Shikinaen Main Gate (Sei-mon)

During the time of the Ryukyu Kingdom, the tile-roofed main gate, or Sei-mon, of Shikinaen was for the exclusive use of royal family members, and for leading Chinese delegates to ceremonies. The gate is in a style called yajo, reserved for the homes of families of high status. It has a finely crafted, robust structure of inumaki wood, with four supporting posts, integrated into a wall of carefully worked Ryukyuan limestone. The roof is red Ryukyuan tile with white plaster decoration. It is believed that footmen ran ahead of the palanquins carrying royal visitors and shouted out orders to open the gate so visitors could be received with appropriate dignity.