R
RyuShiKan
Guest
It's been implied by a certain member of MT that my knowledge of Okinawan History is lacking. Therefore I would like to invite people to peruse some of my findings on the subject and notify me of any discrepancies I may have over looked or not know about.
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From the Satsuma Invasion to World War II
With an eye towards the Ryukyu Monarchy's lucrative overseas trade, the Satsuma, a clan based in the southern part of Kyushu in Japan, invaded Okinawa and took control of it in 1609.
During the reign of Sho Shin, which was about 100 years before this invasion, Okinawa had banned all weapons. Prohibition of weapons brought peace to Okinawa, but left it defenseless against the Satsuma invasion. So, the Satsuma lord Shimazu conquered Okinawa with ease. The lord Shimazu allowed the Ryukyu monarchy to remain intact, but established strict controls over trade.
The Satsuma continued trade with the Ming Dynasty under the name of the Ryukyu Kingdom, while the rest of Japan closed itself of to almost all international contact until 1853. The Ryukyuan, (Okinawan) people, suffered under the double burden of local taxation and Satsuma's tight controls.
After Commodore Perry visited Tokyo (called Edo at the time) in 1853, change in Japan's government led to the Meiji Restoration in 1868. In 1879, Ryukyu Province became Okinawa prefecture, but the strict land taxation system and local administration remained under the control of the same Ryukyu government that had been manipulated by the Satsuma. The Okinawan people continued to suffer under tyranny for another 30 years. In 1920, Okinawa obtained autonomy like every other prefecture.
Okinawa was peaceful until the Japanese government started its military campaigns of the 1930's.
In 1945, Okinawa suffered as the only battleground in Japan during the war. The hills and rivers had their features completely changed, villages were totally destroyed, and one out of every three Okinawans died during the course of war.
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Relations between Toyotomi Hideyoshi,
the Shimazu Clan and the Ryukyu Kingdom
The Age of Great Trade for the Ryukyu Kingdom came to an end in the 16th century; however, trade with China still remained active. It became economically vital for the Shimazu to allow the Ryukyu Kingdom to continue to exist in name as an independent nation.
During this period in Japan, Toyotomi Hideyoshi (one of Japan's three greatest military leaders) unified the whole country and issued an edict requiring other areas of Japan to pay a portion of the military burden. This edict was extended to the then independent nation of the Ryukyu Kingdom via the Shimazu Clan of Satsuma. The demand combined the military burden of the Ryukyus with Satsuma and included the dispatch of an army of 15,000 troops. However, since the Ryukyu Kingdom had no experience in battle, it was exempted from the demand for the troop dispatch and instead was to deliver provisions of rice for 7,000 troops for a period of ten months.
Coinciding with this development was the enthronement of a new king in the Ryukyus, King Sho Nei. This increased the economic difficulty of the kingdom due to the requirement they had to welcome the Chinese investiture envoys. The suzerain relationship the Ryukyu Kingdom had with Ming China had been the most important relation for them. The Ryukyu worried that if they acceded to the Japanese demands it would negatively affect their relations with China. They heatedly debated this within the court. Finally, fearful of an impending attack from the Shimazu should the demands be rejected, they agreed to pay half the amount of the military burden.
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The Satsuma-Ryukyu Kunsho was Japan's first decoration. (see photo) This was prior to the Meiji Restoration and at the time there was considerable conflict between the Tokugawa Shogun and Shimazu, Daimyo of Satsuma, who was a power lord in the southern provinces of Japan and Okinawa.
The Shogun had sent various items to the 5th International Exhibition in Paris, France and to spite him, Shimazu caused this decoration to be made in Paris and presented to the Emperor Napoleon III on the opening day of the Exhibition. Because of the favorable reception accorded the Satsuma Order, the Japanese envoy to France, Mukaiyama, advised the Shogun to create other national orders. Due to the downfall of the Shogunate, none were established until after the Meiji Restoration.
The only known specimen to exist in Japan, in the Memorial Hall of the old Satsuma capital of Kagoshima, was destroyed by fire during World War II, and no record of the order has been found in France.
This medal is composed of a golden 5 pointed star. In the center, a cross within a circle, represents the "mon" of Shimazu, in red enamel. between the arms are five characters meaning "Satsuma-Ryukyu Nation" in blue enamel. The reverse has four characters meaning "military official - civil official". The star is suspended from a circular flower shaped device and was worn on a purple ribbon with a white stripe near each edge.
The ribbon is 33 mm wide, yellow with a 5mm stripe of red set 3 mm from each edge.
