Changes

==Invasion==

==Invasion==

The invasion plans were finalized on 2/26,<ref name=yokoyama40>Yokoyama, 40.</ref> and on 3/4, 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).; according to some sources, these forces included some 250 men from the [[Tokara Islands]], traveling aboard 24 ships. Smits, ''Maritime Ryukyu'', 225.</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 Nishikomi, securing the island by 3/16. The chief Shuri official on [[Kikaijima]], a man by the name of Kantarugane, is said to have sailed to Amami to surrender prior to any Shimazu forces ever landing on Kikai.<ref>Smits, ''Maritime Ryukyu'', 227.</ref>

The invasion plans were finalized on 2/26,<ref name=yokoyama40>Yokoyama, 40.</ref> and on 3/4, 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).; according to some sources, these forces included some 250 men from the [[Tokara Islands]], traveling aboard 24 ships. Smits, ''Maritime Ryukyu'', 225.</ref> left [[Yamakawa]] Harbor for the Ryukyus. According to some sources, these included some one hundred archers and over seven hundred gunners.<ref>Maria Grazia Petrucci, “Caught Between Piracy and Trade: The Shimazu of Southern Japan…”, in Robert Antony and Angela Schottenhammer (eds.), ''Beyond the Silk Roads'', Harrassowitz Verlag (2017), p101.</ref> 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 Nishikomi, securing the island by 3/16. The chief Shuri official on [[Kikaijima]], a man by the name of Kantarugane, is said to have sailed to Amami to surrender prior to any Shimazu forces ever landing on Kikai.<ref>Smits, ''Maritime Ryukyu'', 227.</ref>

According to some sources, Ryukyuan resistance on Amami 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 on Amami 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 Shimazu force moving overland met little resistance, reaching and capturing [[Urasoe gusuku]] on 4/1.<ref name=miyako24/> Urasoe was to be the last fortress to fall before Shuri. Though sources on the assault itself are scant, [[Stephen Turnbull]] surmises that it was done in the same manner as many of the attacks on other ''gusuku'' during the invasion; the Okinawan architecture left defenders standing atop the castle walls completely open to enemy fire, a vulnerability of which the samurai arquebusiers took advantage. Sweeps of arquebus fire decimated the defending forces, and then the wooden gates were busted in; at Urasoe, the attackers also burnt down a Buddhist temple, the [[Ryufuku-ji|Ryûfuku-ji]].

The Shimazu force moving overland met little resistance, reaching and capturing [[Urasoe gusuku]] on 4/1.<ref name=miyako24/> Urasoe was to be the last fortress to fall before Shuri. Though sources on the assault itself are scant, [[Stephen Turnbull]] surmises that it was done in the same manner as many of the attacks on other ''gusuku'' during the invasion; the Okinawan architecture left defenders standing atop the castle walls completely open to enemy fire, a vulnerability of which the samurai arquebusiers took advantage. Sweeps of arquebus fire decimated the defending forces, and then the wooden gates were busted in; at Urasoe, the attackers also burnt down a Buddhist temple, the [[Ryufuku-ji|Ryûfuku-ji]].

The same day, the samurai advance next made its way across [[Tairabashi|Tairakyô]] (today called Tairabashi), an important bridge on the road from Urasoe to Shuri, defeating 100 men led by [[Goeku ueekata]] who sought to defend it. Ryukyuan records of the skirmish indicate that they were felled "in a hail of bullets" and that "[they] did not know about guns like these"<ref>Turnbull. p40.</ref>. Contrary to some myths about the pacifistic nature of the Okinawan people, or their lack of arms, the Ryukyuan defenders were in fact armed with [[Firearms in Ryukyu|firearms]], and their ships and fortresses with cannon, as well, albeit ones based upon Chinese firearms, while the samurai used arquebuses based on European designs. Taking the bridge, the Shimazu forces then proceeded to Shuri, and began to surround the castle.<ref name=miyako24/>

