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Kyan was a Buddhist monk<ref>"Kian." ''Okinawa konpakuto jiten'' (沖縄コンパクト事典, "Okinawa Compact Encylclopedia"). [http://ryukyushimpo.jp/news/storyid-41021-storytopic-121.html Ryukyu Shimpo].1 March 2003. Accessed 24 November 2009.</ref> and tea master<ref>Uezato Takashi. "The Formation of the Port City of Naha in Ryukyu and the World of Maritime Asia: From the Perspective of a Japanese Network." ''[[Acta Asiatica]]'' 95 (2008). p67.</ref>, advisor to King [[Sho Nei|Shô Nei]] of the [[Kingdom of Ryukyu|Kingdom of Ryûkyû]], and the author of ''[[Kyan nikki]]'', one of the only extant primary source documents relating the events of the [[1609]] [[invasion of Ryukyu|invasion of Ryûkyû]] from the Ryukyuan side of the conflict.

Kyan was a Buddhist monk<ref>"Kian." ''Okinawa konpakuto jiten'' (沖縄コンパクト事典, "Okinawa Compact Encylclopedia"). [http://ryukyushimpo.jp/news/storyid-41021-storytopic-121.html Ryukyu Shimpo].1 March 2003. Accessed 24 November 2009.</ref> and tea master<ref>Uezato Takashi. "The Formation of the Port City of Naha in Ryukyu and the World of Maritime Asia: From the Perspective of a Japanese Network." ''[[Acta Asiatica]]'' 95 (2008). p67.</ref>, advisor to King [[Sho Nei|Shô Nei]] of the [[Kingdom of Ryukyu|Kingdom of Ryûkyû]], and the author of ''[[Kyan nikki]]'', one of the only extant primary source documents relating the events of the [[1609]] [[invasion of Ryukyu|invasion of Ryûkyû]] from the Ryukyuan side of the conflict.

Though known primarily today by the Chinese-style name "Kyan," he was originally from [[Sakai]] in [[Izumi province]] near [[Osaka]]. In [[1600]], at the age of 35, Kyan traveled to Ryûkyû, and entered the service of King Shô Nei. During the 1609 invasion, on account of his Japanese education and background, he led several attempts at negotiation efforts, though all ultimately failed. He remained on the main island of [[Okinawa]] throughout the invasion, and so his diary is most detailed beginning with the [[Shimazu clan|Shimazu]] landing at [[Unten Harbor]] on 1609/3/25.

Though known primarily today by the Ryukyuan name "Kyan," he was originally from [[Sakai]] in [[Izumi province]] near [[Osaka]]. In [[1600]], at the age of 35, Kyan traveled to Ryûkyû, and entered the service of King Shô Nei. During the 1609 invasion, on account of his Japanese education and background, he led several attempts at negotiation efforts, though all ultimately failed. He remained on the main island of [[Okinawa]] throughout the invasion, and so his diary is most detailed beginning with the [[Shimazu clan|Shimazu]] landing at [[Unten Harbor]] on 1609/3/25.

After a failed attempt at negotiations at [[Nakijin]], where he and his team were simply rebuffed and did not meet with General [[Kabayama Hisataka]] at all, Kyan tried again to negotiate with the invaders at [[Yomitan]] and was rebuffed again. He then sought to return to Shuri by ship, but storms forced his boat to make port at [[Makiminato]]. Kyan returned to Shuri on foot, witnessing the burning of villages by the invading forces as he made his way back through torrential rain<ref>Turnbull, Stephen. ''The Samurai Capture a King: Okinawa 1609''. Oxford: Osprey Publishing, 2009. pp37-38.</ref>. Once [[Shuri castle]] itself was under attack, further attempts at negotiation were considered but ultimately not undertaken, as it was decided it was too late<ref>Turnbull. p44.</ref>.

After a failed attempt at negotiations at [[Nakijin]], where he and his team were simply rebuffed and did not meet with General [[Kabayama Hisataka]] at all, Kyan tried again to negotiate with the invaders at [[Yomitan]] and was rebuffed again. He then sought to return to Shuri by ship, but storms forced his boat to make port at [[Makiminato]]. Kyan returned to Shuri on foot, witnessing the burning of villages by the invading forces as he made his way back through torrential rain<ref>Turnbull, Stephen. ''The Samurai Capture a King: Okinawa 1609''. Oxford: Osprey Publishing, 2009. pp37-38.</ref>. Once [[Shuri castle]] itself was under attack, further attempts at negotiation were considered but ultimately not undertaken, as it was decided it was too late<ref>Turnbull. p44.</ref>.