before the ryukyu kingdom was created, okinawa was made up of three countries: nanzan, chuzan, and hokuzan. chuzan took over the other two kingdoms, united the three kingdoms, and created the ryukyu kingdom. the kingdom had its own dynasty of kings and they ruled from shuri castle in the city of shuri. although they used to be different cities, shuri is now in the northern part of present-day naha.