Changes

==History==

==History==

Due to a large span of ocean, or "gap," between [[Okinawa Island]] to the north and the Miyakos, the Miyako and [[Yaeyama Islands]], especially in ancient times, were somewhat isolated from areas to the north, and developed a separate culture. For example, while the [[Yayoi culture]] dominant throughout much of the Japanese archipelago around the 11th century BCE to the 3rd century CE extended as far south as the [[Amami Islands]], artifacts of that culture have not been found in the Miyakos or Yaeyamas.<ref>Tokugawa Yoshinobu, "Ryukyu and the Art of Lacquer," ''Okinawa bijutsu zenshû'' vol 2, Okinawa Times (1989), i.</ref>

Due to a large span of ocean, or "gap," between [[Okinawa Island]] to the north and the [[Miyako Islands]], the Miyakos and the Yaeyamas to their south, especially in ancient times, were somewhat isolated from areas to the north, and developed a separate culture. For example, while the [[Yayoi culture]] dominant throughout much of the Japanese archipelago around the 11th century BCE to the 3rd century CE extended as far south as the [[Amami Islands]], artifacts of that culture have not been found in the Miyakos or Yaeyamas.<ref>Tokugawa Yoshinobu, "Ryukyu and the Art of Lacquer," ''Okinawa bijutsu zenshû'' vol 2, Okinawa Times (1989), i.</ref>

Little is known of the early history of the Yaeyama Islands. Though we can presume there were local rulers or chieftains of some sort in earlier periods, even official histories produced by the [[Ryukyu Kingdom|Ryûkyû Kingdom]] and local legends in Yaeyama make no mention of specific notable, named, individuals prior to the 15th century.

Little is known of the early history of the Yaeyama Islands. Though we can presume there were local rulers or chieftains of some sort in earlier periods, even official histories produced by the [[Ryukyu Kingdom|Ryûkyû Kingdom]] and local legends in Yaeyama make no mention of specific notable, named, individuals prior to the 15th century. Trading ships from [[Okinawa Island]] are believed to have been regularly visiting the Miyakos and Yaeyamas at least as early as the late 15th century, however, with some sources indicating that the two island groups paid official [[tribute]] to the kingdom of [[Chuzan|Chûzan]] based on Okinawa as early as [[1390]].

The earliest leader indicated by name in local legends or official Ryûkyû Kingdom histories is [[Yonahasedo Tuyumya]], an individual from [[Miyako Island]] who in the late 14th or early 15th century became nominal head of the Yaeyamas; however, there is little historical evidence for his existence and some consider him a purely legendary figure.<ref>Gregory Smits, ''Maritime Ryukyu'', University of Hawaii Press (2019), 57.</ref>

The earliest leader indicated by name in local legends or official Ryûkyû Kingdom histories is [[Yonahasedo Tuyumya]], an individual from [[Miyako Island]] who in the late 14th or early 15th century became nominal head of the Yaeyamas; however, there is little historical evidence for his existence and some consider him a purely legendary figure.<ref>Gregory Smits, ''Maritime Ryukyu'', University of Hawaii Press (2019), 57.</ref>

Official histories produced by the royal court at Shuri indicate that in the year [[1500]], a figure named [[Oyake Akahachi]] led the people of [[Ishigaki Island]] in rebellion against Shuri, refusing to pay taxes or [[tribute]] as they had done previously. In these accounts, which [[Gregory Smits]] has indicated "take on the qualities of a Chinese-style morality play,"<ref>Smits, ''Maritime Ryukyu'', 54.</ref> Oyake is presented as a villainous figure, taking advantage of chaos and disunity in the neighboring Miyako Islands as an opportunity to invade those islands. The virtuous [[Nakasone Tuyumya]] of Miyako then pushes Akahachi's forces back, not only defeating the invasion but going on to invade and conquer the Yaeyamas himself, even pushing as far as [[Yonaguni]], the westernmost of the Ryûkyû Islands; meanwhile, King [[Sho Shin|Shô Shin]] dispatches forces from Shuri to put an end to this violence. Nakasone then surrenders himself and all of the Miyakos and Yaeyamas to the forces from Shuri, willingly joining the Ryûkyû Kingdom and embracing peace, morality, and [[Confucianism|Confucian]] civilization.

