Hello there
The claims and counter claims between and Okinawa date back to the
15th and 16th centuries.
Of course, this part of your question : "Supplementary to this a
similar look at the Ryukyu Islands, and when either/both was last
under Chinese sovereignty would be appreciated." - Much will be
answered in combination with other material about Okinawa as the
Ryukyu Islands were an integral part of the area. You will find that
later, they became part of Japan in two essential groups, the Northern
Ryukyu and the Southern group which makes up Okinawa.
And yes, Korea does play a minor role.
There is archaeological and cultural evidence Okinawa and Japan were
part of the same civilization from the beginning but several factors
kept these regions apart for quite some time. In fact, they were kept
apart until the early 15th century and Japan's first claims of
sovereignty date to then.
Japan was just coming out of a period of instability and political
infighting. (a whole different history) And it made Japan's claims
next to impossible to enforce.
Ryukyuan ships first began regular trading voyages to Korea and Japan
in the late 14th and early 15th centuries. Some of these ships would
sail on by Japan entirely but far more often than not they would stop
in at Kagoshima (Satsuma) or Hakata, both in Kyushu. From there they
would follow Japan's inland sea to Sakai (near present-day Osaka) on
the way to Kyoto.
Ryukyuan trade with Japan needs a bit of historical explanation.
Japan-China relations in the early Ming Dynasty period were strained,
to put it mildly. Even though the Muromachi Shogunate was all afire
about expanded trade opportunities to help its sagging finances, it
was not about to bow to China's 'greatness' policy in order to gain
them.
Cutting to the chase again, Ryukyuan ships could go where Japanese
ships couldn't.
It is not difficult to see how reliant Japan became on Ryukyuan trade.
Nor is it hard to understand why they sought to forcefully exclude
others from the relationship and to gain more control for themselves.
"In the dog-eat-dog world of 15th century Japanese politics it was
vital to get, and keep, an edge over the opposition. Nor were
Ryukyuans exempt from Shimazu's exertion of authority. The
relationship may have started on a relatively equal footing, but
Shimazu became increasingly paternalistic. Although Shuri was
uncomfortable with any interference in its commercial affairs it could
do little to resist. The Ryukyu Court was already upset at having to
play 'Devil's Advocate' between a bickering China and Japan on a
regular basis, but it had learnt some valuable diplomatic lessons as a
result. Shuri wanted a reasonably quiet, if prosperous, existence, and
understood that the best policy was to go with the flow and to avoid
confrontation. It was, in retrospect, a little naïve." - Quote from
John Michael Purves "Okinawa's History From the Sanzan era to the
Pacific War."
"This was the case in 1441, when Ashikaga Yoshinori, the Shogun,
conferred the rights of jurisdiction over the Ryukyu Kingdom to the
Lord of Satsuma, Shimazu Tadakuni.82 The rationale for this was rather
interesting. Whilst the Shogun himself would not accept the basis of
the Chinese system, whereby a neighbouring country would offer up
tribute to the Emperor in recognition of China's 'Greatness', and
henceforth become an autonomous but vassal state of the Heavenly
Kingdom, he would gladly adopt the whole system if tribute were paid
to Japan. Ashikaga simply accepted the gifts presented by Ryukyuan
envoys at Kyoto as 'tribute' and regarded the Ryukyus as a Japanese
dependency.83 Although Shuri had no idea of this transferral of
sovereignty, and despite the fact that Kyoto chose not to exercise any
control over domestic Ryukyuan affairs, the Kingdom was now in the
unique position of having two masters." - Quote from John Michael
Purves "Okinawa's History From the Sanzan Era to the Pacific War."
However, the Shogunate was not in any condition to enforce control
over anyone - - - or anything. Japan was getting itself involved in a
civil war.
Fast forward to the end of the 16th century.
Japan's political chaos may have lasted centuries, but it came out of
this period fast. Toyotomi Hideyoshi had unified most of Japan and by
the closing decade of the 16th century he had set his sights on an
even larger horizon, the creation of a Japanese empire made up of
Korea, China, and beyond. The Korean peninsula was to be invaded in
1592. From there the Japanese forces would head to Peking.
Japan tried to force Ryukyuans to send troops and supplies.
