Changes

==Preparation==

==Preparation==

Upon the death of the King of Ryûkyû, the kingdom sent an emissary to Fuzhou to formally report the sovereign's death. This type of mission was called ''pao-sang''<ref>Chinese terms are presented here in Wade-Giles and not the more modern and elegant pinyin, on account of the source.</ref> in Chinese. Following the 1609 [[invasion of Ryukyu]], beginning with the succession of [[Sho Ho|Shô Hô]], [[Satsuma han]] also had to be notified and asked for approval and confirmation of the new king<ref>Kerr. p185.</ref>.

Upon the death of the King of Ryûkyû, the kingdom sent an emissary to Fuzhou to formally report the sovereign's death. This type of mission was called ''bào sāng'' (報喪) in Chinese. Following the 1609 [[invasion of Ryukyu]], beginning with the succession of [[Sho Ho|Shô Hô]], [[Satsuma han]] also had to be notified and asked for approval and confirmation of the new king<ref>Kerr. p185.</ref>.

It took several years for the Ryukyuan government to prepare to receive a Chinese investiture mission, an undertaking which was quite expensive for the small kingdom, and for which the Chinese government contributed not at all. When preparations were ready, Ryûkyû would sent another emissary, to present the official request for investiture (C: ''ch'ing feng''). This would be accompanied by a formal document, signed or sealed by a great many Ryukyuan officials, from the highest posts down to local lords, acknowledging widespread recognition of this particular king as the rightful king, and declaring loyalty to the man to be invested. Finally, once envoys were selected, a Ryukyuan official would meet the envoys (C: ''chieh-feng'') in Fuzhou<ref name=chen>Ch'en, Ta-Tuan. "Investiture of Liu-Ch'iu Kings in the Ch'ing Period." in Fairbank, John King (ed.) ''The Chinese World Order''. Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1968. pp135-164.</ref>. All of these emissaries would travel with [[Ryukyuan tribute missions to China|Ryukyuan tribute missions]], and not on separate journeys in separate craft.

It took several years for the Ryukyuan government to prepare to receive a Chinese investiture mission, an undertaking which was quite expensive for the small kingdom, and for which the Chinese government contributed not at all. Seven officials from the [[Kumemura]] community, known collectively as the ''shiô shichishi'' (支応七司), were selected to aid in the reception of the investiture envoys. They included: a ''kanmushi'' (館務司) who oversaw various matters at the [[Tenshikan]]; a ''shôôsho'' (承応所) in charge of upkeep and supplies; a ''shôseisho'' (掌牲所) who took care of sheep, pigs, chickens, and ducks; a ''kyôôsho'' (供応所) who oversaw the provision of food, rice, [[sake|saké]], etc.; a ''rienshi'' (理宴司) who oversaw the royal banquets; a ''shokanshi'' (書簡司) in charge official documents; and a ''hyôkashi'' (評価司) who oversaw the finances.<ref name=kuninda>Gallery labels, "Kuninda - Ryûkyû to Chûgoku no kakehashi," special exhibit, Okinawa Prefectural Museum, Sept 2014.</ref>

The envoys, known as ''tian-shi'' in Chinese (J: 天史, ''tenshi''), were selected from a pool of nominees nominated by the Board of Rites, Grand Secretariat, Hanlin Academy, and Censorate. The roughly fifteen or so nominees would be presented to the Emperor, who would select a chief envoy and a vice-envoy from among them. As the investiture mission was one of formal ceremony and not one of diplomatic negotiations or foreign policy, diplomatic skill or experience was not a criterion for selection; envoys were generally chosen based on their formal classical education. Dressed and equipped with accoutrements far above their rank, the envoys

 

