Changes

[[Satto]] became, in [[1372]], the first Ryukyuan king to submit to Chinese suzerainty<ref>Kerr, George. ''Okinawa: The History of an Island People''. (revised ed.) Tokyo: Tuttle Publishing, 2000. p65.</ref>. Beginning with the investiture of Satto's successor, [[Bunei]], in [[1404]]<ref name=kenpaku-nenpyo>''Ryûkyû shisetsu, Edo he iku!'' 琉球使節、江戸へ行く！, Okinawa Prefectural Museum (2009), 47.</ref>, twenty-two such missions traveled to Ryûkyû in total<ref name=shimpo>"[http://ryukyushimpo.jp/news/storyid-41495-storytopic-121.html Sappôshi]." ''Okinawa konpakuto jiten'' (沖縄コンパクト事典, "Okinawa Compact Encyclopedia"). 1 March 2003. Accessed 7 November 2009.</ref>, the last in [[1866]], for the investiture of [[Sho Tai|Shô Tai]]<ref name=kerr352>Kerr. p352.</ref>.

[[Satto]] became, in [[1372]], the first Ryukyuan king to submit to Chinese suzerainty<ref>Kerr, George. ''Okinawa: The History of an Island People''. (revised ed.) Tokyo: Tuttle Publishing, 2000. p65.</ref>. Beginning with the investiture of Satto's successor, [[Bunei]], in [[1404]]<ref name=kenpaku-nenpyo>''Ryûkyû shisetsu, Edo he iku!'' 琉球使節、江戸へ行く！, Okinawa Prefectural Museum (2009), 47.</ref>, twenty-two such missions traveled to Ryûkyû in total<ref name=shimpo>"[http://ryukyushimpo.jp/news/storyid-41495-storytopic-121.html Sappôshi]." ''Okinawa konpakuto jiten'' (沖縄コンパクト事典, "Okinawa Compact Encyclopedia"). 1 March 2003. Accessed 7 November 2009.</ref>, the last in [[1866]], for the investiture of [[Sho Tai|Shô Tai]]<ref name=kerr352>Kerr. p352.</ref>.

The Ming Dynasty capital of Beijing fell to Manchu invaders in [[1644]], marking the beginning of Qing Dynasty control of China; Ming loyalists continued to hold out in southern China and Taiwan, however, for several decades. For a time, King [[Sho Ken|Shô Ken]] maintained the kingdom's allegiance to, and relations with, the Ming, in part because of pragmatic economic concerns, namely Ming willingness to resume the raw silk trade. Chinese envoy [[Xie Bizhen]]<!--謝必振--> traveled alongside Ryukyuan representatives within China, and to & from Ryûkyû, numerous times, attempting to convince the kingdom to sever its ties with the Ming loyalists, and enter into relations with the Qing Dynasty.

The Ming Dynasty capital of Beijing fell to Manchu invaders in [[1644]], marking the beginning of Qing Dynasty control of China; [[Ming loyalists]] continued to hold out in southern China and Taiwan, however, for several decades. Several received Ryukyuan envoys; [[Kin Ogen|Kin Ôgen]] headed a mission which reported the death of King [[Sho Ho|Shô Hô]] to the Southern Ming (pretender) [[Prince of Fu|Hongguang Emperor]] at [[Nanjing]] in 1644, requesting investiture (''qiefeng'') for King [[Sho Ken|Shô Ken]]. [[Mo Daiyo|Mô Daiyô]] then led a mission congratulating (''qinghe'') Hongguang on his accession; Hongguang fell the following year. The [[Prince of Tang]] then rose to power, claiming himself as the Longwu Emperor. A Ryukyuan mission led by [[Mo Taikyu|Mô Taikyû]] met with him at Fuzhou, to offer congratulations (''qinghe''); while Mô and his party were there, however, Fuzhou fell to Qing forces led by the [[Manchu]] [[Prince Bolo]]. The Ryukyuans traveled to Beijing twice to formally request investiture from the [[Shunzhi Emperor]], but the Emperor along with the [[Ministry of Rites]] refused to grant investiture until Ryûkyû returned the royal seal granted the kingdom by the Ming, thus proving they were severing their loyalty to the Ming and would no longer engage with or support loyalists and pretenders.<ref>Angela Schottenhammer, “Empire and Periphery? The Qing Empire’s Relations with Japan and the Ryūkyūs (1644–c. 1800), a Comparison.” ''The Medieval History Journal'' 16, no. 1 (April 1, 2013): 176-178.</ref>

