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The Kingdom of the Ryukyus reigned
over Japan's southwestern islands for approximately 450 years
from 1429 to 1879.
Since some 32,000 years ago, humans lived in the Ryukyu Archipelago,
a chain of islands stretching from Amami-oshima in the north
to Yaeyama Islands in the south. Political forces on these
islands began to appear in the 12th century, a period corresponding
to Japan's Kamakura era.
Through repeated fighting and reconciliation, local warlords,
or aji were gradually reduced in number as power was consolidated
by a few. Finally in 1429, Sho Hashi defeated the major ajis
to establish a unified nation. This marks the birth of the
Kingdom of the Ryukyus and the Sho Dynasty.
In the following years, the Ryukyus moved down their own path
of evolution, Through trade and diplomatic ties with China,
Japan, Korea, and Southeast Asia, the Ryukyus developed as
an ocean faring country, with Shurijo Castle as its political,
economic and cultural center.
In the history of the Ryukyu Kingdom, there came but one major
power shift. In 1469, some 40 years after the Sho Dynasty
assumed power, a farmer from the Izena Island named Kanamaru
usurped the throne in a coup to start a new dynasty. However,
in light of the vassal relationship with the Ming Emperor
and from respect for traditions, he assumed the title of King
Sho En. In Rukyuan history, this power shift marks the divide
between the first and second Sho Dynasties.
The second Sho Dynasty lasted for 400 years from its first
king, Sho En, to its 19th king, Sho Tai. In 1609, the Satsuma
Clan of Japan invaded the Ryukyus with a force of 3,000 men
to seize Shurijo Castle. For the following 270 years, the Kingdom
of the Ryukyus maintained tributary relationship with China
on the surface, while in reality controlled by the Satsuma
Clan of Japan and behind them, the Tokugawa Shogunate. In
1879, the new Japanese government established with the Meiji
Restoration dispatched troops to oust King Sho Tai from Shurijo
Castle, declaring the official establishment of Okinawa Prefecture.
Thus the Kingdom of the Ryukyus ceased to exist. |
