Difference between revisions of "Ryukyu-gakari"
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*''Japanese'': 琉球係 ''(Ryuukyuu gakari)'' | *''Japanese'': 琉球係 ''(Ryuukyuu gakari)'' | ||
| − | ''Ryûkyû-gakari'' were a pair of officials who oversaw the residents and operations of the [[Ryukyu-kan|Ryûkyû-kan]], an institution in [[Kagoshima]] which might be described as resembling in its functions, in some respects, an "embassy" or "consulate" of the [[Ryukyu Kingdom|Ryûkyû Kingdom]]. The pair was comprised of the ''zaiban | + | ''Ryûkyû-gakari'' were a pair of officials who oversaw the residents and operations of the [[Ryukyu-kan|Ryûkyû-kan]], an institution in [[Kagoshima]] which might be described as resembling in its functions, in some respects, an "embassy" or "consulate" of the [[Ryukyu Kingdom|Ryûkyû Kingdom]]. The pair was comprised of the ''zaiban ueekata'' (在番親方), the chief Ryukyuan official (and representative of the King of Ryûkyû) resident at the Ryûkyû-kan, and the ''Ryûkyû-kikiyaku'' (琉球聞役, lit. "Ryûkyû listener"), a samurai official charged with overseeing the Ryûkyû-kan on behalf of the daimyô. |
| − | The ''Ryûkyû-gakari'' communicated edicts and other messages from Satsuma to [[zaiban bugyo|Satsuma magistrates]] resident in Ryûkyû via the ''[[sanshikan]]'' (the Council of Three; the top advisors to the King of Ryûkyû). | + | The ''Ryûkyû-gakari'' communicated edicts and other messages from Satsuma to [[zaiban bugyo|Satsuma magistrates]] resident in Ryûkyû via the ''[[sanshikan]]'' (the Council of Three; the top advisors to the King of Ryûkyû). The ''zaiban ueekata'' changed every year, as the lead New Year's envoy (''[[nentoshi|nentôshi]]'') took on that position each New Year's.<ref>"[http://ryukyushimpo.jp/okinawa-dic/prentry-42540.html Nentôshi]," ''Okinawa Compact Encyclopedia'', Ryukyu Shimpo, 1 March 2003.</ref> |
One prominent figure to hold the position of ''Ryûkyû-kikiyaku'' was the Satsuma reformer [[Zusho Shozaemon|Zusho Shôzaemon]].<ref>Plaque on-site at former site of the Ryûkyû-kan, Nagata Middle School, Kagoshima.</ref> | One prominent figure to hold the position of ''Ryûkyû-kikiyaku'' was the Satsuma reformer [[Zusho Shozaemon|Zusho Shôzaemon]].<ref>Plaque on-site at former site of the Ryûkyû-kan, Nagata Middle School, Kagoshima.</ref> | ||
Revision as of 19:37, 3 December 2015
- Japanese: 琉球係 (Ryuukyuu gakari)
Ryûkyû-gakari were a pair of officials who oversaw the residents and operations of the Ryûkyû-kan, an institution in Kagoshima which might be described as resembling in its functions, in some respects, an "embassy" or "consulate" of the Ryûkyû Kingdom. The pair was comprised of the zaiban ueekata (在番親方), the chief Ryukyuan official (and representative of the King of Ryûkyû) resident at the Ryûkyû-kan, and the Ryûkyû-kikiyaku (琉球聞役, lit. "Ryûkyû listener"), a samurai official charged with overseeing the Ryûkyû-kan on behalf of the daimyô.
The Ryûkyû-gakari communicated edicts and other messages from Satsuma to Satsuma magistrates resident in Ryûkyû via the sanshikan (the Council of Three; the top advisors to the King of Ryûkyû). The zaiban ueekata changed every year, as the lead New Year's envoy (nentôshi) took on that position each New Year's.[1]
One prominent figure to hold the position of Ryûkyû-kikiyaku was the Satsuma reformer Zusho Shôzaemon.[2]
References
- Sakai, Robert K., “The Ryukyu (Liu-ch’iu) Islands as a Fief of Satsuma,” in John K. Fairbank, The Chinese World Order, Harvard University Press (1968), 122.
