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The ''Sakumei sakukan'' ("invention of names, invention of offices") was a document created by the [[government of the Ryukyu Kingdom]] in November [[1844]], listing a series of false government offices which could be named in communications with Westerners, in order to keep the true hierarchies and structure of the kingdom's government secret.

The ''Sakumei sakukan'' ("invention of names, invention of offices") was a document created by the [[government of the Ryukyu Kingdom]] in November [[1844]], listing a series of false government offices which could be named in communications with Westerners, in order to keep the true hierarchies and structure of the kingdom's government secret.

The list concerned, chiefly, two top-ranking fake offices: the ''sôrikan'' (総理官) and ''fuseikan'' (布政官). Another fifteen were added in [[1848]]. These were not false titles entirely, but rather semi-empty offices; officials designated as ''sôrikan'', ''fuseikan'', or ''chihôkan'' (地方官)<ref>A position created in [[1816]] when the [[Alceste|HMS ''Alceste'']] and ''[[Lyra]]'' came to the island. Tinello, 145n259.</ref> engaged in diplomatic contact with foreigners in place of officials of any real level of authority.

The list concerned, chiefly, two top-ranking fake offices: the ''sôrikan'' (総理官) and ''fuseikan'' (布政官). Another fifteen were added in [[1848]] in conjunction with the circulation of the ''[[Ikokujin he hento no kokoroe|Ikokujin he hentô no kokoroe]]'' (a document instructing people how to answer foreigners' questions, i.e. the lies that should be told in order to protect the kingdom's secrets). These were not false titles entirely, but rather semi-empty offices; officials designated as ''sôrikan'', ''fuseikan'', or ''chihôkan'' (地方官)<ref>A position created in [[1816]] when the [[Alceste|HMS ''Alceste'']] and ''[[Lyra]]'' came to the island. Tinello, 145n259.</ref> engaged in diplomatic contact with foreigners in place of officials of any real level of authority.

The precise reasons for deploying such a policy, and for hiding the true titles of the government's offices, are unclear. The list was likely intended as only a temporary measure, initially, but after the arrival of yet another French ship, the ''[[Cleopatre]]'', in [[1846]], this policy became more permanent.

The precise reasons for deploying such a policy, and for hiding the true titles of the government's offices, are unclear. The list was likely intended as only a temporary measure, initially, but after the arrival of yet another French ship, the ''[[Cleopatre]]'', in [[1846]], this policy became more permanent.