View source for Shureimon

{{Short description|Gate in Naha, Okinawa}}
[[File:Naha Shuri Castle32bs5s4592.jpg|thumb|''Shureimon'' or ''Shurei no mon'']]
[[File:P103-2000Yen-(2000) front.jpg|thumb|''Shureimon'' as depicted on the [[2000 yen note]]]]
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{{Portal|Japan|History|Architecture}}
{{nihongo|'''''Shureimon'''''|守礼門|[[Okinawan language|Okinawan]]:Uī-nu-turi,Uī-nu-Ayajō}} is a gate in the [[Shuri, Okinawa|Shuri]] neighborhood of [[Naha, Okinawa|Naha]], the [[Capital (political)|capital]] of [[Okinawa Prefecture]], [[Japan]]. It was the second of [[Shuri Castle]]'s main gates. Now it is the main gate to the castle complex. Chūzanmon was the first ceremonial gate to Shurijo, built around 1427 by King Shō Hashi, and it was demolished in 1907.

==Construction==
It was first built in the 16th century, and the structure of the gate is similar to that of Chinese three-[[Bay (architecture)|bay]] turret gates, and is covered with a red tiled hip roof. The four [[Hanzi]] framed on the gate - ''Shu'', ''rei'', ''no'', and ''kuni'', which mean 'Land of Propriety', were added to the gate long after it was built. It was also called {{nihongo|'''''Shurimon'''''|首里門||"Shuri gate"}} and {{nihongo|'''''Wī nu Aijō'''''|上ぬ綾門||"Beautiful gate at the upper part"}} in [[Okinawan language|Okinawan]].<ref>[http://oki-park.jp/shurijo/guide/52 正殿への道]. Shurijo Castle Park Management Center. Retrieved on 2014-05-09</ref><ref>[http://sp.walkerplus.com/tempest/02.html 綾門大道]. [[Kadokawa Corporation]]. Retrieved on 2014-05-09</ref> The gate reflects strong Chinese influence, alongside indigenous religious traditions.

==Reconstruction==
The gate was destroyed in 1945 during the [[Battle of Okinawa]] and reconstructed through local campaigns and support in the 1950s and 1960s. It became the first part of the Shuri Castle to be reconstructed, while decades would follow until the rest of the castle was restored. The main columns are 7.94 meters apart. The top layer of the gate is 7.05 meters high, and the lower layer 5.11 meters. The four pillars stand on foundation stones, and they are supported on front and back by slanting accessory pillars for better stability. A picture of the reconstructed gate appears on the [[2000 yen note]] issued in 2000 to commemorate the [[26th G8 summit]] held in Okinawa.

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
*{{Commons category-inline}}
*{{Osmway|168580058}}

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{{Coord|26|13|05.3|N|127|43|00.8|E|display=title|region:JP_type:landmark}}

[[Category:Tourist attractions in Okinawa Prefecture]]
[[Category:Gates in Japan]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Okinawa Prefecture]]
[[Category:Okinawa Prefecture designated tangible cultural property]]


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