Changes

*[[Satsuma han]] (3000 men in 100 ships) vs. [[Kingdom of Ryukyu|Kingdom of Ryûkyû]] (Forces unknown)

*[[Satsuma han]] (3000 warriors + 5000 sailors and laborers in 100 ships) vs. [[Kingdom of Ryukyu|Kingdom of Ryûkyû]] (Forces unknown)

**''Date: [[1609]]/3-5''

**''Date: [[1609]]/3-5''

**''Location: [[Ryukyu Islands|Ryûkyû Islands]]''

**''Location: [[Ryukyu Islands|Ryûkyû Islands]]''

The final planning stages for the invasion took place in the second lunar month of Keichô 14 (1609). On the sixth day of that month, the senior Shimazu retainers met and named [[Kabayama Hisataka]] to lead the invasion as ''sôtaishô''; [[Hirata Masamune]] would serve as his second in command. This marked the beginning of the gathering of forces for the invasion.

The final planning stages for the invasion took place in the second lunar month of Keichô 14 (1609). On the sixth day of that month, the senior Shimazu retainers met and named [[Kabayama Hisataka]] to lead the invasion as ''sôtaishô''; [[Hirata Masamune]] would serve as his second in command. This marked the beginning of the gathering of forces for the invasion.

On the fourth day of the third month, the Satsuma force, consisting of over 100 ships carrying roughly 3000 warriors, left [[Yamakawa]] Harbor for the Ryukyus. The samurai landed at the friendly [[Kuchinoerabujima]] the following day, staying there several nights before departing for [[Amami Oshima|Amami Ôshima]], where the invasion began in earnest on 3/7. The island would not fall to the invaders until 3/16. After an initial landing at Kasari Bay, the invaders moved on to Yamatohama on 3/12, and then to Nishi Yoshimi, securing the island by 3/16.

On the fourth day of the third month, the Satsuma force, consisting of over 100 ships carrying roughly 3000 warriors and 5000 sailors and laborers,<ref>Smits, Gregory. "[http://www.japanfocus.org/-Gregory-Smits/3409 Examining the Myth of Ryukyuan Pacifism]." ''The Asia-Pacific Journal'' 37-3-10 (September 13, 2010).</ref> left [[Yamakawa]] Harbor for the Ryukyus. The samurai landed at the friendly [[Kuchinoerabujima]] the following day, staying there several nights before departing for [[Amami Oshima|Amami Ôshima]], where the invasion began in earnest on 3/7. The island would not fall to the invaders until 3/16. After an initial landing at Kasari Bay, the invaders moved on to Yamatohama on 3/12, and then to Nishi Yoshimi, securing the island by 3/16.

According to some sources, Ryukyuan resistance fell quickly, but the invading forces simply took their time in an orderly operation. Other sources, however, indicate that 70 of the 75 ships sent to Amami Ôshima were knocked off course by the weather; the force was split, with Hisataka and Masamune landing on different parts of the island. According to these accounts, they were met by roughly 3000 Ryukyuan defenders, hunkered down in wooden fortifications, who were only finally defeated in the end through the use of the [[arquebus]], which would prove a key advantage for the Satsuma force throughout the invasion.

According to some sources, Ryukyuan resistance fell quickly, but the invading forces simply took their time in an orderly operation. Other sources, however, indicate that 70 of the 75 ships sent to Amami Ôshima were knocked off course by the weather; the force was split, with Hisataka and Masamune landing on different parts of the island. According to these accounts, they were met by roughly 3000 Ryukyuan defenders, hunkered down in wooden fortifications, who were only finally defeated in the end through the use of the [[arquebus]], which would prove a key advantage for the Satsuma force throughout the invasion.

The invaders entered Shuri Castle on 4/3 and looted it, along with a number of nearby temples and noble residences, stealing or destroying Buddhist scriptures and a variety of other objects of religious or historical significance, along with considerable portions of the royal treasure. They then turned on Naha, entering the city both by land, and through the now undefended harbor.  

The invaders entered Shuri Castle on 4/3 and looted it, along with a number of nearby temples and noble residences, stealing or destroying Buddhist scriptures and a variety of other objects of religious or historical significance, along with considerable portions of the royal treasure. They then turned on Naha, entering the city both by land, and through the now undefended harbor.  

Shô Nei surrendered on the fifth day of the fourth lunar month of 1609<ref name=Smits>Smits, Gregory (1999). "Visions of Ryukyu: Identity and Ideology in Early-Modern Thought and Politics." Honolulu: University of Hawai'i Press. pp15-19.</ref>, and was taken hostage, along with his queen, the heir to the throne, and roughly one hundred of his officials<ref>Kerr, George H. (2000). Okinawa: the History of an Island People. (revised ed.) Boston: Tuttle Publishing. p159.</ref>. Members of the Sanshikan were sent to the islands to the south, to convey the news of the invasion and to seek their surrender on behalf of the Satsuma forces; by 5/5, the entire kingdom had submitted to Satsuma authority, without any samurai so much as setting foot on many of the islands.

