Notes on the Design of the Sculptures of Shuri Castle Seiden

本文旨在从设计的角度阐述首里城的国室--圣殿的雕塑造型和风格。圣殿的基本造型和细节设计具有中国和禅宗的风格，但Seiden的某些部分布置得很独特，平台的建造、楼梯的栅栏以及龙狮雕塑的设计基本上都在其中中国风格，而禅宗佛教的影响，可以看出在配件石头的围栏。但扇形楼梯和龙柱的围栏是在一个独特的风格塞登。这种布局在琉球王朝审美意识的体现中占有非常重要的地位。建筑的屋顶采用了日本建筑风格的Irimoyazukuri和Karahahu，设计是禅宗风格。屋顶上的龙的设计是中国常见的风格，但在这里，它们的形式与整个建筑融为一体，从而创造了一种原始的效果。迄今为止，首里城Seiden在很大程度上被认为是中国建筑。然而，本研究试图表明，虽然Seiden以中国风格为基础，但这种风格与日本元素相融合，并在重要方面转化为独特的琉球设计。这种独特的风格和形式，随着时间的推移而消失了，我认为这是琉球王朝特有的审美意识的表现。本文阐述了Seiden雕塑的设计和布置与日本其他历史建筑的风格。然而，这并不是对首里城及其周围的狮子雕像的研究;鉴于它对冲绳人的魅力，这个主题需要进一步调查。

This paper aims at explicating the shape and style of the sculptures of Seiden, the State chamber of Shuri Castle, from a design point of view.Basic shapes as well as details of Seiden's design are in Chinese and Zen Buddhist styles, but certain parts of Seiden are arranged in a unique way.The construction of the platform and the fence of the stairs as well as the design of the dragon and lion sculptures are basically in Chinese Style, Whereas Zen Buddhist influence can be seen in the accessory stones of the fence.But the fan-shaped stairway and the dragon pillars of the fence are in a style unique to Seiden. This arrangement occupies a very important position as a manifestation of the aesthetic consciousness of the Ryukyu Dynasty.For the roof of the building the Japanese archtectural styles Irimoyazukuri and Karahahu have been used, where as the design is in Zen Buddhist style. The design of the dragons on the roof is in a style often seen in China, but here their form is integrated with the whole building, thus creating an original effect.So far Shuri Castle Seiden has been considered largely as Chinese architecture. This study however seeks to show that although Seiden has Chinese style as its base, this style was fused with Japanese elements and in important ways transformed into a unique Ryukyuan design. I presume that this unique style and form, Which with time got lost, were expressions of an aesthetic consciousness peculiar to the Ryukyu Dynasty.This paper explicates and compares the design and arrangements of sculptures at Seiden with the styles of other historical buildings in Japan. It is however not a study of the lion statues in and around Shuri Castle ; a subject that in the light of its fascination for the people of Okinawa calls for further investigation.