The main building of Shuri Castle

The Ryukyu Kingdom was an independent kingdom which ruled most of the Ryukyu Islands from the 14th century to the 19th century. The Kings of Ryukyu unified Okinawa Island and extended the kingdom to the Amami Islands in modern Kagoshima Prefecture, and the Yaeyama Islands near Taiwan. Shuri Castle (Gusuku), Naha, Okinawa, Japan I took this photograph and contribute it to the public domain. ... Shuri Castle (Gusuku), Naha, Okinawa, Japan I took this photograph and contribute it to the public domain. ... Location of Ryukyu Islands Flag of same The Ryukyu Islands (琉球列島 RyÅ«kyÅ«-rettō), also known as the Nansei-shoto (南西諸島 Nansei-shotō, which translates literally as the Southwest Islands), are an island chain stretching southwestward from the island of Kyushu in Japan. ... This 14th-century statue from south India depicts the gods Shiva (on the left) and Uma (on the right}. It is housed in the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. As a means of recording the passage of time, the 14th century was that century which lasted from 1301 to... Alternative meaning: Nineteenth Century (periodical) (18th century — 19th century — 20th century — more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 19th century was that century which lasted from 1801-1900 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the prefecture. ... Amami Ōshima is one of the Ryukyu Islands. ... Kagoshima Prefecture (鹿児島県 Kagoshima-ken) is located on Kyushu island, Japan. ... Map of the Yaeyama Islands The Yaeyama Islands (八重山諸島 Yaeyama-shotō) are an archipelago in Okinawa Prefecture, Japan. ...

History

In the three Ryukyu historical annals, Chuzan Seikan(中山世鉴, History of Chuzan), Chuzan Seifu(中山世谱, Genealogy of Chuzan), and Kyuyo (球阳, Chronicle of Ryukyu), the history of Ryukyu Kingdom began in the Tenson Dynasty (天孫王朝, Dynasty of Descent of Heaven), which lasted 17,000 years. But many historians today believe that this is a mythological legend created in the 16th or 17th century, to declare a more superior blood of the ruling chieftain, Sho family, over other local chieftains.

The Tenson Dynasty was succeeded by the Shunten Dynasty (舜天王朝), which lasted 3 reigns in around 70 years. According to Chuzan Seikan, the founder of the dynasty was a descendant of Minamoto no Tametomo, a Japanese aristocracy and descendant of Tenno's family. Minamoto no Tametomo was sent to Izu Island after his failure of taking power in Kyoto court, then he fled and drifted to Ryukyu, and his son Shunten established their own dynasty. Some Japanese and Chinese scholars claim that the Shunten dynasty was also created by the Sho family, for the reason same as they created the Tensun legend.

In the 14th centry, small domains scattered on the Okinawa Island were unified into three principalities, Hokuzan (山北, Northern Hill), Chuzan (中山, Mid Hill) and Nanzan (山南, Southern Hill). These three principalities, or tribal federations led by major chieftains, fought each other and received Chinese investiture in the early 15th century. The ruler of Chuzan passed his throne to Hachi (he received the surname "Sho" from Ming emperor in 1430, also known as Sho Hachi, 尚巴志), he conquered Hokuzan in 1416, Nanzan in 1429, founded the first Sho Dynasty.

Sho Hachi adopted Chinese hierarchical court system, built Shuri castle and the town, as his capital, also constructed Naha harbor. In 1469, the king died without male descent, a palatine servant declared he was adopted son of the last king and got Chinese investiture. This pretender, Sho En, began the Second Sho Dynasty. It's Ryukyu's golden age in Sho Shin, the second king's reign (1478 - 1526).

Asian trade (15th-16th century)