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I have more but let's just start with some basic stuff.
All opinions are welcome and all corrections should be supported with some evidence please.
--------------------------------------------
From the Satsuma Invasion to World War II
With an eye towards the Ryukyu Monarchy's lucrative overseas trade, the Satsuma, a clan based in the southern part of Kyushu in Japan, invaded Okinawa and took control of it in 1609.
During the reign of Sho Shin, which was about 100 years before this invasion, Okinawa had banned all weapons. Prohibition of weapons brought peace to Okinawa, but left it defenseless against the Satsuma invasion. So, the Satsuma lord Shimazu conquered Okinawa with ease. The lord Shimazu allowed the Ryukyu monarchy to remain intact, but established strict controls over trade.
The Satsuma continued trade with the Ming Dynasty under the name of the Ryukyu Kingdom, while the rest of Japan closed itself of to almost all international contact until 1853. The Ryukyuan, (Okinawan) people, suffered under the double burden of local taxation and Satsuma's tight controls.
After Commodore Perry visited Tokyo (called Edo at the time) in 1853, change in Japan's government led to the Meiji Restoration in 1868. In 1879, Ryukyu Province became Okinawa prefecture, but the strict land taxation system and local administration remained under the control of the same Ryukyu government that had been manipulated by the Satsuma. The Okinawan people continued to suffer under tyranny for another 30 years. In 1920, Okinawa obtained autonomy like every other prefecture.
Okinawa was peaceful until the Japanese government started its military campaigns of the 1930's.
In 1945, Okinawa suffered as the only battleground in Japan during the war. The hills and rivers had their features completely changed, villages were totally destroyed, and one out of every three Okinawans died during the course of war.
-----------------------------
Relations between Toyotomi Hideyoshi,
the Shimazu Clan and the Ryukyu Kingdom
The Age of Great Trade for the Ryukyu Kingdom came to an end in the 16th century; however, trade with China still remained active. It became economically vital for the Shimazu to allow the Ryukyu Kingdom to continue to exist in name as an independent nation.
During this period in Japan, Toyotomi Hideyoshi (one of Japan's three greatest military leaders) unified the whole country and issued an edict requiring other areas of Japan to pay a portion of the military burden. This edict was extended to the then independent nation of the Ryukyu Kingdom via the Shimazu Clan of Satsuma. The demand combined the military burden of the Ryukyus with Satsuma and included the dispatch of an army of 15,000 troops. However, since the Ryukyu Kingdom had no experience in battle, it was exempted from the demand for the troop dispatch and instead was to deliver provisions of rice for 7,000 troops for a period of ten months.
Coinciding with this development was the enthronement of a new king in the Ryukyus, King Sho Nei. This increased the economic difficulty of the kingdom due to the requirement they had to welcome the Chinese investiture envoys. The suzerain relationship the Ryukyu Kingdom had with Ming China had been the most important relation for them. The Ryukyu worried that if they acceded to the Japanese demands it would negatively affect their relations with China. They heatedly debated this within the court. Finally, fearful of an impending attack from the Shimazu should the demands be rejected, they agreed to pay half the amount of the military burden.
------------------------
The Satsuma-Ryukyu Kunsho was Japan's first decoration. (see photo) This was prior to the Meiji Restoration and at the time there was considerable conflict between the Tokugawa Shogun and Shimazu, Daimyo of Satsuma, who was a power lord in the southern provinces of Japan and Okinawa.
The Shogun had sent various items to the 5th International Exhibition in Paris, France and to spite him, Shimazu caused this decoration to be made in Paris and presented to the Emperor Napoleon III on the opening day of the Exhibition. Because of the favorable reception accorded the Satsuma Order, the Japanese envoy to France, Mukaiyama, advised the Shogun to create other national orders. Due to the downfall of the Shogunate, none were established until after the Meiji Restoration.
The only known specimen to exist in Japan, in the Memorial Hall of the old Satsuma capital of Kagoshima, was destroyed by fire during World War II, and no record of the order has been found in France.
This medal is composed of a golden 5 pointed star. In the center, a cross within a circle, represents the "mon" of Shimazu, in red enamel. between the arms are five characters meaning "Satsuma-Ryukyu Nation" in blue enamel. The reverse has four characters meaning "military official - civil official". The star is suspended from a circular flower shaped device and was worn on a purple ribbon with a white stripe near each edge.
The ribbon is 33 mm wide, yellow with a 5mm stripe of red set 3 mm from each edge.
-----------------------
I have more but let's just start with some basic stuff.
All opinions are welcome and all corrections should be supported with some evidence please.