Changes

*''Japanese'': 沖永良部島 ''(Oki no erabu jima)''

*''Japanese'': 沖永良部島 ''(Oki no erabu jima)''

Okinoerabu Island is one of the [[Amami Islands]], located south of [[Tokunoshima]] and north of [[Yoronjima]] in the broader [[Ryukyu Islands]] chain.

Okinoerabu Island is one of the [[Amami Islands]], located south of [[Tokunoshima]] and north of [[Yoronjima]] in the broader [[Ryukyu Islands]] chain. One of the island's many claims to fame is a [[banyan]] tree said to be the largest in all of Japan.<ref name=amaminosato>Gallery labels, Amami no Sato, Amami Park.</ref>

According to divine songs such as ''shima watari nu umui'', Okinoerabu was the first of the Ryûkyû Islands, forming out of a floating mass in the sea and then multiplying in some fashion to spread islands out to the north, and then to the south. A number of legends, songs, and the like from [[Okinawa Island]] and elsewhere suggest an ancestral or legendary origin on Okinoerabu.<ref>Smits, 109.</ref>

According to divine songs such as ''shima watari nu umui'', Okinoerabu was the first of the Ryûkyû Islands, forming out of a floating mass in the sea and then multiplying in some fashion to spread islands out to the north, and then to the south. A number of legends, songs, and the like from [[Okinawa Island]] and elsewhere suggest an ancestral or legendary origin on Okinoerabu.<ref>Smits, 109.</ref>

Okinoerabu was also one of four places where the Tsukishiro form of the deity [[Hachiman]] was historically worshipped.

Okinoerabu was also one of four places where the Tsukishiro form of the deity [[Hachiman]] was historically worshipped.

In the early 15th century, the island was home to the ''wakô'' chieftain [[Guraru Magohachi]] (aka Goran Magohatsu), who is also mentioned in the ''omoro''. Another prominent 15th century leader on the island is known only as [[Yononushi]], a term which literally means "lord of the world" or "lord of the realm"; a shrine dedicated to him and a site said to be his grave can both be found on the island.<ref>Gallery labels, Amami no Sato, Amami Park.</ref>

In the early 15th century, the island was home to the ''wakô'' chieftain [[Guraru Magohachi]] (aka Goran Magohatsu), who is also mentioned in the ''omoro''. Another prominent 15th century leader on the island is known only as [[Yononushi]], a term which literally means "lord of the world" or "lord of the realm"; a shrine dedicated to him and a site said to be his grave can both be found on the island.<ref name=amaminosato/>

Okinoerabu first came under the authority of the ''[[daikan]]'' appointed by [[Satsuma han|Satsuma domain]] to oversee [[Amami Oshima|Amami Ôshima]] in [[1690]].<ref>Ono Masako, Tomita Chinatsu, Kanna Keiko, Taguchi Megumi, "Shiryô shôkai Kishi Akimasa bunko Satsuyû kikô," ''Shiryôhenshûshitsu kiyô'' 31 (2006), 244.</ref>

Okinoerabu first came under the authority of the ''[[daikan]]'' appointed by [[Satsuma han|Satsuma domain]] to oversee [[Amami Oshima|Amami Ôshima]] in [[1690]].<ref>Ono Masako, Tomita Chinatsu, Kanna Keiko, Taguchi Megumi, "Shiryô shôkai Kishi Akimasa bunko Satsuyû kikô," ''Shiryôhenshûshitsu kiyô'' 31 (2006), 244.</ref>