The same day, the samurai advance next made its way across [[Tairabashi|Tairakyô]] (today called Tairabashi), an important bridge on the road from Urasoe to Shuri, defeating 100 men led by [[Goeku ueekata]] who sought to defend it. Ryukyuan records of the skirmish indicate that they were felled "in a hail of bullets" and that "[they] did not know about guns like these"<ref>Turnbull. p40.</ref>. Contrary to some myths about the pacifistic nature of the Okinawan people, or their lack of arms, historian [[Uezato Takashi]] suggests that the Ryukyuans in fact had a higher proportion of gunners to archers than the invaders (2:5 as compared to 1:7).<ref>Maria Grazia Petrucci, “Caught Between Piracy and Trade: The Shimazu of Southern Japan…”, in Robert Antony and Angela Schottenhammer (eds.), ''Beyond the Silk Roads'', Harrassowitz Verlag (2017), p105, citing Uezato Takashi 上里隆史, ''Ryûnichi sensô 1609'' 「琉日戦争一六〇九」, Naha: Borderink (2009), p234.</ref> However, the [[Firearms in Ryukyu|firearms]] wielded by the Ryukyuan gunners, as well as the cannon installed on their ships and fortresses, were based upon Chinese technology, and were in notable ways inferior to the European-style arquebuses wielded by the samurai - many of whom had extensive experience fighting in Korea. Taking the Taira bridge, the Shimazu forces then proceeded to Shuri, and began to surround the castle.<ref name=miyako24/>

Meanwhile, the other half of the invading force, which progressed to Naha by sea, were repulsed on 4/1<ref name=miyako24/> by the port's defenses, in one of the only Ryukyuan victories of the campaign. Tei Dô (Jana ''[[ueekata]]'') and [[Tomigusuku Seizoku]] commanded a force of 3000 soldiers in defending the harbor, while Urasoe ''ueekata'' gathered an army to defend Shuri castle. [[Mie gusuku|Mie]] and [[Yarazamori gusuku]], located on opposite sides of the harbor, were both armed with cannon, and had a net or chain of iron stretched between them, blocking the enemy ships from entering the harbor. The Japanese ships were turned back, but made port somewhere nearby to the north, possibly at Makiminato, proceeding overland from there.

Meanwhile, the other half of the invading force, which progressed to Naha by sea, were repulsed on 4/1<ref name=miyako24/> by the port's defenses, in one of the only Ryukyuan victories of the campaign. Tei Dô (Jana ''[[ueekata]]'') and [[Tomigusuku Seizoku]] commanded a force of 3000 soldiers in defending the harbor, while Urasoe ''ueekata'' gathered an army to defend Shuri castle. [[Mie gusuku|Mie]] and [[Yarazamori gusuku]], located on opposite sides of the harbor, were both armed with cannon, and had a net or chain of iron stretched between them, blocking the enemy ships from entering the harbor. The Japanese ships were turned back, but made port somewhere nearby to the north, possibly at Makiminato, proceeding overland from there.

As the invading army bore down on Shuri, another attempt at negotiation was considered but ultimately rejected, as the Ryukyuans realized it was too late. Soldiers lined up at the ornamental [[Shureimon]], the outermost gate of the castle, overlapping their wooden shields in an attempt to produce a defense, but soon fell back to the Kankaimon. The attackers swept defenders off the walls with arquebus fire, as they had done elsewhere, and scaled the walls using ladders.

As the invading army bore down on Shuri, another attempt at negotiation was considered but ultimately rejected, as the Ryukyuans realized it was too late. Soldiers lined up at the ornamental [[Shureimon]], the outermost gate of the castle, overlapping their wooden shields in an attempt to produce a defense, but soon fell back to the Kankaimon. The attackers swept defenders off the walls with arquebus fire, as they had done elsewhere, and scaled the walls using ladders.