The envoys, known as ''tiān shǐ'' in Chinese (J: 天史, ''tenshi''), were selected from a pool of nominees nominated by the Board of Rites, Grand Secretariat, Hanlin Academy, and Censorate. The roughly fifteen or so nominees would be presented to the Emperor, who would select a chief envoy and a vice-envoy from among them. As the investiture mission was one of formal ceremony and not one of diplomatic negotiations or foreign policy, diplomatic skill or experience was not a criterion for selection; envoys were generally chosen based on their formal classical education. Dressed and equipped with accoutrements far above their rank, the envoys

were provided with a minimal amount of funds to support them on their journey. Local officials in Fuzhou saw to their accommodations there, and once in Ryûkyû, the burden was placed on the Ryukyuan government to pay for the envoys' food, shelter, entertainment, and other needs.<ref name=chen/>  

were provided with a minimal amount of funds to support them on their journey. Local officials in Fuzhou saw to their accommodations there, and once in Ryûkyû, the burden was placed on the Ryukyuan government to pay for the envoys' food, shelter, entertainment, and other needs.<ref name=chen/>  

The procession met the king and his top advisors at the [[Shureimon]], the symbolic entrance to the castle grounds. The king, and all the officials of the royal government, arranged by rank, kowtowed to the objects held in the portable pavilions, an act symbolic of receiving the Chinese Emperor himself. The king then led the procession into the castle and to the ''una-'', where the objects were placed upon a table and flanked by the envoys, atop the raised platform, the king remaining below, at ground level<ref name=chen/>.

The procession met the king and his top advisors at the [[Shureimon]], the symbolic entrance to the castle grounds. The king, and all the officials of the royal government, arranged by rank, kowtowed to the objects held in the portable pavilions, an act symbolic of receiving the Chinese Emperor himself. The king then led the procession into the castle and to the ''una-'', where the objects were placed upon a table and flanked by the envoys, atop the raised platform, the king remaining below, at ground level<ref name=chen/>.

After another kowtow and some music played by the Ryukyuan royal ensemble, the king knelt as the investiture edict was read. He then performed another kowtow, and the title of "king" (C: ''guo-wang''; J: ''kokuô'') was formally granted to him. Further kowtows accompanied the presentation of the Imperial gifts and of the Imperial patent and edict. Though Chinese custom dictated that the edict and patent be returned to the envoys afterward, Ryûkyû always requested to keep the objects as national heirlooms. The envoys' request to have them returned, Ryukyuan request to keep them, and granting of permission quickly became part of the investiture ritual. Before granting permission, the envoys also requested that the patents and edicts from previous investitures be shown to them<ref name=chen/>.

After another kowtow and some music played by the Ryukyuan royal ensemble, the king knelt as the investiture edict was read. He then performed another kowtow, and the title of "king" (C: ''guó wáng''; J: ''kokuô'') was formally granted to him. Further kowtows accompanied the presentation of the Imperial gifts and of the Imperial patent and edict. Though Chinese custom dictated that the edict and patent be returned to the envoys afterward, Ryûkyû always requested to keep the objects as national heirlooms. The envoys' request to have them returned, Ryukyuan request to keep them, and granting of permission quickly became part of the investiture ritual. Before granting permission, the envoys also requested that the patents and edicts from previous investitures be shown to them<ref name=chen/>.

The investiture ceremony concluded with the envoys being led by the king on a tour of the castle, and by a mutual kowtow of farewell. Throughout, the king was swathed in formal Chinese costume gifted him by the Imperial Court. The formal outfit, or ''hibenfuku'' in Japanese (皮弁服), included a [[dragon robe]], belt (J: ''sekitai''), black silk shoes called ''kanku'', ritual sword (J: ''chiyoganemaru''), and black silk crown. The crown, called ''hibenkan'' in Japanese (皮弁冠; C: ''pí biàn guàn'')<ref>Garrett, Valery. Chinese Clothing: An Illustrated Guide. Oxford University Press, 1994. pp5-6.</ref>, was made of a mixture of black ''tsumugi'' and bast fibers, which formed a sort of crepe, molded over a rigid frame and lined with jewels and gold decorations. The crown, visible in official Ryukyuan royal portraits, originally had nine ridges, but after [[1756]], it came to have twelve ridges, indicating a greater honorary rank for the king. An eleven-inch golden hairpin with a dragon motif was then stuck through the crown, which was additionally held on with red-orange braided tassels.<ref name=dress>''Encyclopedia of World Dress and Fashion, Volume 6: East Asia''. Oxford University Press, 2010. p422.</ref> These formal garments, crown, and other accoutrements were provided by the Chinese envoys during the Ming Dynasty, but in the Qing Dynasty, the envoys would provide garments only, and the Ryukyuan Court had to provide the crown and other accoutrements itself.<ref>Tomiyama Kazuyuki 豊見山和行, "''Edo nobori kara Edo dachi he - Ryûkyû shisetsu zô no tenkai''" 「江戸上り」から「江戸立」へー琉球使節像の転回, in ''Ryûkyû shisetsu, Edo he iku!'' 琉球使節、江戸へ行く！, Okinawa Prefectural Museum (2009), 60.</ref>

