Difference between revisions of "Chinese investiture envoys"
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| − | *''Japanese'': 冊封使 ''( | + | *''Japanese'': 冊封使 ''(sappoushi)'' |
Chinese investiture envoys were diplomatic missions sent by [[Ming Dynasty|Ming]] and [[Qing Dynasty|Qing]] China to the [[Kingdom of Ryukyu|Kingdom of Ryûkyû]] to perform investiture rituals, officially confirming the king of Ryûkyû in the eyes of the Chinese Imperial Court, and confirming his position as a [[tribute|tributary]] subordinate to the Chinese Emperor within the Sinocentric system of diplomatic relations. | Chinese investiture envoys were diplomatic missions sent by [[Ming Dynasty|Ming]] and [[Qing Dynasty|Qing]] China to the [[Kingdom of Ryukyu|Kingdom of Ryûkyû]] to perform investiture rituals, officially confirming the king of Ryûkyû in the eyes of the Chinese Imperial Court, and confirming his position as a [[tribute|tributary]] subordinate to the Chinese Emperor within the Sinocentric system of diplomatic relations. | ||
| − | [[Satto]] became, in [[1372]], the first Ryukyuan king to submit to Chinese suzerainty<ref>Kerr, George. ''Okinawa: The History of an Island People''. (revised ed.) Tokyo: Tuttle Publishing, 2000. p65.</ref>. Beginning with the investiture of Satto's successor, [[Bunei]], in [[1406]]<ref name=kerr83>Kerr. p83.</ref>, twenty-two such missions traveled to Ryûkyû in total<ref name=shimpo>"[http://ryukyushimpo.jp/news/storyid-41495-storytopic-121.html | + | [[Satto]] became, in [[1372]], the first Ryukyuan king to submit to Chinese suzerainty<ref>Kerr, George. ''Okinawa: The History of an Island People''. (revised ed.) Tokyo: Tuttle Publishing, 2000. p65.</ref>. Beginning with the investiture of Satto's successor, [[Bunei]], in [[1406]]<ref name=kerr83>Kerr. p83.</ref>, twenty-two such missions traveled to Ryûkyû in total<ref name=shimpo>"[http://ryukyushimpo.jp/news/storyid-41495-storytopic-121.html Sappôshi]." ''Okinawa konpakuto jiten'' (沖縄コンパクト事典, "Okinawa Compact Encyclopedia"). 1 March 2003. Accessed 7 November 2009.</ref>, the last in [[1866]], for the investiture of [[Sho Tai|Shô Tai]]<ref name=kerr352>Kerr. p352.</ref>. |
==The Envoys in Shuri== | ==The Envoys in Shuri== | ||
Upon the accession of a new king, the news was generally communicated to the Chinese capital, along with a petition for investiture, by a formal [[Ryukyuan tribute missions to China|Ryukyuan tribute mission]]. Following the 1609 [[invasion of Ryukyu]], beginning with the succession of [[Sho Ho|Shô Hô]], [[Satsuma han]] also had to be notified and asked for approval and confirmation of the new king<ref>Kerr. p185.</ref>. | Upon the accession of a new king, the news was generally communicated to the Chinese capital, along with a petition for investiture, by a formal [[Ryukyuan tribute missions to China|Ryukyuan tribute mission]]. Following the 1609 [[invasion of Ryukyu]], beginning with the succession of [[Sho Ho|Shô Hô]], [[Satsuma han]] also had to be notified and asked for approval and confirmation of the new king<ref>Kerr. p185.</ref>. | ||
| − | Chinese envoys would then be dispatched - sometimes quite quickly, sometimes not until over a decade later - arriving in ships called ''ukwanshin'' (御冠船, lit. "Crown Ships") in [[Okinawan language|Okinawan]]. | + | Chinese envoys would then be dispatched - sometimes quite quickly, sometimes not until over a decade later - arriving in ships called ''ukwanshin'' (御冠船, lit. "Crown Ships") in [[Okinawan language|Okinawan]]. The mission would usually consist of two official envoy ships, separate crafts carrying the chief envoy and his deputy, as some uncertainty accompanied the journey<ref name=kerr181>Kerr. p181.</ref>; these would be accompanied by a number of merchant ships. During Japan's [[Edo period]], an agent from Satsuma known as a ''kansen bugyô'' (冠船奉行, "Investiture (Crown) Ships Magistrate") would be sent down to Ryûkyû to supervise the exchanges and interactions between Chinese and Ryukyuan officials, albeit from somewhat of a distance, given the policy of hiding Satsuma's involvement in Ryûkyû from the Chinese<ref>Matsuda, Mitsugu. ''The Government of the Kingdom of Ryukyu, 1609-1872''. Gushikawa: Yui Publishing, Co., 2001. pp46-47.</ref>. |
Arriving in Shuri, the envoys generally stayed for four to eight months<ref name=shimpo/>, and were extensively entertained by the Ryukyuan royal court. A number of structures built for this purpose, including the [[Ryutan|Ryûtan]] pond and the Hokuden (North Hall) of [[Shuri Castle]], can still be seen today on the castle grounds. The total Chinese entourage generally numbered between 300 and 800 people, and hosting and entertaining the Chinese envoys was an extremely expensive endeavor for the Ryukyuan court<ref name=kerr181/>. | Arriving in Shuri, the envoys generally stayed for four to eight months<ref name=shimpo/>, and were extensively entertained by the Ryukyuan royal court. A number of structures built for this purpose, including the [[Ryutan|Ryûtan]] pond and the Hokuden (North Hall) of [[Shuri Castle]], can still be seen today on the castle grounds. The total Chinese entourage generally numbered between 300 and 800 people, and hosting and entertaining the Chinese envoys was an extremely expensive endeavor for the Ryukyuan court<ref name=kerr181/>. | ||
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==Timeline of Missions== | ==Timeline of Missions== | ||
* 1406 - First investiture mission arrives for the investiture of Bunei<ref name=kerr83/>. | * 1406 - First investiture mission arrives for the investiture of Bunei<ref name=kerr83/>. | ||
| + | |||
| + | * 1562 - [[Sho Gen|Shô Gen]] is invested as king. | ||
| + | |||
| + | * 1683 - [[Sho Tei|Shô Tei]] is invested as king. | ||
* 1719/9/9 - ''Kumi odori'', a new form of dance-drama, created by [[Tamagusuku Chokun|Tamagusuku Chôkun]] for the entertainment of the Chinese envoys, is first performed for the envoys for the investiture of King [[Sho Kei|Shô Kei]]<ref name=kumi/>. | * 1719/9/9 - ''Kumi odori'', a new form of dance-drama, created by [[Tamagusuku Chokun|Tamagusuku Chôkun]] for the entertainment of the Chinese envoys, is first performed for the envoys for the investiture of King [[Sho Kei|Shô Kei]]<ref name=kumi/>. | ||
Revision as of 02:18, 8 November 2009
- Japanese: 冊封使 (sappoushi)
Chinese investiture envoys were diplomatic missions sent by Ming and Qing China to the Kingdom of Ryûkyû to perform investiture rituals, officially confirming the king of Ryûkyû in the eyes of the Chinese Imperial Court, and confirming his position as a tributary subordinate to the Chinese Emperor within the Sinocentric system of diplomatic relations.