"With Toyotomi's consent, Shimazu forwarded a letter to the Ryukyuan
King, Sho Nei, in October, 1591, asking that a ten-month supply of
provisions for 7,000 men be delivered to the port of Bonotsu by
February of 1592, in time for the spring invasion.86 The King at
Shuri, anxious not to become embroiled in conflict, ignored this and
subsequent demands. Shimazu, caught between Hideyoshi's demands and
Sho Nei's refusals, dispatched agents to Naha who were told that the
Ryukyu Kingdom was too poor to fulfil such requirements since its
foreign trade had been severely curtailed. A token shipment was
eventually sent in 1593, but by then the first Korean invasion attempt
had failed. Simultaneously, Shuri sent word to the Chinese court in
the hope that some assistance with their awkward position might be
offered. None was." - Quote from John Michael Purves "Okinawa's
History From the Sanzan Era to the Pacific War."
At one point, word was sent to Sho Nei, the Ryukyuan King, telling him
to go to Tokyo to honor the new Shogun. Sho Nei refused.
Japan attacked and won.
The end of this situation came in the form of an offer to Sho Nei in
1611when he was told he could return home and take control of his
Kingdom, "provided he simply put his signature to the 'King's Oath'."
That oath affirmed the the Ryuku Islands have from ancient times been
the feudal dependency of a Japanese Overlord.
The Ryukyus settled in fairly well under Japanese authority. Once the
realization had come that foreign affairs were now controlled from
Kagoshima, that legislation had to be approved by Japan and that no
trade with China could take place without permission from the same,
there was no real effort made to try and resist. With responsibility
for all but the most minor issues residing elsewhere, the court at
Shuri seemed to almost 'embrace pettiness.' The main function was
taxation.
During this time, the Ryukyus also hosted tribute missions from China
and the concept of having two masters continued. The Ryukyu Kingdom's
peculiar status as a vassal state of both China and Japan lasted from
the early-17th to the late-19th century.
"Even from the time of Shimazu's invasion of the Ryukyus and the
beginning of the Kingdom's dual subordination to both China and
Satsuma, China had not really minded. As Ta-Tuan Ch'en has argued,
such arrangements were not uncommon within China itself, or within
traditional East Asia." - Quote from John Michael Purves "Okinawa's
History From the Sanzan Era to the Pacific War."
While the Ryukyus continued to honour its tributary commitments, the
Ch'ing Court would not be against any third-party agreements.
However, by this time Japan had been influenced by the West and now
wanted clear territorial boundaries. (much of this had to do with
western attempts to force trade ports in Japan and the Ryukyus) Under
these conditions, the Ryukyuan dual tributary relationship could not
be tolerated. Japan would have to either leave the Ryukyus entirely to
China or assert complete claim and end all relations between the
kingdom and China. The Ryukyus were in too strategic a position to
consider anything but the latter policy. Because the Ryukyu Kingdom
had long been recognised internationally as an autonomous state,
everything would have to be done in the context of international
diplomacy.
The Chinese investiture mission which arrived in Naha to recognize the
ascendence of King Sho Tai to the throne in 1866 was the last.
In 1869, Shimazu was the first in offering up his domains to the
Emperor. Most of the other daimyo followed. In August, 1871, feudal
domains were officially abolished and replaced with prefectures.
Shimazu's former lands were now part of two prefectures, Miyazaki and
Kagoshima. All of those Ryukyu Islands north of Okinawa, including the
Amami Island group, were immediately incorporated into the new
prefecture of Kagoshima. The other Ryukyu Islands south of, and
including Okinawa, were a different story.
Due to a storm and the attack and murder of the crew of a Japanese
ship which had grounded on Taiwan, and the prospect of war with Japan
looming, China signed a document recognizing the legality of Japan's
actions in the matter in October, 1874. In addition, it agreed to pay
compensation to the families of those killed.
"Although a relatively minor agreement within the whole scheme of
things for China, and certainly not a final settlement of the
sovereignty issue, it was a triumph for Japan. It could now claim,
with a good degree of international legitimacy, that Peking had
recognised the people of the Ryukyus to be Japanese, rather than
Chinese, subjects. This total lapse in concentration undermined later
Chinese claims of sovereignty. Furthermore, Japan was seen acting on
the behalf of the Ryukyus in the international arena, which only
strengthened her position." - Quote from John Michael Purves
"Okinawa's History From the Sanzan Era to the Pacific War."
