Periods of Okinawan History

The periods of Okinawan history are divided up differently from those of Japan.

Shell Mound Period (c. 10,000 BCE - c. 1000 CE)

• c. 7000 BCE - 300 BCE - Early Shell Mound Period
• c. 300 BCE - 1000 CE - Late Shell Mound Period
  • Hunter-gatherer subsistence society until c. 800 CE
  • Beginnings of agricultural subsistence c. 800 CE
  • Shell exchanges from c. 600 BCE to 1200 CE

Gusuku Period (1100s-1429)

Marked by emergence of the anji (local chieftains/lords), construction of gusuku (fortresses), and introduction of pottery and porcelain technologies from China.

• 1187-1259 - Shunten Dynasty
• 1260 - c. 1354 - Eiso Dynasty
• 1314-1429 - Sanzan Period (Okinawa Island is divided into three kingdoms: Nanzan, Chûzan, and Hokuzan)

Kingdom Period (1429-1879)

Okinawa Island is united under the Ryûkyû Kingdom, and expands to incorporate much of the rest of the Ryûkyû Islands

• 1406-1469 - First Shô Dynasty
• 1469-1879 - Second Shô Dynasty
• 1609-1872 - Period under Satsuma han
• 1872-1879 - Ryûkyû han

Modern Period (1879 - present)

Incorporation into modern state of Japan as Okinawa Prefecture.

• 1879-1912 - Meiji Period
• 1912-1945 - Pre-war & World War II
• 1945-1972 - US Occupation
• 1972 - present - Reversion

Periodization in Sakishima

Archaeologists have divided the historical periods somewhat differently for the Miyako and Yaeyama Islands.

• Shell Mound Period prior to earthenware
• Shell Mound Period after introduction of earthenware
• Third Period (13th-15th centuries)
• Fourth Period (16th-17th centuries)
• Ryûkyû Kingdom Period
• Modern Period

References

• Suzuki Kakichi, et al. "Ryukyuan Architecture: Its History and Features," Okinawa bijutsu zenshû 沖縄美術全集, vol 5, Okinawa Times (1989), 89.