Satto became, in 1372, the first Ryukyuan king to submit to Chinese suzerainty[1]. Beginning with the investiture of Satto's successor, Bunei, in 1406[2], twenty-two such missions traveled to Ryûkyû in total[3], the last in 1866, for the investiture of Shô Tai[4].
The Envoys in Shuri
Upon the accession of a new king, the news was generally communicated to the Chinese capital, along with a petition for investiture, by a formal Ryukyuan tribute mission. Following the 1609 invasion of Ryukyu, beginning with the succession of Shô Hô, Satsuma han also had to be notified and asked for approval and confirmation of the new king[5].
Chinese envoys would then be dispatched - sometimes quite quickly, sometimes not until over a decade later - arriving in ships called ukwanshin (御冠船, lit. "Crown Ships") in Okinawan. The mission would usually consist of two official envoy ships, separate crafts carrying the chief envoy and his deputy, as some uncertainty accompanied the journey[6]; these would be accompanied by a number of merchant ships. During Japan's Edo period, an agent from Satsuma known as a kansen bugyô (冠船奉行, "Investiture (Crown) Ships Magistrate") would be sent down to Ryûkyû to supervise the exchanges and interactions between Chinese and Ryukyuan officials, albeit from somewhat of a distance, given the policy of hiding Satsuma's involvement in Ryûkyû from the Chinese[7].
Arriving in Shuri, the envoys generally stayed for four to eight months[3], and were extensively entertained by the Ryukyuan royal court. A number of structures built for this purpose, including the Ryûtan pond and the Hokuden (North Hall) of Shuri Castle, can still be seen today on the castle grounds. The total Chinese entourage generally numbered between 300 and 800 people, and hosting and entertaining the Chinese envoys was an extremely expensive endeavor for the Ryukyuan court[6].
A "Minister of Dance" (O: udui bugyô) oversaw these entertainments; kumi odori, a traditional form of Ryukyuan dance-drama, was first created and performed for entertaining an investiture envoy and his fellows, in 1719[8].
Timeline of Missions
- 1406 - First investiture mission arrives for the investiture of Bunei[2].
- 1562 - Shô Gen is invested as king.
- 1683 - Shô Tei is invested as king.
- 1719/9/9 - Kumi odori, a new form of dance-drama, created by Tamagusuku Chôkun for the entertainment of the Chinese envoys, is first performed for the envoys for the investiture of King Shô Kei[8].
- 1757 - Quan Kui and Chou Huang (d. 1785) lead the mission for the investiture of King Shô Boku, as Senior Envoy and Deputy Envoy respectively. During his time in Shuri, Chou Huang compiles the Ryûkyû-koku shiryaku, an account of Ryukyuan history and customs based on the records and reports of earlier Chinese envoys, Ryukyuan records, and Chou's own observations[9].
- 1866 - Final investiture envoys arrive for the investiture of Shô Tai[4].
References
- ↑ Kerr, George. Okinawa: The History of an Island People. (revised ed.) Tokyo: Tuttle Publishing, 2000. p65.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Kerr. p83.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Sappôshi." Okinawa konpakuto jiten (沖縄コンパクト事典, "Okinawa Compact Encyclopedia"). 1 March 2003. Accessed 7 November 2009.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Kerr. p352.
- ↑ Kerr. p185.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Kerr. p181.
- ↑ Matsuda, Mitsugu. The Government of the Kingdom of Ryukyu, 1609-1872. Gushikawa: Yui Publishing, Co., 2001. pp46-47.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Foley, Kathy. "Kumi Odori's Historical Context and Performance Practice." in Ryukyu Geino: The Legacy of Kin Ryosho. Jimpu Kai USA Kin Ryosho Ryukyu Geino Kenkyusho Hawaii Shibu, 2008. pp45-56.
- ↑ Hirata, Tsugumasa (trans.). Chou, Huang. Ryûkyû-koku shiryaku. Tokyo: San-ichi Shobô, 1977. pp1-2.