The investiture ceremony concluded with the envoys being led by the king on a tour of the castle, and by a mutual kowtow of farewell. Throughout, the king was swathed in formal Chinese costume gifted him by the Imperial Court. The formal outfit, or ''hibenfuku'' in Japanese (皮弁服), included a [[dragon robe]], belt (J: ''sekitai''), black silk shoes called ''kanku'', ritual sword (J: ''chiyoganemaru''), and black silk crown. The crown, called ''hibenkan'' in Japanese (皮弁冠; C: ''pí biàn guàn'')<ref>Garrett, Valery. Chinese Clothing: An Illustrated Guide. Oxford University Press, 1994. pp5-6.</ref>, was made of a mixture of black ''tsumugi'' and bast fibers, which formed a sort of crepe, molded over a rigid frame and lined with jewels and gold decorations. The crown, visible in official Ryukyuan royal portraits, originally had nine ridges, but after [[1756]], it came to have twelve ridges, indicating a greater honorary rank for the king. An eleven-inch golden hairpin with a dragon motif was then stuck through the crown, which was additionally held on with red-orange braided tassels.<ref name=dress>''Encyclopedia of World Dress and Fashion, Volume 6: East Asia''. Oxford University Press, 2010. p422.</ref> These formal garments, crown, and other accoutrements were provided by the Chinese envoys during the Ming Dynasty, but in the Qing Dynasty, the envoys would provide garments only, and the Ryukyuan Court had to provide the crown and other accoutrements itself.<ref>Tomiyama Kazuyuki 豊見山和行, "''Edo nobori kara Edo dachi he - Ryûkyû shisetsu zô no tenkai''" 「江戸上り」から「江戸立」へー琉球使節像の転回, in ''Ryûkyû shisetsu, Edo he iku!'' 琉球使節、江戸へ行く！, Okinawa Prefectural Museum (2009), 60.</ref>

Originally, Ryukyuan kings were given robes of a lower rank, but later would be granted robes indicative of a rank equivalent to Imperial Prince. When the Ming dynasty fell and was replaced by the Manchu Qing dynasty, the Ryukyuans were permitted to maintain Ming costume, but were furthermore permitted to wear Ming costume only for the investiture ceremony itself; outside of the ceremony, even during the continued visit of the Chinese envoys, the Ryukyuan king and his officials were expected to wear Ryukyuan court costume.<ref name=dress/> By the 19th century, this Ming style of court dress, not seen in China for over a century and a half, became a considerable focus of curiosity and attention from the Chinese envoys<ref name=chen/>.

Originally, Ryukyuan kings were given robes of a lower rank, but later would be granted robes indicative of a rank equivalent to Imperial Prince. When the Ming dynasty fell and was replaced by the Manchu Qing dynasty, the Ryukyuans were permitted to maintain Ming costume, but were furthermore permitted to wear Ming costume only for the investiture ceremony itself; outside of the ceremony, even during the continued visit of the Chinese envoys, the Ryukyuan king and his officials were expected to wear Ryukyuan court costume.<ref name=dress/> By the 19th century, this Ming style of court dress, not seen in China for over a century and a half, became a considerable focus of curiosity and attention from the Chinese envoys<ref name=chen/>.

Following the investiture, an emissary would journey to the Chinese capital, to formally express gratitude (謝恩, C: ''xie en'', J: ''shaon'')<ref name=chen/>.

Following the investiture, an emissary would journey to the Chinese capital, to formally express gratitude (謝恩, C: ''xiè ēn'', J: ''shaon'')<ref name=chen/>.

==Hiding the Japan Connection==

==Hiding the Japan Connection==