Urasoe Castle
| Urasoe Castle 浦添城 | |
|---|---|
| Urasoe, Okinawa, Japan | |
Outer walls of Urasoe Castle | |
| Site information | |
| Type | Gusuku |
| Condition | Ruins |
| Location | |
Urasoe Castle 浦添城 Urasoe Castle Urasoe Castle 浦添城 Urasoe Castle 浦添城 (Japan) | |
| Coordinates | 26°14′51.14″N 127°43′53.89″E / 26.2475389°N 127.7316361°E |
| Site history | |
| Built | late 13th – early 14th century; later expanded and refurbished |
| In use | late 13th century – 1609 |
| Materials | Ryūkyūan limestone, wood, ceramic roof tiles |
| Demolished | 1609 invasion of Ryūkyū |
| Battles/wars | Invasion of Ryukyu (1609) |
| Garrison information | |
| Occupants | Kings of Chūzan, incl. Eiso (r. 1260–1299) |
Urasoe Castle (浦添城, Urasoe jō; Okinawan: Urashii Gushiku) is a Ryūkyūan gusuku fortification which served as the capital of the medieval Okinawan principality of Chūzan prior to the unification of the island into the Ryūkyū Kingdom, and the moving of the capital to Shuri. In the 14th century, Urasoe was the largest castle on the island, but today only ruins remain. The ruins have been protected by the central government as a National Historic Site since 1989.