Changes

Archaeological excavations have confirmed that most if not all of the Amami Islands were populated as early as several thousand years ago, during the [[Jomon period|Jômon period]]. Evidence has been found of pit dwellings and stone tools, and of other evidence of active communities on the islands.

Archaeological excavations have confirmed that most if not all of the Amami Islands were populated as early as several thousand years ago, during the [[Jomon period|Jômon period]]. Evidence has been found of pit dwellings and stone tools, and of other evidence of active communities on the islands.

Amami, [[Tanegashima]], and [[Yakushima]] are first mentioned in the ''[[Nihon shoki]]'' in an entry corresponding to the year [[657]]; some sources suggest that individuals representing those islands received [[stipends]] from the imperial court as early as [[683]].<ref name=tatsugo>Gallery labels, Amami Tatsugô Shima Museum. Feb 2020.[https://www.flickr.com/photos/toranosuke/49491207132/sizes/h/]</ref>

Amami, [[Tanegashima]], and [[Yakushima]] may have sent [[tribute]] to the [[Yamato state]] as early as [[616]]; some sources suggest that individuals representing those islands received [[stipends]] from the imperial court as early as [[683]].<ref>Yokoyama Manabu 横山学, ''Ryûkyû koku shisetsu torai no kenkyû'' 琉球国使節渡来の研究, Tokyo: Yoshikawa kôbunkan (1987), 51.</ref><ref name=tatsugo>Gallery labels, Amami Tatsugô Shima Museum. Feb 2020.[https://www.flickr.com/photos/toranosuke/49491207132/sizes/h/]</ref>

Amami Ôshima is said to have sent [[tribute]] to the [[Yamato state]] (i.e. Japan) as early as the year [[699]]. This can be presumed to have tapered off by the 11th or 12th century, if not earlier. Amami sent tribute however, to the Kingdom of [[Chuzan|Chûzan]], and later the Ryûkyû Kingdom (on Okinawa Island) from [[1266]] through the end of the 16th century; as with tribute received from the more southerly islands (the [[Yaeyama Islands|Yaeyamas]] and [[Miyako Islands|Miyako]]), tribute from Amami was received and stored at the port of [[Tomari]], just outside [[Naha]]. The islands were often referred to collectively as ''michi no shima'' ("islands of the road") as they formed a path Ryukyuan ships followed to travel to and from Kyushu.

Amami Ôshima is said to have sent [[tribute]] to the [[Yamato state]] (i.e. Japan) as early as the year [[699]]. This can be presumed to have tapered off by the 11th or 12th century, if not earlier. Amami sent tribute however, to the Kingdom of [[Chuzan|Chûzan]], and later the Ryûkyû Kingdom (on Okinawa Island) from [[1266]] through the end of the 16th century; as with tribute received from the more southerly islands (the [[Yaeyama Islands|Yaeyamas]] and [[Miyako Islands|Miyako]]), tribute from Amami was received and stored at the port of [[Tomari]], just outside [[Naha]]. The islands were often referred to collectively as ''michi no shima'' ("islands of the road") as they formed a path Ryukyuan ships followed to travel to and from Kyushu.