"A View and The Shinugu Shrine Ruins"

Zooming in from the Shinugu Shrine Ruins

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A View & the Shinugu Shrine Ruins

     GPS

Latitude	Longitude
N 26 22.267	E 127 58.863

A View and The Shinugu Shrine Ruins

A small plateau lies on top of Miyagi Island and on its eastern edge lies a great viewpoint looking further down the island and parts of Ikei Jima to its north. The zoomed image you see above is of a park down below near the Nagusuku Udun. The viewpoint is collocated on the Shinugu Shrine Ruins. The ruins were first discovered by Shinjun Tawada and was named in 1933, the Shinugu Shrine Shellmound. Today, Mr. Shinjun Tawada is considered to be the father of Okinawan Archeology. Further excavation would lead to discoveries of artifacts “made from clay, stone, shells, and bones”. Also, the excavation would lead to evidence (forty pieces of artifacts) that would seem to indicate that the villagers had “in-ground living quarters”.

There is one point of clarification that needs to be settled. According the translated sign in English, it is said that these “ruins are now known to be the largest village in Okinawa”. Perhaps it is meant that these are the largest ruins of its kind found on Okinawa. The term “village” has various conceptual meanings in terms of size and composition. Today, there is not much to see of these ruins; just a few stone markers placed by the town. It is difficult to get the full scope and size of the area. According to the translation, the ruins were “returned to the earth where they were found for storage purposes”.

The view on top is worth seeing. It gives you an idea of the complex landscape the Okinawans long ago on Miyagi Island had to endure for many years. The location is not far from the Yan Spring down below. It is just a short drive up as you traverse the hillside. To see other scenic views from this area, please click on the photo album above or click here.

Source & Translation. Information provided by the Uruma City Board of Education. 

Other places of interest nearby. The Nagusuku Udun, The Yan Spring. 

"The Yan Spring - Miyagi Island"

The Yan Spring (Yanga)

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The Yan Spring

     GPS

Latitude	Longitude
N 26 22.254	E 127 58.937

The Yan Spring - Miyagi Island

Okinawa is full of natural springs. This one found on Miyagi Island is the Yan Spring (Yanga) and is considered one of Uruma City's cultural assets. It is not too far away from the Nagusuku Udun roughly 400 meters away. Next to the spring is an explanation sign translated in English provided by the Uruma City Board of Education. It reads:

"Comprised of Ryukyu limestone and Tertiary Strata marlstone (also known as kucha in Okinawan), the soil of Miyagi Island is ideal for trapping rainwater, and thus the island has abundant spring water. The yanga has the highest output of water among all springs on the island;

It is recorded in the Kyuyou(*1) that the village heads of Yonagusuku Magiri(*2), Penchin(*3) Nakamura and Pechin Ikemi, had restored the yanga with the help of 19 villagers in 1849. The stone structure that they reconstructed leaves evidence of construction techniques of the time. The then-villages of Uehara and Miyagi did not use the water only for daily needs; the spring is considered historically significant, for its water was used for wakamizu(*4) and also for ubumizu(*5)"

Notes:
1. Kyuyou: a book that records the history of Okinawa
2. Magiri: a modern-day equivalent of village, towns, and cities during the Ryukyu Kingdom Era
3. Pechin: a rank in the old Ryukyu Kingdom Era
4. Wakamizu: water used in the New Year
5. Ubumizu: water used for celebrating birth

Using spring water for 'wakamizu' and 'ubumizu' is common throughout Okinawa for those who still practice traditional customs. It is also not uncommon to find symbols of worship like utaki's next to springs. Long ago, water was treasured as the life blood for communities, and places of worship were erected to give thanks for such sources of water.

Author's note. The translation states the Yan spring “has the highest output of water among all springs on the island”. This more than likely refers to Miyagi Island and not Okinawa proper. There are other springs throughout Okinawa that also have high outputs of water as well.

The Other Natural Spring. There is another natural spring to the south of the Yan Spring. There is no official title to it and we simply refer to as the 'Miyagi Garden Spring'. See map above. It is highly recommended you navigate on foot to this location. If you walk just further to the south of the 'Miyagi Garden Spring' you will also see some interesting terrain.

Other Natural Springs on Okinawa Prefecture.
Kanumou Well in Awase (Okinawa City), Okawa, The Natural Spring (Kin Town), Nakandakari Hijya, Natural Spring (Nanjo City), Noroga and Remnants of an Old Sugar Factory (Uruma City), Small Kunigami Cave Spring (Kunigami Village), Tabagaa Water Spring (Uruma City), The Dragon Tree (Naha City), Ubugaa (Okinawa City), Water From Hands (Nago City).

"Nagusuku Udun - Miyagi Island"

Nagusuku Udun

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Nagusuku Udun

     GPS

Latitude	Longitude
N 26 22.243	E 127 59.118

Nagusuku Udun - Miyagi Island

This is the Nagusuku Udun of Miyagi Island. The term 'Udun' gives reference to a burial tomb of someone of high status such as king or lord. Like most Okinawa legends, the story of Nagusuku (or Naagusuku) Udun is shrouded in mystery. The explanation sign written in Japanese tells of a Kyanbaru goddess that was given a spiritual message about a large drift wood that was beached in a place called 'Dumaibama'. The villagers had heard about this message and went to go see it for themselves. The villagers had tried to pull it out....but couldn't. The Kyanbaru goddess said the log won't move unless a noro from Nakadomari takes lead in moving it. When this happened, the villagers then were able to move it and they used it to build the original Udun. Today, the Nagusuku Udun is considered a sacred place and guardian for the people of Miyagi Island. It is also believed that an 'Aji' from the Hokuzan region is buried here. The term 'Aji' is used to describe a local lord and 'Hokuzan' was the old term to describe the northern region of Okinawa. The term now used is Hokubu. In 1962 the Nagusku Udun was rebuilt with concrete.

More for the O-Files. The explanation leaves you with more questions than answers, such as the whereabouts of 'Dumaibama'. And does Kyanbaru have a connection with today's Kyan district of Itoman. If the area referred to as Nakadomari is the same area in Onna Village, then it shows how expansive the communication network reached to some of the remote areas of old Okinawa. One has to remember, there was no bridge that connected to the outer islands off the Katsuren Peninsula long ago.

The story also raises questions about the importance of the drift wood. Today, we wouldn't consider a washed up log as anything important. However, the story does shed light on how much power certain people had back in the old Ryukyu Kingdom. A Noro's spoken words were seen as if it came from the gods themselves. One did not question Noros back in those days.

Directions. The Nagusuku Udun is tucked away in a small town of Yonashiromiyagi on Miyagi Island. See the map and study the designated land mark. Near the Green Thumbtack you will also see an official Uruma City marker pointing to the Udun. However, do not follow this sign with your car. Read parking instructions below.

Parking. It is highly recommended that you park in the vicinity of the Green Thumbtack (see map above) and the navigate on foot to the burial tomb. It is not a far distance to the tomb from this location. It is also the widest area you can park your car without disrupting the flow of traffic. If you are new to this area and you try to navigate by car to the tomb you will find yourself in some very tight roads and corners.

Viewing Area. Near the tomb is another park to its north. There you will see a viewing tower where you can get a good view of the Miyagi greenery and outlying towns.