Kyo no Uchi. Kyo means a place overflowing with spiritual power. During the time of the Ryukyu Kingdom, Kyo no Uchi was a dense forest where the king and Kikoe-Ogimi would hold a ritual to pray for the prosperity of the nation, safe journeys at sea, and abundant harvest.

Within Shurijo Castle, Kyo no Uchi is the oldest set of remains that exist to this day. Presently, Kyo no Uchi makes up almost half of the grounds of Shuri Castle, but it is thought that the original Shuri Castle was as large as Kyo no Uchi itself.

Shurijo Castle is one of the Gusuku Sites and Related Properties of the Kingdom of Ryukyu which have been recorded as a World Heritage Site. However, according to one explanation, Gusuku were named so because they were thought to be where gods resided. So while Shurijo is a palace for a king, it was also a home of the gods, making it a place of worship, which highlightes the difference between Chinese and Japanese “castles.” Kyo-no-Uchi is the manifestation of the unique nature of the Ryukyu Kingdom.

Why have we placed a pin here? Actually there is a mystery surrounding this cave.

The history of the Ryukyu Kingdom is broken into two lines, The House of the First Sho which lasted 50 years, and The House of the Second Sho which lasted 400 years. Between these two lines was a coup d'état.. However, the victors chose to continue the “Sho” namesake.

One would assume this had something to do with China. If you were to rebel against the king chosen by the Chinese, it would not make for a good first impression. This may be why they chose to keep this same name. While the first king of The House of the Second Sho was obviously quite older than the last son of The House of the First Sho, Sho Toku, they made it appear as though Sho En was the “son of Sho Toku.”

Let's go back a bit here. When the coup d’etat occured, Sho Toku was in Kudakashima. It is said that when he found himself cornered, he threw himself into the sea. However, the queen and prince were still at Shuri Castle. They both hid in this cave. No matter what, they had to protect the prince who was next in line. However, contrary to the queen’s plan they were eventually found and killed.

There is no evidence that this is the place that they ran to, however, it very well could be. There may be a hidden tragedy hidden in these walls.

Those who would like to learn more about this history and the coup d’etat, feel free to check out our Nakagusuku Guide.