Diplomatically, the kingdom established tributary relations with China, during its Ming and Qing Dynasties, and developed trade relations with Japan, Korea and many Southeast Asian countries, including Siam, Pattani, Malacca, Champa, Hue, and Java. The Ming Dynasty was the ruling dynasty of China from 1368 to 1644. ... The Qing Dynasty (Manchu: daicing gurun; Chinese: 清朝; pinyin: qīng cháo; Wade-Giles: ching chao), sometimes known as the Manchu Dynasty, was founded by the Manchu clan Aisin Gioro, in what is today northeast China expanded into China proper and the surrounding territories of Inner Asia, establishing... Korea (한국/韓國/Hanguk, used by South / 조선/朝鮮/Joseon, used by North) is a formerly unified country, situated on the Korean Peninsula in East Asia, bordering on China to the northwest and Russia to the north. ... Location of Southeast Asia Southeast Asia is a subregion of Asia. ... For the country formerly called Siam see Thailand SIAM is an acronym for Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics. ... Mueang Pattani is a city in the far south of Thailand, near the boundary to Malaysia. ... State motto: Bersatu Teguh Capital Malacca Town Governor Tun Datuk Seri Utama Mohd. ... Rough location of Champas core territories. ... For the city in Vietnam, see Huế A hue refers to the gradation of color within the optical spectrum, or visible spectrum, of light. ... Map of Java Java (Indonesian, Javanese, and Sundanese: Jawa) is an island of Indonesia, and the site of its capital city, Jakarta. ...

Between the 15th and the 16th century, the main trading intermediary in Eastern Asia was Ryukyu Kingdom, exchanging Japanese products (silver, swords, fans lacquerware, folding screens) and Chinese products (medical herb, minted coins, glazed ceramics, brocades, textiles) for Southeast Asian [[sappanwood], rhino horn, tin, sugar, iron, ambergris, Indian ivory and Arabian frankincense. Altogether 150 Ryukian ships are recorded between the kingdom and Southeast Asia, 61 one of them for Siam, 10 for Malacca, 10 for Pattani, 8 for Java etc... (Redirected from 15th) 15 (fifteen) is the natural number following 14 and preceding 16. ... (Redirected from 16th) 16 (sixteen) is the natural number following 15 and preceding 17. ... For the country formerly called Siam see Thailand SIAM is an acronym for Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics. ... State motto: Bersatu Teguh Capital Malacca Town Governor Tun Datuk Seri Utama Mohd. ... Mueang Pattani is a city in the far south of Thailand, near the boundary to Malaysia. ... Map of Java Java (Indonesian, Javanese, and Sundanese: Jawa) is an island of Indonesia, and the site of its capital city, Jakarta. ...

The commerce of the kingdom disapeared around 1570 with the rise of Chinese merchants and the intervention of Portuguese and Spanish ships, and corresponds with the beginnings of the Red Seal Ship system in Japan. Events January 23 - The assassination of regent James Stewart, Earl of Moray throws Scotland into civil war February 25 - Pope Pius V excommunicates Queen Elizabeth I of England with the bull Regnans in Excelsis May 20 - Abraham Ortelius issues the first modern atlas. ... A 1634 Japanese Red seal ship, incorporating Western-style square and lateen sails, rudder and aft designs. ...

Japanese invasion (1609)

In 1609, the kingdom fell to a Japanese expeditionary force from Kagoshima. The Shuri castle and national treasury in Naha were robbed, King Sho Nei was took as prisoner to Kagoshima. Also he was released after two years, Ryukyu was forced to recognize Satsuma overlordship after then, with the cession of Amami Islands. Kagoshima (鹿児島市; -shi) the capital city of Kagoshima Prefecture at the southwest tip of the Kyushu island of Japan. ...

As Ming China prohibited trade with Japanese, the Lord of Satsuma fief utilized the kingdom as a puppet state for profitable trade with China. The King of Ryukyu also sent diplomatic missions to Edo, capital of feudal Japan. Satsuma (薩摩国; -no Kuni) was an old province of Japan that is now the western half of Kagoshima prefecture on the island of Kyushu. ... Edo (Japanese: 江戸, literally: bay-door, estuary), once also spelled Yedo or Yeddo, is the former name of the Japanese capital Tokyo. ...

After the Meiji Restoration, the modern Japanese government abolished the kingdom and established the prefecture of Okinawa in 1879. King Sho Tai was exiled to Tokyo, and died there in 1901. Qing China made some diplomatic protests to the Japanese government in vain.

