Changes

Fuzhou was also the chief waypoint by which Chinese officials departed China on [[Chinese investiture envoys|missions to Ryûkyû]], and the site of meetings between Ryukyuan and Chinese officials, as well as other Ryûkyû-related Chinese official business. Ryukyuan official reports to the Chinese authorities took place here, alongside the paying of tribute, as well as official requests for investiture, and Ryukyuan meetings with Chinese investiture envoys prior to the departure of the latter for Ryûkyû. The local Fuzhou authorities were responsible, of course, not only for housing and otherwise accommodating Ryukyuan visitors at the ''Ryûkyû-kan'', but for doing the same for these Chinese officials passing through Fuzhou on their way between Beijing and Ryûkyû.

Fuzhou was also the chief waypoint by which Chinese officials departed China on [[Chinese investiture envoys|missions to Ryûkyû]], and the site of meetings between Ryukyuan and Chinese officials, as well as other Ryûkyû-related Chinese official business. Ryukyuan official reports to the Chinese authorities took place here, alongside the paying of tribute, as well as official requests for investiture, and Ryukyuan meetings with Chinese investiture envoys prior to the departure of the latter for Ryûkyû. The local Fuzhou authorities were responsible, of course, not only for housing and otherwise accommodating Ryukyuan visitors at the ''Ryûkyû-kan'', but for doing the same for these Chinese officials passing through Fuzhou on their way between Beijing and Ryûkyû.

Tributary relations between Qing Dynasty China and the Ryûkyû Kingdom ended with the [[Ryukyu Shobun|abolition of the latter in the 1870s]], and for a brief period Fuzhou became a center of Ryukyuan activism as a small group of prominent Ryukyuan figures petitioned (though ultimately unsuccessfully) the Chinese government to do something to oppose the Japanese takeover of the Ryukyus.

Tributary relations between Qing Dynasty China and the Ryûkyû Kingdom ended with the [[Ryukyu Shobun|abolition of the latter in the 1870s]], and for a brief period Fuzhou became a center of Ryukyuan activism as a small group of prominent Ryukyuan figures petitioned (though ultimately unsuccessfully) the Chinese government to do something to oppose the Japanese takeover of the Ryukyus. A group of authorized merchants known as ''qiú shāng'' (球商) held an official monopoly on commerce with Ryukyuan missions and traders; they bought Ryukyuan goods and sold them on Chinese markets, bought Chinese local goods to sell to the Ryukyuans, and served to an extent as interpreters.<ref>Schottenhammer, Angela. “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): 181.</ref>

Trade between southern China and [[Okinawa prefecture]] enjoyed a brief revival following the [[Sino-Japanese War]], when such activity was promoted by the [[Meiji government|Japanese government]] in order to boost the prefecture's economy. [[Maruichi shoten]], a trading company supported by investments from the [[Sho Dynasty|former Ryukyuan royal family]], established a branch office in Fuzhou, trading Chinese tea and other manufactured/processed goods for ''kombu'', textiles, and canned goods from [[Osaka]]. Thus trade between Fuzhou and Okinawa enjoyed a brief revival, but ended once again as Sino-Japanese relations turned hostile in the 1930s.

Trade between southern China and [[Okinawa prefecture]] enjoyed a brief revival following the [[Sino-Japanese War]], when such activity was promoted by the [[Meiji government|Japanese government]] in order to boost the prefecture's economy. [[Maruichi shoten]], a trading company supported by investments from the [[Sho Dynasty|former Ryukyuan royal family]], established a branch office in Fuzhou, trading Chinese tea and other manufactured/processed goods for ''kombu'', textiles, and canned goods from [[Osaka]]. Thus trade between Fuzhou and Okinawa enjoyed a brief revival, but ended once again as Sino-Japanese relations turned hostile in the 1930s.