Changes

Members of the ''satunushi'' class passed on that status in hereditary fashion, and were eligible for such court rank as would earn them the title ''[[peechin]]'' or the higher-ranking ''[[ueekata]]'', and which would earn them land (fiefs). ''Peechin'' held smaller fiefs, while ''ueekata'' were granted ''[[majiri]]''. Members of the ''chikudun'' class, similarly, passed on that status in hereditary fashion, and were eligible for various positions in the government bureaucracy, as well as for the title of ''peechin'', but were generally not eligible to receive fiefs.

Members of the ''satunushi'' class passed on that status in hereditary fashion, and were eligible for such court rank as would earn them the title ''[[peechin]]'' or the higher-ranking ''[[ueekata]]'', and which would earn them land (fiefs). ''Peechin'' held smaller fiefs, while ''ueekata'' were granted ''[[majiri]]''. Members of the ''chikudun'' class, similarly, passed on that status in hereditary fashion, and were eligible for various positions in the government bureaucracy, as well as for the title of ''peechin'', but were generally not eligible to receive fiefs.

These titles and classes were tied into a system of nine court ranks, each sub-divided into "upper" and "lower," much like the Japanese system of [[court rank]]. Status was symbolized by a hierarchy of colors of ''[[hachimaki]]'' (caps or turbans) and of robes, and by what material one's hairpin was made of, though these distinctions were most visible only at the highest levels. One's rank was determined chiefly by heredity, by service, and by age; some ranks were held chiefly by younger aristocrats, who would gain rank when they grew older.

These titles and classes were tied into a system of nine court ranks, each sub-divided into "upper" and "lower," much like the Japanese system of [[court rank]]. Under a system established by King [[Sho Shin|Shô Shin]] in [[1524]],<ref>''Earth Exhibit of Ryukyu Kingdom''. Ryûfûan Hawaii. 2010. p12.</ref> status was symbolized by a hierarchy of colors of ''[[hachimaki]]'' (caps or turbans) and of robes, and by what material one's hairpin was made of, though these distinctions were most visible only at the highest levels. One's rank was determined chiefly by heredity, by service, and by age; some ranks were held chiefly by younger aristocrats, who would gain rank when they grew older.

Up until [[1663]], nobles wore [[buzi|status badges]] or insignia squares on the front of their robes, in the Chinese style; after [[1683]], color took over as the chief indicator of rank, with wives and daughters of nobles also wearing colors indicative of their family's rank.

Up until [[1663]], nobles wore [[buzi|status badges]] or insignia squares on the front of their robes, in the Chinese style; after [[1683]], color took over as the chief indicator of rank, with wives and daughters of nobles also wearing colors indicative of their family's rank.

*''Encyclopedia of World Dress and Fashion, Volume 6: East Asia''. Oxford University Press, 2010. p423.

*''Encyclopedia of World Dress and Fashion, Volume 6: East Asia''. Oxford University Press, 2010. p423.

*Matsuda, Mitsugu. ''The Government of the Kingdom of Ryukyu, 1609-1872''. Naha: Yui Publishing, 2001. pp203-205ff.

*Matsuda, Mitsugu. ''The Government of the Kingdom of Ryukyu, 1609-1872''. Naha: Yui Publishing, 2001. pp203-205ff.

[[Category:Ryukyu]]

[[Category:Ryukyu]]

[[Category:Ranks and Titles]]

[[Category:Ranks and Titles]]