Major events

• 1372 The first Ming envoy visited Okinawa which was divided into Three Mountains (principalities). The beginning of the formal tributary relations with the Chinese Empire.
• 1416 The Middle Mountain (Chuzan) occupied Nakijin gusuku, capital of the Northern Mountain (Hokuzan).
• 1429 The Middle Mountain occupied Shimajiri Osato gusuku, capital of the Southern Mountain (Nanzan), unifying Okinawa Island. The Kingdom of Ryukyu was established with the capital at Shuri (now part of modern-day Naha).
• 1477 The third king, Sho Shin, ascended to the throne. Golden age of the kingdom.
• 1609 Lord of Satsuma in Southern Kyushu conquered the kingdom. King of Ryukyu paid tribute to him.
• 1624 Lord of Satsuma annexed the Amami Islands.
• 1853 Commodore Matthew Perry of the US Navy visited the kingdom.
• 1866 The last official mission from the Qing Empire visited the kingdom.
• 1872 Japan put the Ryukyu han. King Shō Tai (尚泰) was given the title of marquisate (藩王 Han'ō).
• 1874 The last tributary envoy to China was dispatched from Port Naha.
• 1879 Japan replaced the Ryukyu han with Okinawa Prefecture. The last king of Ryukyu was transported to Tokyo and became marquis.

Events Births March 13 - Louis of Valois, Duke of Orléans, son of king Charles V of France Princess Beatrice of Portugal, heiress to the throne during the 1383-1385 Crisis Deaths Categories: 1372 ... The Ming Dynasty (Chinese: 明朝; Pinyin: míng cháo) was the ruling dynasty of China from 1368 to 1644, though claims to the Ming throne (now collectively called the Southern Ming) survived until 1662. ... China is the worlds oldest continuous major civilization, with written records dating back about 3,500 years and with 5,000 years being commonly used by Chinese as the age of their civilization. ... Events May 30 - The Catholic Church burns Jerome of Prague as a heretic. ... Nakijin gusuku is a gusuku (Ryukyuan castle or fortress) located in Nakijin. ... Events January 10 - Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy, founds the European Order of the Golden Fleece February 12 - Battle of Rouvray (or of the Herrings). English Forces under Sir John Fastolf defend a supply convoy carrying rations to the Earl of Suffolks army at Orleans from attack by... This article is about the prefecture. ... Naha (那覇市; -shi) is the capital city of Okinawa Prefecture (沖縄県) in Japan. ... Events January 5 - Battle of Nancy - Charles the Bold of Burgundy is again defeated, and this time is killed. ... // Events April 4 – King of Spain signs an edit of expulsion of all moriscos from Spain April 9 – Spain recognizes Dutch independence May 23 - Official ratification of the Second Charter of Virginia. ... Satsuma (薩摩国; -no Kuni) was an old province of Japan that is now the western half of Kagoshima prefecture on the island of Kyushu. ... Kyushu region, Japan Kyushu (九州) is the third largest island of Japan and most southerly and westerly of the four main islands. ... Events January 24 - Alfonso Mendez, appointed by Pope Gregory XV as Prelate of Ethiopia, arrives at Massawa from Goa. ... 1853 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... Photograph of Perry Matthew Calbraith Perry (April 10, 1794 – March 4, 1858) was the Commodore of the U.S. Navy who forced the opening of Japan to the West with the Convention of Kanagawa in 1854, under the threat of military force. ... The United States Navy (USN) is the branch of the United States armed forces responsible for naval operations. ... 1866 is a common year starting on Monday. ... The Qing Dynasty (Manchu: daicing gurun; Chinese: 清朝; pinyin: qīng cháo; Wade-Giles: ching chao), sometimes known as the Manchu Dynasty, was founded by the Manchu clan Aisin Gioro, in what is today northeast China expanded into China proper and the surrounding territories of Inner Asia, establishing the... 1872 was a leap year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... The Han (è—©) were the fiefs of feudal clans of Japan that existed during all the Edo period and for a few years after the Meiji Restoration. ... 1874 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... 1879 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... Okinawa Prefecture (Japanese 沖縄県; Okinawan Uchinā) is Japans southernmost prefecture, and consists of hundreds of islands known as The RyÅ«kyÅ« Islands or RyÅ«kyÅ«s, in an island chain over 1,000 km long, which extends southwest from KyÅ«shÅ« (the southwesternmost of Japans main four islands) to... The modern skyline of Tokyo is highly decentralized. ...

List of Ryukyu Kings

External links

• History of Okinawa

References

• Matsuda, Mitsugu (2001), The Government of the Kingdom of Ryukyu, 1609-1872
  • (ISBN 4946539166)