Official histories produced by the royal court at Shuri indicate that in the year [[1500]], a figure named [[Oyake Akahachi]] led the people of [[Ishigaki Island]] in rebellion against Shuri, refusing to pay taxes or tribute as they had done previously. In these accounts, which [[Gregory Smits]] has indicated "take on the qualities of a Chinese-style morality play,"<ref>Smits, ''Maritime Ryukyu'', 54.</ref> Oyake is presented as a villainous figure, taking advantage of chaos and disunity in the neighboring Miyako Islands as an opportunity to invade those islands. The virtuous [[Nakasone Tuyumya]] of Miyako then pushes Akahachi's forces back, not only defeating the invasion but going on to invade and conquer the Yaeyamas himself, even pushing as far as [[Yonaguni]], the westernmost of the Ryûkyû Islands; meanwhile, King [[Sho Shin|Shô Shin]] dispatches forces from Shuri to put an end to this violence. Nakasone then surrenders himself and all of the Miyakos and Yaeyamas to the forces from Shuri, willingly joining the Ryûkyû Kingdom and embracing peace, morality, and [[Confucianism|Confucian]] civilization.

Following Shuri's defeat of the islanders, the islands were then incorporated (albeit loosely) into the kingdom, and officials were dispatched from Shuri to oversee and administer the islands.<ref>Kerr, 115.</ref> Shuri appointed officials known as ''[[Shuri oyako|Ufu Sui uyaku]]'' and ''[[zaiban (Ryukyu)|zaiban]]'' to oversee matters in the outer islands, on behalf of the royal government.<ref>"[http://ryukyushimpo.jp/news/storyid-41458-storytopic-121.html Zaiban]," Okinawa Compact Encyclopedia 沖縄コンパクト事典, Ryukyu Shimpo, 1 March 2003.</ref> These ''zaiban'' operated under the authority of a ''kuramutu'' (J: ''[[kuramoto]]'') based on [[Ishigaki Island]].<ref>"[http://ryukyushimpo.jp/news/storyid-41219-storytopic-121.html Kuramoto]." ''Okinawa konpakuto jiten'' (沖縄コンパクト事典, "Okinawa Compact Encyclopedia"). Ryukyu Shimpô. 1 March 2003. Accessed 16 January 2010.</ref> Beginning as early as [[1503]], Shuri also appointed ''Ôamu tsukasa'', priestess officials under the [[Oamushirare|Makabe Ôamushirare]] (''Makan Ufuanshitari'') high priestess based in Shuri, to serve as the chief religious officials in the Miyakos.<ref>Plaque at former site of Makan dunchi. [https://www.flickr.com/photos/toranosuke/15442912996/in/photostream/]</ref>

Following Shuri's defeat of the islanders, the islands were then incorporated (albeit loosely) into the kingdom, and officials were dispatched from Shuri to oversee and administer the islands.<ref>Kerr, 115.</ref> Shuri appointed officials known as ''[[Shuri oyako|Ufu Sui uyaku]]'' and ''[[zaiban (Ryukyu)|zaiban]]'' to oversee matters in the outer islands, on behalf of the royal government.<ref>"[http://ryukyushimpo.jp/news/storyid-41458-storytopic-121.html Zaiban]," Okinawa Compact Encyclopedia 沖縄コンパクト事典, Ryukyu Shimpo, 1 March 2003.</ref> These ''zaiban'' operated under the authority of a ''kuramutu'' (J: ''[[kuramoto]]'') based on [[Ishigaki Island]].<ref>"[http://ryukyushimpo.jp/news/storyid-41219-storytopic-121.html Kuramoto]." ''Okinawa konpakuto jiten'' (沖縄コンパクト事典, "Okinawa Compact Encyclopedia"). Ryukyu Shimpô. 1 March 2003. Accessed 16 January 2010.</ref> Beginning as early as [[1503]], Shuri also appointed ''Ôamu tsukasa'', priestess officials under the [[Oamushirare|Makabe Ôamushirare]] (''Makan Ufuanshitari'') high priestess based in Shuri, to serve as the chief religious officials in the Miyakos.<ref>Plaque at former site of Makan dunchi. [https://www.flickr.com/photos/toranosuke/15442912996/in/photostream/]</ref>