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 captured Prince [[Prince Sho Ko|Gushichan Chôsei]] and the Sanshikan on 4/2, and Prince Sashiki Chôshô (the future King [[Sho Ho|Shô Hô]]) on 4/3.<ref name=miyako24/> 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 captured Prince [[Prince Sho Ko|Gushichan Chôsei]] and the Sanshikan on 4/2, and Prince Sashiki Chôshô (the future King [[Sho Ho|Shô Hô]]) on 4/3.<ref name=miyako24/> While the invaders were packing up their "loot" and coordinating their hostages, a number of royal retainers escaped the castle, perhaps led by the three sons of Urasoe ''ueekata'', and briefly continued the fight; in the course of their defeat, the three sons were killed.<ref>Smits, ''Maritime Ryukyu'', 233.</ref> The Shimazu forces 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. ''Visions of Ryukyu''. pp15-19. Some other sources, such as ''Miyakonojô to Ryûkyû ôkoku'' (2012), 22-24, give the date as 4/4.</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 any of the more southterly islands.

Shô Nei surrendered on the fifth day of the fourth lunar month of 1609<ref name=Smits>Smits. ''Visions of Ryukyu''. pp15-19. Some other sources, such as ''Miyakonojô to Ryûkyû ôkoku'' (2012), 22-24, give the date as 4/4.</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 any of the more southterly islands.

The invasion forces departed Ryûkyû on 5/5, returning to Kagoshima with their 100 or so hostages on 5/25.<ref name=yokoyama40/>

The invasion forces departed Ryûkyû on 5/5, returning to Kagoshima with their 100 or so hostages on 5/25.<ref name=yokoyama40/>

Shô Nei and the other hostages were kept in Kagoshima for about a year. On 7/6, Shogun [[Tokugawa Hidetada]] sent a formal letter praising Shimazu Tadatsune (Iehisa), Yoshihisa, and [[Shimazu Yoshihiro|Yoshihiro]]for their successful subjugation of the kingdom. Iehisa received a letter that same month from retired shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu (sealed in black ink<ref>Much like the red/vermillion seals (朱印, ''shuin'') used on certain kinds of formal documents, the black seal (墨印, ''bokuin'') similarly lent certain types of documents formality and authority.</ref>) acknowledging Ryûkyû as his territory.<ref name=yokoyama40/>

Shô Nei and the other hostages were kept in Kagoshima for about a year. On 7/6, Shogun [[Tokugawa Hidetada]] sent a formal letter praising Shimazu Tadatsune (Iehisa), Yoshihisa, and [[Shimazu Yoshihiro|Yoshihiro]] for their successful subjugation of the kingdom. Iehisa received a letter that same month from retired shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu (sealed in black ink<ref>Much like the red/vermillion seals (朱印, ''shuin'') used on certain kinds of formal documents, the black seal (墨印, ''bokuin'') similarly lent certain types of documents formality and authority.</ref>) acknowledging Ryûkyû as his territory.<ref name=yokoyama40/>

Iehisa then took Shô Nei and the other hostages to [[Sunpu]] in the summer of [[1610]], where they were granted an audience with Ieyasu on 8/14, before having an audience with Hidetada and his heir [[Tokugawa Iemitsu|Iemitsu]] in [[Edo]] on 8/29.<ref name=yokoyama40/>

Iehisa then took Shô Nei and the other hostages to [[Sunpu]] in the summer of [[1610]], where they were granted an audience with Ieyasu on 8/14, before having an audience with Hidetada and his heir [[Tokugawa Iemitsu|Iemitsu]] in [[Edo]] on 8/29.<ref name=yokoyama40/>

They then returned finally to Kagoshima, where on [[1611]]/9/19, the king was forced to more formally surrender and to declare a number of oaths to the Shimazu clan. Over the course of these two years as hostages in Japan, Shô Nei and the other hostages were treated, in some ways at least, as "guests," and were treated to numerous banquets and entertainments.<ref name=sakai>[[Robert Sakai]], "The Ryukyu Islands as a Fief of Satsuma," in [[John K. Fairbank]], ''The Chinese World Order'', Harvard University Press (1968), 112-134.</ref> In 1611, two years after the invasion, the king and the other hostages were permitted to return to Shuri.

