are fewer people, so you can take your time to take pictures.

#Shurijo Castle #World Heritage Site #History #Ryukyu Kingdom #Castle Gate #Naha

Info

4.0 (300 reviews) Google

Address: Shuri Touzou-cho, Naha City, Okinawa 903-0815, Japan
Opening Hours: The free area is open all year round (gate opening hours: April-June and October-November: 8:00-19:30 / July-September: 8:00-20:30 / December-March: 8:00-18:30)
Admission: Free (within the free area of Shurijo Park)
Official Website: Visit Website

Opening hours and admission fees are subject to change. Please check the official website for the latest information.

Score

Total Score 57 / 100

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