Changes

The [[Kingdom of Ryukyu|Kingdom of Ryûkyû]] is known to have possessed firearms as early as the 1450s, if not earlier. They used a variety of gunpowder hand-weapons and cannon obtained from the Chinese, but did not make use of European-style [[arquebus]]es or [[cannon]].

It is not clear exactly when firearms were introduced to Ryûkyû, but it is known that Ryûkyû enjoyed extensive trade with China, including trade in weapons, up until the 1450s, when a ban was placed on Fujian merchants selling weapons overseas, as these were needed to defend the coasts against ''[[wako|wakô]]'' raids. It is believed that gunpowder and firearms were first introduced to Ryûkyû from China, through this trade, though the Chinese Court had officially forbidden selling sulphur, or saltpeter (ingredients for making gunpowder) or gunpowder itself, overseas.<ref name=uezato77>Uezato. p77.</ref>　The fact that Ryûkyû obtained weapons and gunpowder despite both of these bans is evidence that the China-Ryûkyû trade consisted not solely of the official [[tribute]] trade, but extended to smuggling as well. Ryûkyû had no need to trade for sulphur, though, at least, since the kingdom had a supply from [[Iotorishima|Iôtorishima]], a small island near [[Tokunoshima]]; in fact, sulphur was something Ryûkyû frequently sent overseas in exchange for other goods, and there was even a so-called ''Iô gusuku'' ("sulphur warehouse") in [[Naha]] harbor expressly for the purpose of storing the material imported from Iôtorishima.<ref>Uezato. p78.</ref>

 

One of the earliest references to firearms in Ryûkyû is from the [[Annals of the Joseon Dynasty]]<!--李朝実録-->, dated to [[1453]]. According to that record, in [[1450]], a number of Koreans were shipwrecked on the island of [[Kajajima]], in the [[Tokara islands]], which were claimed by both Ryûkyû and [[Satsuma province|Satsuma]]. They were brought to [[Okinawa Island]], and were granted an audience with King [[Sho Kinpuku|Shô Kinpuku]], at which time a sort of "fire pipe" (火筒) was demonstrated for them, and they were instructed in its use. It is believed that this "fire pipe" was little different from the so-called "hand cannons" or "bird guns" which we see discussed more broadly, in Korea, China, and Japan as well, down into the 16th-17th centuries;<ref name=Uezato76>Uezato. p76.</ref> Another record, written by members of a party of Koreans shipwrecked in Ryûkyû in [[1462]], indicates that the "fire pipes" they saw in Ryûkyû were of the same type, size, and form as those they were familiar with in Korea.<ref name=uezato77/>

 

Historian [[Uezato Takashi]] points out that these episodes strongly imply that Ryûkyû already by this time had its own firearms experts, and was not merely relying upon imports from China, and Chinese experts.<ref name="Uezato76"/>

 

A Ryukyuan envoy in [[1466]] demonstrated one of these firearms before the [[Ashikaga shogunate|Ashikaga shogun]] and his court; [[Stephen Turnbull]] describes this as the first gunpowder explosion to occur in Japan since the [[Mongol invasions]],<ref>Turnbull, Stephen. ''The Samurai Capture a King: Okinawa 1609''. Oxford: Osprey Press, 2009. p58.</ref> when the Mongols made use of a sort of grenade or bomb.

Ryûkyû enjoyed extensive trade with China, including trade in weapons, up until the 1450s, when a ban was placed on Fujian merchants selling weapons overseas, as these were needed to defend the coasts against ''[[wako|wakô]]'' raids. Yet, Koreans visiting Ryûkyû around that time noted that Ryûkyû possessed firearms akin to their own.<ref name=turnbull>Turnbull, Stephen. ''The Samurai Capture a King: Okinawa 1609''. Oxford: Osprey Press, 2009. pp26-27.</ref> A Ryukyuan envoy in [[1466]] demonstrated one of these firearms before the [[Ashikaga shogunate|Ashikaga shogun]] and his court; [[Stephen Turnbull]] describes this as the first gunpowder explosion to occur in Japan since the [[Mongol invasions]],<ref>Turnbull. p58.</ref> when the Mongols made use of a sort of grenade or bomb.

The early Korean records allude to the presence of Ryukyuan individuals in charge of firearms, but it is unclear if indeed such a post or position existed at the time. The ''[[Ryukyukoku yuraiki|Ryûkyû-koku yuraiki]]'' indicates a "head of production of firearms / fire arrows"<!--比屋勢頭親雲上 or 火矢勢頭親雲上--> (O: ''hyaa shii du [[peechin]]'') named Matsuuji (in the Japanese reading of the name) who is held to have introduced [[fireworks]] to Ryûkyû in [[1479]], so such a position seems to have been in place at that time. Furthermore, an official known as the ''[[boraakugami bugyo|boraakugami bugyô]]'' is known to have had gunpowder technology among his responsibilities.<ref>Uezato. pp77-78.</ref>

The European [[arquebus]], introduced to Japan in [[1543]], never caught on in Ryûkyû, and the gunpowder weapons used were adapted from Chinese technology. Known as ''hyaa'' (火矢), or "fire arrows,"<ref name=champloo>Kadekawa Manabu. ''Okinawa Chanpurû Jiten''. Tokyo: Yama-kei Publishers, 2001. p194.</ref> they had short barrels, and essentially consisted of short, slightly conical iron tubes attached to wooden shafts. Some had three barrels. The weapon was held under the left arm while the right hand was used to light it. The Japanese made use of such weapons as well, as late as in the [[1548]] [[battle of Uedahara]], but the superior European-style arquebus became more widely used after that.<ref name=turnbull/>

The European arquebus, introduced to Japan in [[1543]], never caught on in Ryûkyû, and the gunpowder weapons used were adapted from Chinese technology. Known as ''hyaa'' (火矢), or "fire arrows,"<ref name=champloo>Kadekawa Manabu. ''Okinawa Chanpurû Jiten''. Tokyo: Yama-kei Publishers, 2001. p194.</ref> they had short barrels, and essentially consisted of short, slightly conical iron tubes attached to wooden shafts. Some had three barrels. The weapon was held under the left arm while the right hand was used to light it. The Japanese made use of such weapons as well, as late as in the [[1548]] [[battle of Uedahara]], but the superior European-style arquebus became more widely used after that.<ref name=turnbull>Turnbull. pp26-27.</ref>

These Chinese-style weapons, or heavier versions of the same, were used extensively in castle defenses, not only at Shuri, but also at, for example, [[Nakijin gusuku]], where gunports were explicitly installed above the castle's gates, and presumably at other ''[[gusuku]]'' (castles/fortresses)v as well.<ref>Turnbull. p33.</ref>

These Chinese-style weapons, or heavier versions of the same, were used extensively in castle defenses, not only at Shuri, but also at, for example, [[Nakijin gusuku]], where gunports were explicitly installed above the castle's gates, and presumably at other ''[[gusuku]]'' (castles/fortresses)v as well.<ref>Turnbull. p33.</ref>

==References==

==References==

<references/>

<references/>

[[Category:Ryukyu]]

[[Category:Ryukyu]]

[[Category:Arms and Armor]]

[[Category:Arms and Armor]]