Ryukyu Kingdom History of the Ryukyu Islands

king shō shin

in 1429, king shō hashi completed unification of 3 kingdoms , founded 1 ryukyu kingdom capital @ shuri castle. shō shin (尚真) (1465–1526; r. 1477–1526) third king of second sho dynasty, reign has been described great days of chūzan , period of great peace , relative prosperity. son of shō en, founder of dynasty, yosoidon, shō en s second wife, referred queen mother. succeeded uncle, shō sen i, forced abdicate in favor. of foundational organization of kingdom s administration , economy traced developments occurred during shō shin s reign. reign of shō shin saw expansion of kingdom s control on several of outlying ryukyu islands, such miyako-jima , ishigaki island.

many chinese moved ryukyu serve government or engage in business during period. ming dynasty chinese sent fujian 36 chinese families @ request of ryukyuan king manage oceanic dealings in kingdom in 1392 during hongwu emperor s reign. many ryukyuan officials descended these chinese immigrants, being born in china or having chinese grandfathers. assisted ryukyuans in advancing technology , diplomatic relations.

satsuma domination, 1609–1871

the invasion of ryukyu kingdom shimazu clan of satsuma domain took place in april 1609. 3 thousand men , more 1 hundred war junks sailed kagoshima @ southern tip of kyushu. ryukyuans defeated in amami islands, @ nakijin castle on okinawa island. satsuma samurai made second landing near yomitanzan , marched overland urasoe castle, captured. war junks attempted take port city of naha, defeated ryūkyūan coastal defences. satsuma captured shuri castle, ryukyuan capital, , king shō nei. @ point, king famously told army nuchidu takara (life treasure), , surrendered. many priceless cultural treasures looted , taken kagoshima. result of war, amami islands ceded satsuma in 1611, , direct rule of satsuma on amami islands started in 1613.

after 1609, ryukyuan kings became vassals of satsuma. though recognized independent kingdom, islands referred being province of japan. shimazu introduced policy banning sword ownership commoners. led development of indigenous okinawan martial arts, utilizes domestic items weapons. period of effective outside control featured first international matches of go, ryukyuan players came japan test skill. occurred in 1634, 1682, , 1710.

in 17th century, kingdom both tributary of china , tributary of japan. because china not make formal trade agreement unless country tributary state, kingdom convenient loophole japanese trade china. when japan officially closed foreign trade, exceptions foreign trade dutch through nagasaki, ryukyu kingdom through satsuma domain, , korea through tsushima. perry s black ships , official envoys united states, came in 1853. in 1871, mudan incident occurred, in fifty-four ryukyuans killed in taiwan. wandered central part of taiwan after ship wrecked.

ryukyu domain, 1872–1879

in 1872, ryukyu kingdom reconfigured feudal domain (han), people described appearing connecting link between chinese , japanese. after taiwan expedition of 1874, japan s role protector of ryukyuan people acknowledged; fiction of ryukyu kingdom s independence partially maintained until 1879. in 1878, islands listed tributary japan. largest island listed tsju san , meaning middle island . others listed sannan in south , sanbok in north nawa. main port listed tsju san . open foreign trade. agricultural produce included tea, rice, sugar, tobacco, camphor, fruits, , silk. manufactured products included cotton, paper, porcelain, , lacquered ware.