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Japan Southern Okinawa Seifa Utaki | Seifa Utaki |
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| Wednesday, 23 January 2008 | |
 Sefa Utaki is the most sacred site on Okinawa and has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Utaki is a hogen (or Uchinaguchi, the language of the Ryukyus) word that means "a place enshrining the gods." Okinawans believe that gods descend to utaki and individuals can communicate with them there through villages and festivals.
Like most other utaki, Sefa Utaki is located in a forested grove. To those unaware of the site's importance, the area seems like little more than a coral outcropping whose main feature is an unusual triangular passageway formed by a portion of the formation sliding off and landing on its edge. While the date of the foundation of Sefa Utaki is unknown, the Chuzan Seikan (the royal history of the Ryukyu Kingdom) says it was the creation of Amamikyo, the founding god of the Ryukyu Islands. The entrance of Seifa Utaki is the Ujoguchi. In centuries past, admission past this point was limited to members of the royal government. Ordinary citizens could pray at one of the six incense burners at the entrance, each of which symbolized one of the altars in the utaki. Typically, royal priestesses came to Sefa Utaki most often. Because most of the Ryukyuan deities were female, women have historically been held in high regard. Thus, the sisters and aunts of the king, called kikoe kimi, were enthroned at Seifa Utaki and treated as priestesses. Past the Ujoguchi is the Yuinchi, which shares its name with the Shuri Castle cooking quarters where servants prepared sacred meals for the king. During the reign of the kingdom, foods such as seafood and produce were brought to those quarters from mainland Japan, China, and other distant locations. The term Yuinchi means "a place full of abundant harvest and catches of fish." Until World War II, a horse-shaped stone was placed at the Yuinchi at Sefa Utaki to tell yearly fortunes. Today, visitors might be able to see visitors praying and chanting at this altar. When facing the triangular opening of Sefa Utaki, an area called the Kifujinnsama Oyasumidokoro is on the right. Two stalactites hang here, and water dripping from them is considered holy. The water was used to tell the fortunes of the kikoe kimi priestesses as well as the Nakagusuku Udun (king's son). The holy water was also used as an offering during New Year rituals. Through the triangular opening are several altars, including the Sanguui in front and the Chohana on the right. To the left is an impressive view of Kudaka Island, which was also regarded as sacred among Okinawans. The king of Ryukyu visited this triangular opening at least once a year to pray for a rich harvest. Seifa Utaki PhotosPlease click a thumbnail to load a high resolution image.Nanjyo City Map Camp Foster Commissary Gate 5 | Kadena Air Base Gate 1 | Naha Airport | Naha Port | Seifa Utaki | Torii Station Main Gate |
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