Changes

The population of the islands at the time of the ''shobun'' is said to have been over 310,000 people, occupying over 63,000 homes.<ref name=shisetsu48>''Ryûkyû shisetsu, Edo he iku!'' 琉球使節、江戸へ行く！, Okinawa Prefectural Museum (2009), 48.</ref>

The population of the islands at the time of the ''shobun'' is said to have been over 310,000 people, occupying over 63,000 homes.<ref name=shisetsu48>''Ryûkyû shisetsu, Edo he iku!'' 琉球使節、江戸へ行く！, Okinawa Prefectural Museum (2009), 48.</ref>

==Name==

==Terminology==

The term ''Ryûkyû shobun'' (琉球処分) is most commonly given in English as "the Disposition of Ryûkyû." However, this has nothing to do with "disposition" in the sense of one's mood or temperament, or inclinations or tendencies. Rather, the word ''shobun'' is much more closely related in meaning to the English word "disposal."

The term ''Ryûkyû shobun'' (琉球処分) is most commonly given in English as "the Disposition of Ryûkyû." However, this has nothing to do with "disposition" in the sense of one's mood or temperament, or inclinations or tendencies. Rather, the word ''shobun'' is much more closely related in meaning to the English word "disposal."