Pre-empting the outcome of negotiations with China, Japan staged a
little action of its own. Once again word was sent to the Ryukyu King
requesting he travel to Tokyo to pay honor to the new Emperor. Sho
Tai rejected the proposal, claiming illness, but sent a mission
instead. While there, they were summoned to the office of the Japanese
Foreign Minister on 14th October, 1872. Upon arriving, a prepared
Imperial script was read aloud:
"We have here succeeded to the Imperial Throne of a line unbroken for
ages eternal, and now reign over all the land. Ryukyu, situated to the
south, has the same race, habits and language, and has always been
loyal to Satsuma. We appreciate this loyalty, here raise you to the
peerage and appoint you King of Ryukyu han. You, Sho Tai, take
responsibility in the administration of the han, and assist us
eternally." - Exact quote of proclamation.
In November of the same year, foreign governments were informed that
Japan had "assumed paramount responsibility, including all treaty
obligations, for the Ryukyus."
However (there are always so many 'howevers'), When the Japanese Home
Minister was on an official visit to Peking in 1874, he was more than
surprised to hear that a Ryukyuan tribute ship had just arrived to
perform the various rites of subordination to the Ch'ing Court as
normal. In fury, Tokyo made demands of the Ryukyu which were refused.
In March, 1879, an armed force was sent to Shuri Castle with an order
proclaiming that the Ryukyu Prefecture was henceforth abolished and
Okinawa Prefecture established.
Although Shuri had repeatedly petitioned the Ch'ing Court for
assistance as Japan sought to further tighten its control over the
islands, none was forthcoming.
"Japan's annexation of the Ryukyus in 1879 came as somewhat of a
shock to China, though it chose not to respond militarily. Instead, in
1880, China proposed in negotiations with Japan, which had been
mediated by ex-American President Ulysses S. Grant, that a
satisfactory arrangement would be for the Ryukyus to be divided
equally between the two countries. Miyako and Yaeyama, since they were
located in closer proximity, would be ceded to China.135 Japan would
then get possession of Okinawa and the Amami Islands. Furthermore,
Japan would be granted 'most favoured nation' status in China-Japan
trade relations. Japan agreed. By early 1881, however, China had
about-faced, as it had done after the 'Taiwan Incident'. Although this
issue would continue as an irritant factor over the next couple of
decades, one can see it as effectively settled after Japan's victory
in the Sino-Japanese War from 1894-95." - Quote from John Michael
Purves "Okinawa's History From the Sanzan Era to the Pacific War."
Japan had removed the last king, Sho Tai, from his throne. Japan
already had an emperor and it did not want to recognize the existence
of another royal dynasty. King Sho Tai was transported to Tokyo in May
of 1879, where he lived out the rest of his life. He was given a
generous stipend from Imperial coffers.
As time passed, Okinawa, like other areas of Japan in the late 19th
and early 20th centuries, became incorporated into the kazoku kokka,
or family state. "All were as one, working in unity under the
Emperor." There was a backlash against this policy and Okinawan
anti-cultural assimilation groups were formed. It was known as the
Mingei movement but it really went nowhere. By then, the people had
been economically, politically and culturally assimilated into Japan.
After Meiji, the Ryukyuan language was now a dialect.
Okinawa's further accommodation to Japan only increased as the century
headed for war.
Websites used
"A Brief History of Okinawa"
( http://www.okinawan-shorinryu.com/okinawa/history.html ) - website
of Matsubayashi-Ryu Karate-Do
"Okinawan History"
( http://www.kushu.com/okinawan_history.htm ) - mostly photos but some
good links.
"OKINAWA PREFECTURAL MUSEUM"
( http://w1.nirai.ne.jp/oki-muse/english.html )
"History of Okinawa"
( http://museum.mm.pref.okinawa.jp/web_e/history/ ) - A good site. I
obtained a lot of information from here. A part of the Ryukyu Cultural
Archives
"Ryukyu Cultural Archives"
( http://museum.mm.pref.okinawa.jp/web_e/index.html )
John Michael Purves "Okinawa's History From the Sanzan Era to the
Pacific War." 1995
Search - Google
Terms - Okinawan history, Ryukyu
If I can clarify anything, please ask.
I also found your question about Second Empire aristocracy, but it was
too late, it had expired.
Cheers
digsalot |
