園比屋武御嶽石門(世界遺産) Sono-hyan-utaki-ishimon Sonohyan Utaki Ishi-mon Gate (World Heritage Site)
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Sonohyan Utaki Ishi-mon is a gate located between Shurei Gate and Kankai-mon Gate of Shuri Castle. It was erected by Seito under the order of Ryukyu King Sho Shin. The woods in the inner part of the gate are a sacred place called Sonohyan Utaki. Utaki is a sacred place usually located in each village and the place where the rituals concerning agriculture or fishing and any other communal events were held. Sonohyan Utaki was the most important place for Ryukyu Dynasty, where the king offered prayers for national order and safety before all his travels around the island. It was also the place where Kikoe Ogimi (the highest ranked priestess) dropped in at and offered a prayer on the day her enthronement ceremony was held.
Although the gate was severely damaged by Battles of Okinawa, it was restored to the present form in 1957. It was registered with the World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2000.
Although the gate was severely damaged by Battles of Okinawa, it was restored to the present form in 1957. It was registered with the World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2000.
- address
- 1-7 Shuri-mawashi-cho, Naha, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan 903-0816
- name
- Sonohyan Utaki Ishi-mon Gate