Chibana Castle

Chibana Castle (知花城, Chibana jō; Okinawan: Chibana gushiku^[1]), also known as Goeku Castle (越来城, Goeku jō; Okinawan: Gwiiku gushiku^[2]) was a Ryukyuan gusuku on Okinawa Island. In the Chibana district of Okinawa City, the castle site sits on a hill and is surrounded by jungle.^[3]

Chibana Castle 知花城
Okinawa, Okinawa
Plaque on observation structure commemorating Chibana Castle
Site information
Type	Gusuku
Controlled by	Ryūkyū Kingdom (15th century–1879) Empire of Japan (1879–1945) United States Military Government of the Ryukyu Islands (1945-1950) United States Civil Administration of the Ryukyu Islands (1950-1972) Japan (1972-present)
Open to the public	yes
Condition	Ruins
Location
Chibana Castle 知花城 Show map of Okinawa Prefecture Chibana Castle 知花城 Show map of Japan
Coordinates	26°21′46.5″N 127°48′39.0″E
Site history
Built	14th century
Built by	Aji of Goeku Magiri
In use	14th century–15th century
Materials	Ryukyuan limestone, wood
Garrison information
Occupants	Aji of Goeku Magiri, Uni-Ufugusuku

History

Chibana Castle was in use during the reign of the First Shō Dynasty and served as the residence of the Aji of Goeku Magiri.^[3] The castle and Goeku Magiri was given to the Ryukyuan general Uni-Ufugusuku by King Shō Taikyū in return for defeating the Aji of Katsuren Castle, Amawari. After the fall of the First Shō Dynasty, Uni-Ufugusuku was expelled from the castle and later committed suicide.^[3] His tomb, and that of his wife, was built at the bottom of the hill that Chibana Castle is atop.

In the early 1960s, a structure was built on top of the hill to commemorate the castle and serve as a tourist attraction, from which all of the former Goeku Magiri can be seen.^[4]

Tomb of Uni-Ufugusuku.