Changes

==History==

==History==

Nanzan first came into being in 1314 when [[Tamagusuku]] inherited the role of head chieftain of all of Okinawa from his father [[Eiji]]; He did not have the charisma or leadership qualities to command the loyalty of all the local lords, and so the Lord of Ôzato, one of many powerful local chieftains, fled south from his home in [[Urasoe]], with a number of lesser chieftains loyal to him, and established himself in Ôzato gusuku (also known as [[Nanzan gusuku]]) near the town of [[Itoman]]. Another powerful chieftain fled north and established the kingdom of Hokuzan, leaving Tamagusuku in control only of the central part of the island, which thus became the kingdom of Chûzan.

Nanzan first came into being in 1314 when [[Tamagusuku]] inherited the role of head chieftain of all of Okinawa from his father [[Eiji]]; He did not have the charisma or leadership qualities to command the loyalty of all the local lords, and so the Lord of Ôzato, one of many powerful local chieftains, fled south from his home in [[Urasoe]], with a number of lesser chieftains loyal to him, and established himself in [[Ozato gusuku|Ôzato gusuku]] near the town of [[Itoman]]. Another powerful chieftain fled north and established the kingdom of Hokuzan, leaving Tamagusuku in control only of the central part of the island, which thus became the kingdom of Chûzan.

Nanzan, like the two kingdoms with which it shared the tiny island of Okinawa, consisted of a miniscule territory, and correspondingly limited resources. Nevertheless, the kingdom survived for roughly a century, benefiting from sea trade, and from the advantageous location of Ôzato castle, situated atop tall bluffs, with an inlet from the sea and its own dedicated dock. Though its ports were not nearly as active as [[Naha]], the chief port of Chûzan, the kingdom enjoyed its share of trade with Southeast Asia, China, and other nearby powers. Chûzan entered a [[tribute|tributary relationship]] with [[Ming Dynasty]] [[China]] in 1372. Nanzan was granted similar commercial status shortly afterwards, along with Hokuzan, but was restricted to sending only one ship per tribute mission. Over roughly the next thirty years, nineteen tribute missions were sent from Nanzan to China; Hokuzan sent nine and Chûzan sent fifty-two. Though these missions were meant to be limited to formal trade between the governments of Okinawa and China, it was not unknown for Nanzan officials, like those from the other two kingdoms, to engage in private trade and smuggling. Around 1381, a Nanzan envoy was severely reprimanded for bringing silver into China with which he intended to purchase porcelains for his own personal material gain.

Nanzan, like the two kingdoms with which it shared the tiny island of Okinawa, consisted of a miniscule territory, and correspondingly limited resources. Nevertheless, the kingdom survived for roughly a century, benefiting from sea trade, and from the advantageous location of Ôzato castle, situated atop tall bluffs, with an inlet from the sea and its own dedicated dock. Though its ports were not nearly as active as [[Naha]], the chief port of Chûzan, the kingdom enjoyed its share of trade with Southeast Asia, China, and other nearby powers. Chûzan entered a [[tribute|tributary relationship]] with [[Ming Dynasty]] [[China]] in 1372. Nanzan was granted similar commercial status shortly afterwards, along with Hokuzan, but was restricted to sending only one ship per tribute mission. Over roughly the next thirty years, nineteen tribute missions were sent from Nanzan to China; Hokuzan sent nine and Chûzan sent fifty-two. Though these missions were meant to be limited to formal trade between the governments of Okinawa and China, it was not unknown for Nanzan officials, like those from the other two kingdoms, to engage in private trade and smuggling. Around 1381, a Nanzan envoy was severely reprimanded for bringing silver into China with which he intended to purchase porcelains for his own personal material gain.