Okinawa Islands Ryukyu Islands

okinawa islands during sanzan period



flag of ryūkyū kingdom until 1875

polities of okinawa islands unified ryūkyū kingdom in 1429. kingdom conquered miyako , yaeyama islands. @ peak, subjected amami islands rule. in 1609, shimazu tadatsune, lord of satsuma, invaded ryūkyū kingdom fleet of 13 junks , 2,500 samurai, thereby establishing suzerainty on islands. faced little opposition ryukyuans, lacked significant military capabilities, , ordered king shō nei surrender rather suffer loss of precious lives. after that, kings of ryukyus paid tribute japanese shogun chinese emperor. during period, ryukyu kings selected japanese clan, unbeknownst chinese, believed ryukyus loyal tributary. in 1655, tributary relations between ryukyu , qing formally approved shogunate. in 1874, ryukyus terminated tribute relations china.

in 1872, japanese government established ryukyu han under jurisdiction of foreign ministry. in 1875, jurisdiction on ryukyus changed foreign ministry home ministry. in 1879, meiji government announced annexation of ryukyus, establishing okinawa prefecture , forcing ryukyu king move tokyo. when china signed treaty of shimonoseki after 1895 defeat in first sino-japanese war, china officially abandoned claims ryukyus.

american military control on okinawa began in 1945 establishment of united states military government of ryukyu islands, in 1950 became united states civil administration of ryukyu islands. in 1950, interim ryukyus advisory council (臨時琉球諮詢委員会, rinji ryūkyū shijun iinkai) formed, evolved ryukyu provisional central government (琉球臨時中央政府, ryūkyū rinji chūō seifu) in 1951. in 1952, u.s. formally granted control on ryukyu islands south of 29°n latitude, , other pacific islands, under san francisco peace treaty between allied powers , japan. ryukyu provisional central government became government of ryukyu islands existed 1952 1972. administrative rights reverted japan in 1972.

today, numerous issues arise okinawan history. ryukyuans , japanese feel people ryukyus different majority yamato people. natives of ryukyus claim central government discriminating against islanders allowing many american soldiers stationed on bases in okinawa minimal presence on mainland. additionally, there discussion of secession japan. territorial dispute between china , japan on senkaku islands intensified in 21st century, communist party of china-backed scholars published essays calling reexamination of japan s sovereignty on ryukyus. in 2013 new york times described comments said scholars military figures appearing constitute semiofficial campaign in china question japanese rule of islands, noting voices in china pressing okinawa issue affiliated in way government.

many popular singers , musical groups come okinawa prefecture. these include groups speed , orange range, solo singers namie amuro , gackt, among many others.

historical description of loo-choo islands

the islands described hayashi shihei in sangoku tsūran zusetsu, published in 1785.

an article in 1878 edition of globe encyclopaedia of universal information describes islands:

loo-choo, lu-tchu, or lieu-kieu, group of thirty-six islands stretching japan formosa, in 26°–27°40′ n. lat., 126°10′–129°5′ e. long., , tributary japan. largest, tsju san ( middle island ), 60 miles long , 12 [miles] broad; others sannan in [south] , sanbok in [north]. nawa, chief port of tsju san, open foreign commerce. islands enjoy magnificent climate , highly cultivated , productive. among productions tea, rice, sugar, tobacco, camphor, fruits, , silk. principal manufactures cotton, paper, porcelain, , lacquered ware. people, small, seem link between chinese , japanese.

^ kerr, george h. (2000). okinawa: history of island people. (revised ed.) boston: tuttle publishing.
^ economy, elizabeth c. (july–august 2017). history chinese characteristics: how china s imagined past shapes present . foreign affairs. vol. 96 no. 4. new york: council on foreign relations. 
^ kang, david c. (2010). east asia before west: 5 centuries of trade , tribute, p. 81., p. 81, @ google books
^ lin, man-houng lin. ryukyus , taiwan in east asian seas: longue durée perspective, asia-pacific journal: japan focus. october 27, 2006, translated , abridged academia sinica weekly, no. 1084. 24 august 2006.
^ masami ito (may 12, 2009). okinawa: between rock , hard place . japan times. 
^ rajagopalan, megha (may 9, 2013). china criticizes japan s protest on question of okinawa sovereignty . reuters. retrieved may 9, 2013. 
^ perlez, jane (june 13, 2013). sentiment builds in china press claim okinawa . new york times. retrieved june 13, 2013. 
^ klaproth, julius. (1832). san kokf tsou ran sets, ou aperçu général des trois royaumes, pp. 169-180.
^ ross, j.m. (editor) (1878). globe encyclopaedia of universal information , vol. iv, edinburgh-scotland, thomas c. jack, grange publishing works, retrieved google books 2009-03-18