Changes

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.

The Ryûkyû Kingdom did not, however, possess any true control over the Amami Islands at that time, and as late as the 16th century was engaged in military efforts to conquer these islands; as Ryûkyû moved north, and the [[Shimazu clan]] samurai of [[Satsuma province|Satsuma]] moved south, both seeking to extend their control into the Amamis, Ryûkyû and Satsuma clashed on a number of occasions. One such clash took place in [[1493]]; Amami Ôshima formally submitted to Ryûkyû's authority in [[1571]]. That same year, the Shimazu attacked the island as part of efforts to seize control over all of Ryûkyû.

The Ryûkyû Kingdom did not, however, possess any true control over the Amami Islands at that time, and as late as the 16th century was engaged in military efforts to conquer these islands; as Ryûkyû moved north, and the [[Shimazu clan]] samurai of [[Satsuma province|Satsuma]] moved south, both seeking to extend their control into the Amamis, Ryûkyû and Satsuma clashed on a number of occasions. One such clash took place in [[1493]]; the ''[[Omoro soshi|Omoro sôshi]]'' describes the kingdom as attacking the islands during the reign of King [[Sho Shin|Shô Shin]] (r. [[1477]]-[[1526]]) and one particularly notable instance of rebellion against the kingdom's authority being led by [[Yuwan Ufunushi]] in [[1537]].<ref>Gallery labels, "Hokorasha Amami" ほこらしゃ奄美 special exhibition, Reimeikan Museum, Kagoshima. Nov 2021.</ref> Amami Ôshima formally submitted to Ryûkyû's authority in [[1571]]. That same year, the Shimazu attacked the island as part of efforts to seize control over all of Ryûkyû.

Satsuma succeeded in conquering the Amamis and Okinawa in 1609. Following its defeat, the Ryûkyû Kingdom was permitted to remain intact and quasi-independent. Okinawa and all the [[Sakishima Islands|islands to the south]] remained under the control of the kingdom, which paid taxes to Satsuma and was in certain other respects subordinated to Satsuma's control. Satsuma meanwhile implemented its own direct administration over the Amamis, but continued to regard the islands as part of the kingdom's territory.<ref name=akamine70>Akamine Mamoru, Lina Terrell (trans.), Robert Huey (ed.), ''The Ryukyu Kingdom: Cornerstone of East Asia'', University of Hawaii Press (2017), 69-70.</ref> Satsuma undertook land surveys in [[1621]], assessing the agricultural productivity of the land in order to calculate taxation rates. The Amamis were initially assessed at just over 51,756 ''[[koku]]'', a figure raised to 57,583 in the late 1650s or early 1660s.<ref>''Shimazu ke rekidai seido'' (vol. 14, item #803), ''Kagoshima ken shiryô: Satsuma han hôrei shiryô shû'' 1, Kagoshima: Reimeikan (2004), 510.</ref> However, in reports to the shogunate, Satsuma included the ''kokudaka'' of the Amamis in that of the Ryûkyû Kingdom, claiming a total ''kokudaka'' for the kingdom of 123,700 ''koku'', even though this included a mix of territories controlled by the kingdom, and by Satsuma.<ref name=akamine70/> The main agricultural products on the islands traditionally included rice, [[Satsumaimo]] (sweet potato), [[sugar]] cane, papaya, banana, and pineapple. ''[[Sotetsu]]'' (cycad) also grows naturally on the island. The Amamis are also known for their textiles, including especially Amami ''[[tsumugi]]'' (pongee). This ''tsumugi'', along with sugar, were the chief goods claimed by Satsuma in taxes.

Satsuma succeeded in conquering the Amamis and Okinawa in 1609. Following its defeat, the Ryûkyû Kingdom was permitted to remain intact and quasi-independent. Okinawa and all the [[Sakishima Islands|islands to the south]] remained under the control of the kingdom, which paid taxes to Satsuma and was in certain other respects subordinated to Satsuma's control. Satsuma meanwhile implemented its own direct administration over the Amamis, but continued to regard the islands as part of the kingdom's territory.<ref name=akamine70>Akamine Mamoru, Lina Terrell (trans.), Robert Huey (ed.), ''The Ryukyu Kingdom: Cornerstone of East Asia'', University of Hawaii Press (2017), 69-70.</ref> Satsuma undertook land surveys in [[1621]], assessing the agricultural productivity of the land in order to calculate taxation rates. The Amamis were initially assessed at just over 51,756 ''[[koku]]'', a figure raised to 57,583 in the late 1650s or early 1660s.<ref>''Shimazu ke rekidai seido'' (vol. 14, item #803), ''Kagoshima ken shiryô: Satsuma han hôrei shiryô shû'' 1, Kagoshima: Reimeikan (2004), 510.</ref> However, in reports to the shogunate, Satsuma included the ''kokudaka'' of the Amamis in that of the Ryûkyû Kingdom, claiming a total ''kokudaka'' for the kingdom of 123,700 ''koku'', even though this included a mix of territories controlled by the kingdom, and by Satsuma.<ref name=akamine70/> The main agricultural products on the islands traditionally included rice, [[Satsumaimo]] (sweet potato), [[sugar]] cane, papaya, banana, and pineapple. ''[[Sotetsu]]'' (cycad) also grows naturally on the island. The Amamis are also known for their textiles, including especially Amami ''[[tsumugi]]'' (pongee). This ''tsumugi'', along with sugar, were the chief goods claimed by Satsuma in taxes.