Maritime Ryukyu & the East Asian World
Starting in the 15th century, the Ryukyu Kingdom came into ever-increasing contact with China’s Ming and then Qing dynasties (1368-1644 and 1644-1911 respectively) as well as Japan’s Tokugawa shogunate (1603-1868). Ryukyu’s interaction with China began during the reign of the Ming dynasty’s founding emperor, Hongwu (r. 1368-1398), when a 500-year-long tributary relationship between Ryukyu and the Chinese emperors was established. In this period, the Ming and Qing dynasties dispatched diplomatic envoys who crowned the rulers of Ryukyu as kings, thereby legitimizing their political power. At the same time, the Ryukyu Kingdom also regularly dispatched envoys to China to pay tribute to the emperors, strengthening the suzerain-vassal relationship between the two lands. As this relationship developed, not only did China and Ryukyu usually select extremely learned individuals to serve as envoys, Ryukyu also sent students to China to study abroad. These exchanges left behind a rich written record.
Ryukyu and Japan came into contact very early on. However, the relationship between the two nations transformed dramatically after Japan’s Satsuma Domain sent an army to invade Ryukyu in 1609. The king of Ryukyu subsequently accepted the lordship of the Tokugawa shogun and became a vassal of the Satsuma Domain. Thereafter, whenever a new king inherited the throne in Ryukyu, the kingdom had to send an envoy to Japan to express gratitude. Similarly, whenever a new shogun ascended to the throne in Japan, Ryukyu was compelled to dispatch an envoy to send congratulatory tidings. When envoys were sent from Ryukyu to present tribute to Japan’s rulers, this was referred to as “making a diplomatic visit to Edo,” which was the old name for Tokyo.
Whereas Ryukyu came into contact with Japan and China via official channels, most of Ryukyu’s interactions with Taiwan were sustained by the rank and file populace of both lands. As Taiwan and Ryukyu were so close to one another, they left behind significant traces of exchanges that came in the form of maritime commerce and mutual support in the face of storms at sea. Although much has been written about the friendly relations in Taiwan and Ryukyu’s history, there were exceptions to this comity. For instance, with the eruption of the “Mudan Community Incident” in southeastern Taiwan in the late 19th century, what started as a conflict outside of the sphere of government snowballed until it became a major international incident and eventually influenced the destiny of the Ryukyu Kingdom.
Ryukyu & Qing Dynasty
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Envoys dispatched to the Ryukyu Kingdom
Zhu Henian, Qing dynasty
Ink and colours on paper
18th century
H: 32.5cm W: 1256.1cm
2013
Collection of the Okinawa Prefectural Museum and Art Museum
Designated cultural property of Okinawa Prefecture
Exhibition Period ①9/7-10/6 ②10/8-11/3 ③11/5-12/1 -
—Selections—
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Palace memorial on asking a white conch be given to Zhao Wenkai embarking for Ryukyu
and enshrined in their ship’s hold as a numinous protective object
Submitted by Yude, Governor-general of Fujian and Zhejiang provinces
22nd day of the 3rd month of the 5th year of the Jiaqing reign(April 15, 1800), Qing dynasty
H:21.8cm W:22.2cm -
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Right-spiraling white conch in wooden box with leather covering
Qianlong reign (1735-1796)
Qing dynasty -
Ryukyu & Tokugawa shogunate
Ryukyu & Taiwan
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Palace Memorial on the circumstances causing a foreign boat
from Ryukyu Kingdom to drift into territorial waters
Submitted by Shanjibu and Ding Shiyi,
Investigating Censors of Taiwan
4th day of the 6th month of the 2nd year of the Yongzheng reign (July 23,1742)
Qing dynasty
H:22.3cm W:84.8cm -
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Palace Memorial on the circumstances of the rescue of foreign citizens
from Ryukyu Kingdom who encountered strong winds at sea
Submitted by Wang Zhiyi,
Governor of Fujian
29th day of the 1st month of the 5th year of the Jiaqing reign (February 22,1800)
Qing dynasty
H:22cm W:80cm -