They then returned finally to Kagoshima, where on [[1611]]/9/19, the king was forced to more formally surrender and to declare a number of oaths to the Shimazu clan. Over the course of these two years as hostages in Japan, Shô Nei and the other hostages were treated, in some ways at least, as "guests," and were treated to numerous banquets and entertainments.<ref name=sakai>[[Robert Sakai]], "The Ryukyu Islands as a Fief of Satsuma," in [[John K. Fairbank]], ''The Chinese World Order'', Harvard University Press (1968), 112-134.</ref> In 1611, two years after the invasion, the king and the other hostages were permitted to return to Shuri.

In the king's absence, Kabayama Hisataka and his deputy [[Honda Chikamasa]] governed the islands on behalf of their lord. Fourteen samurai officials from Satsuma, along with 163 of their staff<ref>Kerr. p159.</ref>, examined the kingdom's political structures and economic productivity, and conducted land surveys of all the islands. Following the king's return to Shuri and the resumption of governance under the royal establishment, two Ryûkyûan officials remained as hostages in Kagoshima until Satsuma was convinced that Shô Nei and his officials were operating in accordance with their oaths. The following year, the lords of [[Ozato|Ôzato]] and [[Katsuren]] returned to Okinawa, while a third, [[Kunigami Seiya|Kunjan ''anji'']], took their place in [[1614]]. He took on a Japanese name and journeyed alongside Shimazu clan warriors to fight in the 1615 [[Osaka Summer Campaign]], but did not arrive before the fighting ended. He was permitted to return to Ryûkyû the following year.<ref>"[http://kotobank.jp/word/%E5%9B%BD%E9%A0%AD%E6%AD%A3%E5%BC%A5 Kunigami Seiya]" 国頭正弥. ''Digital-ban Nihon jinmei daijiten'' デジタル版 日本人名大辞典. Accessed via Kotobank.jp, 12 November 2011.</ref>

In the king's absence, Kabayama Hisataka and his deputy [[Honda Chikamasa]] governed the islands on behalf of their lord.<ref name=kerr159>Kerr. p159.</ref> Smits writes that Nago ''ueekata'' was the chief Ryukyuan official who oversaw the court until the king's return.<ref>It is unclear, however, whether this refers to [[Nago Ryoho|Nago Ryôhô]], a member of the Council of Three who was captured by the Shimazu, or his father [[Nago Ryoin|Nago Ryôin]], who had already retired from government service. Smits, 235.</ref> Fourteen samurai officials from Satsuma, along with 163 of their staff<ref name=kerr159/>, examined the kingdom's political structures and economic productivity, as well as the store of royal treasures,<ref>Hokama Masaaki 外間政明, "Shôke no takaramono ni tsuite" 「尚家の宝物について」, ''RYUKYU exhibition catalog'', Tokyo National Museum (2022), 437.</ref> and conducted land surveys of all the islands. Following the king's return to Shuri and the resumption of governance under the royal establishment, two Ryûkyûan officials remained as hostages in Kagoshima until Satsuma was convinced that Shô Nei and his officials were operating in accordance with their oaths. The following year, the lords of [[Ozato|Ôzato]] and [[Katsuren]] returned to Okinawa, while a third, [[Kunigami Seiya|Kunjan ''anji'']], took their place in [[1614]]. He took on a Japanese name and journeyed alongside Shimazu clan warriors to fight in the 1615 [[Osaka Summer Campaign]], but did not arrive before the fighting ended. He was permitted to return to Ryûkyû the following year.<ref>"[http://kotobank.jp/word/%E5%9B%BD%E9%A0%AD%E6%AD%A3%E5%BC%A5 Kunigami Seiya]" 国頭正弥. ''Digital-ban Nihon jinmei daijiten'' デジタル版 日本人名大辞典. Accessed via Kotobank.jp, 12 November 2011.</ref>

==Consequences and effects==

==Consequences and effects==