Tamaudun, Royal mausoleum in Shuri, Japan
Tamaudun is a royal tomb in Shuri featuring three main chambers arranged within two stone-walled enclosures. The entrance openings are rectangular and built from carefully fitted blocks of Ryukyu limestone.
King Sho Shin established this burial site in 1501 to house the remains of his father. It later became the final resting place for seventeen rulers of the Second Sho Dynasty.
The chambers are organized by the rank and role of the deceased, with separate spaces reserved for monarchs, their consorts, and other family members. This arrangement reflects how the Ryukyu people honored their dead according to their place in society.
The best way to reach the site is by taking the monorail to Shuri Station or the bus to Shurijo Park. Once there, the grounds are easy to explore on foot at a leisurely pace.
The center chamber was not used for burial but served as a ritual space where the bones of the deceased were cleaned before final placement in the eastern or western chambers. This process was a key part of Ryukyuan funeral traditions.
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