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[[File:Ryukyu-aristocrats.JPG|right|thumb|320px|Mannequins wearing reproductions of traditional Ryukyuan court costume, on display at the Okinawa Prefectural Museum]]

[[File:Ryukyu-aristocrats.JPG|right|thumb|320px|Mannequins wearing reproductions of traditional Ryukyuan court costume, on display at the Okinawa Prefectural Museum]]

The scholar-aristocracy of the [[Ryukyu Kingdom|Ryûkyû Kingdom]] consisted of four groups of families, claiming elite pedigree, education, and culture, from which government official positions were filled. They were distinguished from Ryukyuan commoners by their possession of family lineage registers known as ''[[kafu]]'' or ''keizu'', and were thus also known as ''keimochi'' (lit. "possessing lineage"). While members of the aristocratic families of [[Shuri]] and [[Kumemura]] dominated the highest positions in the central government, those from the aristocratic families of [[Naha]] and [[Tomari]] occupied other positions.

The scholar-aristocracy of the [[Ryukyu Kingdom|Ryûkyû Kingdom]] consisted of four groups of families, claiming elite pedigree, education, and culture, from which government official positions were filled. They were distinguished from Ryukyuan commoners by their possession of family lineage registers known as ''[[kafu]]'' or ''keizu'', and were thus also known as ''chiimuchi'' (J: ''keimochi'', lit. "possessing lineage"). While members of the aristocratic families of [[Shuri]] and [[Kumemura]] dominated the highest positions in the central government, those from the aristocratic families of [[Naha]] and [[Tomari]] occupied other positions.

The [[Sai family|Sai (蔡)]], [[Tei family (鄭)|Tei (鄭)]], [[Tei family (程)|Tei (程)]], [[Rin family|Rin (林)]], [[Kin family|Kin (金)]], and [[Ryo family|Ryô (梁)]] families were the chief lineages of the Kumemura community.<ref>Plaques on display at [[Shuri castle]].[https://www.flickr.com/photos/toranosuke/15282359859/]</ref> They served in a variety of positions within the administration of Kumemura, as well as in the central government.

The [[Sai family|Sai (蔡)]], [[Tei family (鄭)|Tei (鄭)]], [[Tei family (程)|Tei (程)]], [[Rin family|Rin (林)]], [[Kin family|Kin (金)]], and [[Ryo family|Ryô (梁)]] families were the chief lineages of the Kumemura community.<ref>Plaques on display at [[Shuri castle]].[https://www.flickr.com/photos/toranosuke/15282359859/]</ref> They served in a variety of positions within the administration of Kumemura, as well as in the central government.