One of the most oft-discussed and perhaps most oppressive aspects of life under the kingdom for residents of the Miyakos was a [[poll tax]] (or "head tax") implemented in [[1637]] and continued by the Empire of Japan through the abolition of the kingdom, into the early years of the 20th century. Each individual (i.e. each "head") in the islands owed a certain amount to Shuri (and, later, to the prefectural government in [[Naha]]). This was not only a heavy tax burden simply in terms of the amount to be paid, but also because islanders were often obliged to pay in X, thus requiring them to convert their grain, textiles, or other products into X. This heavy tax burden frequently led to uprisings, riots, and protests. One particularly notable set of protests, known as the [[Miyako Island Peasantry Movement]], took place in [[1893]] to [[1895]], and not only involved local protests in the Miyakos, but also Miyako Islanders traveling to Tokyo to petition before the [[Imperial Diet]] for an end to the oppressive tax burden. The poll tax system was eventually abolished in [[1903]].

The people of the Yaeyamas sent a variety of goods to Shuri as regular tribute payments, including textiles, [[Ryukyuan horses|horses]], and after [[1758]], [[sea cucumbers]] and other marine products.

Despite all of this, however - the heavy tax burden, and the various officials dispatched to the islands - overall the kingdom's control over local affairs in the Miyakos and Yaeyamas was fairly loose. Local authorities such as Nakasone Tuyumya and his successors, referred to as ''kashira'' in Shuri records, were given considerable autonomy to manage local affairs.<ref>Smits, "Examining the Myth of Ryukyuan Pacifism"; Smits, "Rethinking Ryukyu," International Journal of Okinawan Studies 6:1 (2015), 7.</ref>

One of the most oft-discussed and perhaps most oppressive aspects of life under the kingdom for residents of the Yaeyamas was a [[poll tax]] (or "head tax") implemented in [[1637]] and continued by the Empire of Japan through the abolition of the kingdom, into the early years of the 20th century. Each individual (i.e. each "head") in the islands owed a certain amount to Shuri (and, later, to the prefectural government in [[Naha]]). This was not only a heavy tax burden simply in terms of the amount to be paid, but also because islanders were often obliged to pay in X, thus requiring them to convert their grain, textiles, or other products into X. This heavy tax burden frequently led to uprisings, riots, and protests. The poll tax system was eventually abolished in [[1903]].

Much as imperial and shogunal authorities in Japan frequently exiled criminals or political enemies to distant islands, Miyako became a common destination for the kingdom to send exiles; [[Sokei Chugi|Sokei Chûgi]] (1686-1749), a court official known for his excellence at poetry, was among those exiled to Miyako.<ref>"[http://kotobank.jp/word/%E6%83%A3%E6%85%B6%E5%BF%A0%E7%BE%A9 Sokei Chûgi]." ''Asahi Nihon rekishi jinbutsu jiten'' 朝日日本歴史人物事典. Asahi Shimbunsha.</ref> Some of the men accused of killing US Marine [[Board Incident|William Board]] in [[1854]] were also exiled to Miyako.<ref>"[http://ryukyushimpo.jp/news/storyid-42935-storytopic-121.html Board Jiken]." ''Okinawa Compact Encyclopedia'' 沖縄コンパクト事典. Ryukyu Shimpo. 1 March 2003.; [[George Kerr]]. ''Okinawa: The History of an Island People''. Revised Edition. Tuttle Publishing, 2000. pp331-332.</ref>

 

Much as imperial and shogunal authorities in Japan frequently exiled criminals or political enemies to distant islands, Yaeyama became a common destination for the kingdom to send exiles; one man accused of killing US Marine [[Board Incident|William Board]] in [[1854]] was exiled to Yaeyama while several of his supposed compatriots were exiled to the Miyakos.<ref>Kerr, 331-332.; "[http://ryukyushimpo.jp/news/storyid-42935-storytopic-121.html Board Jiken]." ''Okinawa Compact Encyclopedia'' 沖縄コンパクト事典. Ryukyu Shimpo. 1 March 2003.</ref>

A [[tsunami]] in [[1771]] was particularly devastating for the people of the Miyakos and Yaeyamas, killing some 10,000 people in those two island groups combined. It took several decades for the islands' communities to recover.<ref>Robert Hellyer, ''Defining Engagement'', Harvard University Press (2009), 96-97.</ref>

A [[tsunami]] in [[1771]] was particularly devastating for the people of the Miyakos and Yaeyamas, killing some 10,000 people in those two island groups combined. It took several decades for the islands' communities to recover.<ref>Robert Hellyer, ''Defining Engagement'', Harvard University Press (2009), 96-97.</ref>

==Culture==

==Culture==