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Chinese investiture envoys (view source)
Revision as of 16:37, 7 November 2009
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*''Japanese'': 冊封使 ''(sappuushi)''
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, formally acknowledging the king of Ryûkyû as King, and as a [[tribute|tributary]] subordinate to the Chinese Emperor within the Sinocentric system of diplomatic relations.
Twenty-two such missions traveled to Ryûkyû in total<ref name=shimpo>"[http://ryukyushimpo.jp/news/storyid-41495-storytopic-121.html Sappûshi]." ''Okinawa konpakuto jiten'' (沖縄コンパクト事典, "Okinawa Compact Encyclopedia"). 1 March 2003. Accessed 7 November 2009.</ref>, the first for the investiture of [[Bunei]] in 1406<ref name=kerr83>Kerr, George. ''Okinawa: The History of an Island People''. (revised ed.) Tokyo: Tuttle Publishing, 2000. p83.</ref>, and the last for the investiture of [[Sho Tai|Shô Tai]] in 1866<ref name=kerr352>Kerr. p352.</ref>.
==The Envoys in Shuri==
Envoys generally stayed in Ryûkyû 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. A "Minister of Dance" ([[Okinawan language|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<ref name=kumi>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.</ref>.
==Timeline of Missions==
* 1406 - First investiture mission arrives for the investiture of Bunei<ref name=kerr83/>.
* 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/>.
* 1757 - [[Quan Kui]] and [[Chou Huang]] (d. 1785) lead the mission for the investiture of King [[Sho Boku|Shô Boku]], as Senior Envoy and Deputy Envoy respectively. During his time in Shuri, Chou Huang compiles the ''[[Ryukyu-koku shiryaku|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<ref>Hirata, Tsugumasa (trans.). Chou, Huang. ''Ryûkyû-koku shiryaku''. Tokyo: San-ichi Shobô, 1977. pp1-2.</ref>.
* 1866 - Final investiture envoys arrive for the investiture of Shô Tai<ref name=kerr352/>.
==References==
<references/>
[[Category:Ryukyu]]
[[Category:Political Institutions]]
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, formally acknowledging the king of Ryûkyû as King, and as a [[tribute|tributary]] subordinate to the Chinese Emperor within the Sinocentric system of diplomatic relations.
Twenty-two such missions traveled to Ryûkyû in total<ref name=shimpo>"[http://ryukyushimpo.jp/news/storyid-41495-storytopic-121.html Sappûshi]." ''Okinawa konpakuto jiten'' (沖縄コンパクト事典, "Okinawa Compact Encyclopedia"). 1 March 2003. Accessed 7 November 2009.</ref>, the first for the investiture of [[Bunei]] in 1406<ref name=kerr83>Kerr, George. ''Okinawa: The History of an Island People''. (revised ed.) Tokyo: Tuttle Publishing, 2000. p83.</ref>, and the last for the investiture of [[Sho Tai|Shô Tai]] in 1866<ref name=kerr352>Kerr. p352.</ref>.
==The Envoys in Shuri==
Envoys generally stayed in Ryûkyû 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. A "Minister of Dance" ([[Okinawan language|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<ref name=kumi>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.</ref>.
==Timeline of Missions==
* 1406 - First investiture mission arrives for the investiture of Bunei<ref name=kerr83/>.
* 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/>.
* 1757 - [[Quan Kui]] and [[Chou Huang]] (d. 1785) lead the mission for the investiture of King [[Sho Boku|Shô Boku]], as Senior Envoy and Deputy Envoy respectively. During his time in Shuri, Chou Huang compiles the ''[[Ryukyu-koku shiryaku|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<ref>Hirata, Tsugumasa (trans.). Chou, Huang. ''Ryûkyû-koku shiryaku''. Tokyo: San-ichi Shobô, 1977. pp1-2.</ref>.
* 1866 - Final investiture envoys arrive for the investiture of Shô Tai<ref name=kerr352/>.
==References==
<references/>
[[Category:Ryukyu]]
[[Category:Political Institutions]]