Changes

==The Oaths Sworn==

==The Oaths Sworn==

Shô Nei was forced to swear a number of oaths during his time in Kagoshima<ref>The Fifteen Injunctions, and the King's Oath, can be found in translation in Kerr. pp160–163.</ref>, as he and his kingdom were formally made vassals to the Shimazu clan. The so-called [[Fifteen Injunctions]] (掟十五ヶ条, ''Okite jûgo-ka-jô'') were among the most major, and primarily involved political and diplomatic matters. These stated, among other stipulations, that Ryûkyû would not engage in trade or diplomatic relations with foreign states without the consent of Satsuma. These policies, along with [[kaikin|maritime restrictions]] and other stipulations, would govern Ryûkyû's domestic situation and foreign relations for over 250 years.

Shô Nei was forced to swear a number of oaths during his time in Kagoshima<ref>The Fifteen Injunctions, and the King's Oath, can be found in translation in Kerr. pp160–163. The original copies of these documents can be found at the [[Tokyo National Museum]], and the [[University of Tokyo]] [[Shiryohensanjo|Shiryô hensanjo]], respectively.</ref>, as he and his kingdom were formally made vassals to the Shimazu clan. The so-called [[Fifteen Injunctions]] (掟十五ヶ条, ''Okite jûgo-ka-jô'') were among the most major, and primarily involved political and diplomatic matters. These stated, among other stipulations, that Ryûkyû would not engage in trade or diplomatic relations with foreign states without the consent of Satsuma. These policies, along with [[kaikin|maritime restrictions]] and other stipulations, would govern Ryûkyû's domestic situation and foreign relations for over 250 years.

Shô Nei and the members of his [[Sanshikan|Council of Three]] were also required to swear that the kingdom had long been a dependency of Satsuma (a falsehood), and that they acknowledged that their failure in recent years to live up to their obligations to Satsuma had brought this invasion, a punitive measure, upon themselves. The oath went on to acknowledge the benevolence of Satsuma in allowing the king and his councillors to return to their kingdom, and to continue to rule. Shô Nei swore to pass on these oaths to his descendants, further ensuring the relative permanence of the vassal-lord relationship into which Ryûkyû had been entered with Satsuma.<ref>Matsuda, Mitsugu (2001). ''The Government of the Kingdom of Ryukyu, 1609–1872''. Gushikawa, Okinawa: Yui Publishing Co. pp26–7.</ref>

Shô Nei and the members of his [[Sanshikan|Council of Three]] were also required to swear that the kingdom had long been a dependency of Satsuma (a falsehood), and that they acknowledged that their failure in recent years to live up to their obligations to Satsuma had brought this invasion, a punitive measure, upon themselves. The oath went on to acknowledge the benevolence of Satsuma in allowing the king and his councillors to return to their kingdom, and to continue to rule. Shô Nei swore to pass on these oaths to his descendants, further ensuring the relative permanence of the vassal-lord relationship into which Ryûkyû had been entered with Satsuma.<ref>Matsuda, Mitsugu (2001). ''The Government of the Kingdom of Ryukyu, 1609–1872''. Gushikawa, Okinawa: Yui Publishing Co. pp26–7.</ref>