Shô Ken was succeeded by his younger brother, [[Sho Shitsu|Shô Shitsu]] following the former's death in [[1647]], and King Shô Shitsu was eventually convinced to send a delegation to Beijing. The Ryukyuan envoys, [[Ma Zongyi]]<!--馬宗毅--> and [[Cai Zuolong]]<!--蔡祚隆-->, were sent to congratulate the [[Shunzhi Emperor]] on his recent enthronement, to had over the king's Ming stamp and Imperial Rescript, and to request a new stamp and rescript from the Qing. It is said, however, that Shô Shitsu did not request investiture from the Qing, nor desire that a Qing embassy should come to Ryûkyû.

 

Shô Ken was succeeded by his younger brother, [[Sho Shitsu|Shô Shitsu]] following the former's death in [[1647]], and King Shô Shitsu was eventually convinced to send a delegation to Beijing. In [[1651]]/9, The Ryukyuan envoys, [[Ma Zongyi]]<!--馬宗毅--> and [[Cai Zuolong]]<!--蔡祚隆-->, were sent to congratulate the Shunzhi Emperor on his recent enthronement, to hand over the king's Ming stamp and Imperial Rescript, and to request a new stamp and rescript from the Qing. It is said, however, that Shô Shitsu did not request investiture from the Qing, nor desire that a Qing embassy should come to Ryûkyû.

A Qing embassy was commissioned in to journey to Ryûkyû anyway, in [[1654]], in order to clarify Ryûkyû's position under Qing authority. The embassy, led by [[Zhang Xueli]]<!--張学礼--> and [[Wang Gai]]<!--王垓-->, traveled to Fuzhou along with Xie Bizhen, Ma Zongyi, and Cai Zuolong, but was unable to proceed to Ryûkyû, blocked by the naval forces of Zheng Chenggong ([[Coxinga]]), leader of the Ming loyalists on Taiwan.

A Qing embassy was commissioned in to journey to Ryûkyû anyway, in [[1654]], in order to clarify Ryûkyû's position under Qing authority. The embassy, led by [[Zhang Xueli]]<!--張学礼--> and [[Wang Gai]]<!--王垓-->, traveled to Fuzhou along with Xie Bizhen, Ma Zongyi, and Cai Zuolong, but was unable to proceed to Ryûkyû, blocked by the naval forces of Zheng Chenggong ([[Coxinga]]), leader of the Ming loyalists on Taiwan.

==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 ''bào sāng'' (報喪) in Chinese; another mission would be sent a few years later to formally request investiture (請封, ''qǐng fēng'').<ref name=schott176>Angela Schottenhammer, “Empire and Periphery? The Qing Empire’s Relations with Japan and the Ryūkyūs (1644–c. 1800), a Comparison.” ''The Medieval History Journal'' 16, no. 1 (April 1, 2013): 176.</ref> 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; another mission would be sent a few years later to formally request investiture (請封, ''qǐng fēng'').<ref name=schott176>Schottenhammer, "Empire and Periphery?", 176.</ref> 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. 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 ''hyôkagata'' (評価方) who oversaw the finances.<ref name=kuninda>Gallery labels, "Kuninda - Ryûkyû to Chûgoku no kakehashi," special exhibit, Okinawa Prefectural Museum, Sept 2014. The ''hyôkagata'' was known in Chinese documents as 評價司, ''píngjià sī''</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. 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 ''hyôkagata'' (評価方) who oversaw the finances.<ref name=kuninda>Gallery labels, "Kuninda - Ryûkyû to Chûgoku no kakehashi," special exhibit, Okinawa Prefectural Museum, Sept 2014. The ''hyôkagata'' was known in Chinese documents as 評價司, ''píngjià sī''</ref>