Shuri-jo Castle has three main areas: “Seiden” where ceremonies and rituals took place, “O’uchibara,” where the king lived, and "Kyo-no-Uchi." Kyo-no-Uchi means “inside a place overflowing with spiritual power,” in other words: a sanctuary.
Originally in Okinawa, long before the Ryukyu Kingdom was founded, only certain people were able to communicate with the gods, and these were mostly women. The women prayed at “Utaki” and “Haisho,” places filled with nature, as that was where they felt closest to the gods. There, they blessed the beauty of nature and prayed for the safety of the villagers.
When the Ryukyu Kingdom was founded, they organized the women by appointing them to perform rituals and called them “Noro.” They were appointed by the state, the same way as modern civil servants today. The highest ranking Noro priestess was called “Kikoe-ōkimi,” and she held the highest level of power in the Ryukyuan faith.
The Kikoe-ōkimi was revered as the spiritual protector of the entire kingdom. She would pray for the king's longevity, prosperity of the nation, successful harvest, and safe voyages, among other things.
Kyo-no-Uchi was the largest religious site in Shuri-jo Castle, where the Noro and the Kikoe-ōkimi performed various rituals.
