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Shureimon Gate

The Shureimon is a ceremonial, Chinese-style polychrome wooden gate located very close to Shuri Castle. It was built by the order of King Sho Sei between 1527 and 1555, and is one of the most famous and widely recognized symbols of Okinawa. Initially, the Chuzanmon Gate, built 100 years earlier about 500 meters to the west, was the primary ceremonial gate to the castle, where court officials would greet envoys and other important visitors. The distance, however, proved inconvenient, and a new gate closer to the castle itself was deemed necessary.

The name Shureimon comes from a declaration by the Ming Emperor in 1579 that “Ryukyu deserves to be called ‘a nation of propriety.’” A lacquered tablet was then inscribed with the words “Shurei no Kuni” (A Nation of Propriety) and displayed on the gate. This was considered both a declaration that Ryukyu would uphold Confucian principles, and an exhortation to the populace to do so. Although other tablets were displayed on the gate at various times, Shureimon is most strongly associated with the Confucian virtue of propriety.

International Influences in Design

Like the Chuzanmon, the Shureimon Gate was based on the Chinese roofed “turret” gate style called paifang, with a lower red-tiled roof spanning the full width of the gate surmounted by a higher roof in the center. Like all major Ryukyuan monuments, its design is an amalgam, with various stylistic influences supplementing the basic Chinese form. Unusual carved stone panels reinforce the gate at its base, possibly as a measure against typhoons. At about 7 meters high and 8 meters wide, the Shureimon Gate is wider than it is tall, which along with the absence of any doors, suggests a sense of welcome and celebration, and little pretense of defense.

Symbol of Okinawan Cultural Identity

The Shureimon Gate was an iconic symbol of Ryukyuan culture, and often appears as the highlight in visual representations of Shuri Castle. It was documented by American military engineers and artists sailing with Commodore Matthew Perry when his fleet visited the kingdom in 1853–1854. The gate survived the dissolution of Ryukyu in 1879, and continued to mark the entrance to Shuri Castle even after it was transformed into a Japanese military barracks, school, and Shinto shrine. It was declared a Japanese National Treasure in 1933, but was destroyed during the Battle of Okinawa in 1945. Due to its immense civic and cultural importance, it was the first structure at Shuri to be reconstructed after the war. The current gate was completed in 1958.

守禮門

守禮門是一座儀典性質的中式彩漆木坊門，緊鄰首里城，建於尚清王時期（1527-1555），是沖繩最知名、最醒目的標誌建築之一。首里城最初的主城門是位於守禮門以西約500公尺開外的中山門，比守禮門早一個世紀建成，是琉球朝廷官員迎接外國使臣和其他重要來賓的地方。然而人們發現，中山門還是太遠，多有不便，於是就順理成章修建一座更靠近首里城的新城門。

「守禮」二字出自1579年明朝萬曆皇帝的一道詔書，其中有言：「惟爾琉球國……足稱守禮之邦」。守禮門建成後，上面便懸掛了一面題寫著「守禮之邦」四個大字的朱漆牌匾。它既表達了琉球王國尊奉儒家文化，同時也暗含對民眾施以教化。儘管在不同時期的門上也曾經懸掛過其他匾額，但與守禮門關聯最深的，依然是儒家之「禮」。

設計中的外來元素

和中山門一樣，守禮門的造型同樣基於中國式的牌坊，門上有類似「櫓」（塔樓）的坊頂，下層的赤瓦屋頂橫跨整座坊門，上面另外疊著一個同軸居中的小屋頂。但整體來説，守禮門的設計是融合不同文化的產物，可謂中式為體，多種風格為用，這也是現存重要琉球遺跡所共有的特徵。而守禮門的獨特之處在於，底部使用了特製的雕花石板，這有可能是為抵擋颱風而特別採取的加固措施。

守禮門高約7公尺，寬8公尺，橫向長於縱向，沒有安裝任何門扉，以此表達不加設防的喜慶、好客之情。

沖繩文化認同的象徵

守禮門是琉球文化的象徵符號，在首里城所展示的形象中，常常是最引人注目的焦點，就連1853年至1854年期間隨同美國海軍準將馬修·佩里所率艦隊前來琉球王國的軍事工程師和藝術家，也留下了相關記錄。雖然琉球王國在1879年覆滅，守禮門卻倖存下來，在首里城化身日軍軍營、學校和神社等的漫長歲月變遷中，它始終矗立不倒，以示這座古老城門就在此處。

守禮門於1933年被日本政府指定為國寶，卻在1945年的沖繩島戰役焚毀。鑒於其巨大的公眾影響力和重要的文化意義，守禮門成為了戰後首里地區首座重建的建築，如今的守禮門建成於1958年。

守礼门

守礼门是一座仪典性质的中式彩漆木坊门，紧邻首里城。它建于尚清王时期(1527-1555)，是冲绳最知名、最为醒目的地标建筑之一。首里城最初的主仪门是位于守礼门以西约500米开外的中山门，比守礼门早一个世纪建成，是琉球朝廷官员迎接外国使臣和其他重要来宾的地方。但实际上，中山门太远，多有不便，于是新建一座更靠近城堡的仪门势在必行。

“守礼”二字出自1579年明朝万历皇帝的一道诏书，其中有言：“惟尔琉球国……足称守礼之邦”。守礼门建成后，上面便悬挂了一面题写着“守礼之邦”四个大字的朱漆牌匾。它既表明了琉球是尊奉儒家文化的国度，同时也有对民众施以教化的含义。尽管在不同时期门上也曾经悬挂过其他匾额，但与守礼门关联最深的，依然是儒家之“礼”。

设计中的外来元素

和中山门一样，守礼门的造型同样基于中国式的牌坊，门上有类似“橹”（塔楼）的坊顶，下层的赤瓦屋顶横跨整座坊门，上面另外叠着一个同轴居中的小屋顶。但整体来说，它的设计是融合了不同文化的产物：以中国式样为基础，同时受多种风格影响，这也是现存重要琉球遗迹所共有的特征。而守礼门的独特之处在于，它的底部使用了特制的雕花石板，这有可能是为抵挡台风而特别采取的加固措施。

守礼门高约7米，宽8米，横向长于纵向，没有安装任何门扉，寓意不设防的喜庆、好客之情。

冲绳文化认同的象征

守礼门是琉球文化的象征符号。在首里城所展示的形象中，常常是最引人注目的焦点，就连1853年至1854年期间随同美国海军准将马修·佩里所率舰队前来琉球王国的军事工程师和艺术家，也留下了相关记录。琉球王国于1879年覆灭，守礼门却幸存了下来。在首里城化身为日军军营、学校和神社的漫长岁月变迁中，始终矗立不倒的它告诉人们：这里是通往首里城的大门。

守礼门在1933年被日本政府指定为国宝，却毁于1945年的冲绳岛战役。鉴于其巨大的公众影响力和重要的文化意义，它成为战后首里地区第一个得以重建的建筑。如今的守礼门建成于1958年。