Shô Nei surrendered on the fifth day of the fourth lunar month of 1609<ref name=Smits>Smits. ''Visions of Ryukyu''. pp15-19.</ref>, and was taken hostage, along with his queen, the heir to the throne, and roughly one hundred of his officials<ref>Kerr. p159.</ref>. Members of the Sanshikan were sent to the islands to the south, to convey the news of the invasion and to seek their surrender on behalf of the Satsuma forces; by 5/5, the entire kingdom had submitted to Satsuma authority, without any samurai so much as setting foot on many of the islands.

==Aftermath==

==Aftermath==

==Consequences and effects==

==Consequences and effects==

The surrender documents signed at Kagoshima in 1611 were accompanied by a series of oaths<ref>These can be found in translation in Kerr. pp160-163.</ref>. The king and his councilors were made to swear that "the islands of Riu Kiu have from ancient times been a feudal dependency of Satsuma"<ref>Smits. p16.</ref>, and that there was a long-standing tradition of sending tribute and congratulatory missions on the succession of the Satsuma lords, those these were all falsehoods. The oaths also included stipulations that the kingdom admit its wrongdoing in ignoring and rejecting numerous requests for materials and for manpower, that the invasion was justified and deserved, and that the lord of Satsuma was merciful and kind in allowing the king and his officers to return home and to remain in power. Finally, the councilors were forced to swear their allegiance to the Shimazu over their king. Tei Dô refused to sign the oaths and was beheaded.

The surrender documents signed at Kagoshima in 1611 were accompanied by a series of oaths<ref>These can be found in translation in Kerr. pp160-163.</ref>. The king and his councilors were made to swear that "the islands of Riu Kiu have from ancient times been a feudal dependency of Satsuma"<ref>Smits. ''Visions of Ryukyu''. p16.</ref>, and that there was a long-standing tradition of sending tribute and congratulatory missions on the succession of the Satsuma lords, those these were all falsehoods. The oaths also included stipulations that the kingdom admit its wrongdoing in ignoring and rejecting numerous requests for materials and for manpower, that the invasion was justified and deserved, and that the lord of Satsuma was merciful and kind in allowing the king and his officers to return home and to remain in power. Finally, the councilors were forced to swear their allegiance to the Shimazu over their king. Tei Dô refused to sign the oaths and was beheaded.

The kingdom's royal governmental structures remained intact, along with its royal lineage. The Ryukyus remained nominally independent, a "foreign country" (異国, ''ikoku'')<ref>Toby, Ronald. "State and Diplomacy in Early Modern Japan." Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1984. pp46-7.</ref> to the Japanese, and efforts were made to obscure Satsuma's domination of Ryûkyû from the Chinese Court, in order to ensure the continuation of trade and diplomacy, since China refused to conduct formal relations or trade with Japan at the time. However, though the king retained considerable powers, he was only permitted to operate within a framework of strict guidelines set down by Satsuma, and was required to pay considerable amounts in tribute to Satsuma on a regular basis.

The kingdom's royal governmental structures remained intact, along with its royal lineage. The Ryukyus remained nominally independent, a "foreign country" (異国, ''ikoku'')<ref>Toby. pp46-7.</ref> to the Japanese, and efforts were made to obscure Satsuma's domination of Ryûkyû from the Chinese Court, in order to ensure the continuation of trade and diplomacy, since China refused to conduct formal relations or trade with Japan at the time. However, though the king retained considerable powers, he was only permitted to operate within a framework of strict guidelines set down by Satsuma, and was required to pay considerable amounts in tribute to Satsuma on a regular basis.

This framework of guidelines was largely set down by a document sometimes called the [[Fifteen Injunctions]] (掟十五ヶ条, ''Okite jûgo-ka-jô''), which accompanied the oaths signed in Kagoshima in 1611, and which detailed political and economic restrictions placed upon the kingdom. Prohibitions on foreign trade, diplomacy, and travel outside of that officially permitted by Satsuma were among the chief elements of these injunctions. Ryûkyû's extensive trade relations with China, Southeast Asia, and Korea were turned to Satsuma's interests, and various laws were put into place forbidding interactions between Japanese and Ryûkyûans, travel between the two island nations. Likewise, travel abroad from Ryûkyû in general, and the reception of ships at Ryûkyû's harbors, were heavily restricted with exceptions made only for official trade and diplomatic journeys authorized by Satsuma.

This framework of guidelines was largely set down by a document sometimes called the [[Fifteen Injunctions]] (掟十五ヶ条, ''Okite jûgo-ka-jô''), which accompanied the oaths signed in Kagoshima in 1611, and which detailed political and economic restrictions placed upon the kingdom. Prohibitions on foreign trade, diplomacy, and travel outside of that officially permitted by Satsuma were among the chief elements of these injunctions. Ryûkyû's extensive trade relations with China, Southeast Asia, and Korea were turned to Satsuma's interests, and various laws were put into place forbidding interactions between Japanese and Ryûkyûans, travel between the two island nations. Likewise, travel abroad from Ryûkyû in general, and the reception of ships at Ryûkyû's harbors, were heavily restricted with exceptions made only for official trade and diplomatic journeys authorized by Satsuma.