Credit goes to Max and Mandy Melendy on typing up such a beautiful paper
Kobudo Patch
Description coming soon.
Sensei Nakazato and his high ranking students.
Shurijo Castle
Seiden at Shuri-Jo Castle Okinawa, Japan
Shurijo Castle is a symbol of the unique history and culture of Okinawa. The castle's history is also the history of the Kingdom of the Ryukyus itself. Atop a small hill, Shurijo Castle is surrounded by curved walls which contain various structures.
There are many open areas, as well as sacred grounds. This is not specific to Shurijo Castle, but a common feature of all old Okinawan castles called "gusuku". While other gusukus were lost in battle, Shurijo Castle alone preserved the old features of the gusuku and incorporated new developments.
Shurijo Castle consists of two areas: the expanse within the walls and the space between the inner and outer walls. The inner area was complete in the early 15th century and the outer area, in the mid-16th Century. The entire castle faces west, with the Seiden and other structures aligned along history of exchanges with China and Japan influenced many aspects of Shurijo Castle structure. Such influences are exemplified by the Seiden, Nanden, and the Hokuden.
Shurijo Castle was both the royal residence for the king and his family and the administrative center of the Shurijo Royal Government. It also served as a religious center to administer the rituals performed by the cultural and artistic activities, with many musicians, dancers, artisans and craftsmen active in the castle area.
In the spring of 1879, the king was exiled from Shurijo Castle, and Okinawa Prefecture was established. Shurijo Castle then became the military headquarters of the Japanese troops and served as school buildings. Although extensively renovated during the 1930's, the castle was razed in 1945 by US military raids. Following the war, the grounds served as the campus for the University of the Ryukyus. When the university was relocated, the Castle was restored to its present condition.
The present Shurijo Castle is modeled after the 18th Century facility.
The castle was registered as a World Heritage Site in December 2000