Changes

The first Ryukyuan students to travel to China under this system did so in [[1392]]. Three of them were named Nishimi<!--日孜毎-->, Eiji<!--仁悦慈-->, and Kohama<!--闊八馬-->.<ref name=tomi41>Tomiyama Kazuyuki, ''Ryûkyû ôkoku no gaikô to ôken'', Yoshikawa kôbunkan (2004), 41.</ref>  

The first Ryukyuan students to travel to China under this system did so in [[1392]]. Three of them were named Nishimi<!--日孜毎-->, Eiji<!--仁悦慈-->, and Kohama<!--闊八馬-->.<ref name=tomi41>Tomiyama Kazuyuki, ''Ryûkyû ôkoku no gaikô to ôken'', Yoshikawa kôbunkan (2004), 41.</ref>  

When the system began, it was only the children of kings and ''[[anji]]'' (high-ranking local/regional nobles), i.e. the community of [[Shuri]], the royal capital, who were able to study in Beijing; however, from the reign of [[Sho Shin|Shô Shin]] (r. [[1477]]-[[1526]]) onwards, children of scholar-aristocrat families from [[Kumemura]] began to be sent as well. For a time, it became standard for three students from Shuri, and three from Kumemura, to be sent at a time.<ref>In [[1802]], eight students - four from Kumemura, and four from Shuri - traveled to Beijing, where they were then resident for seven years. After this, the pattern returned to previous practices. Ono Masako, Tomita Chinatsu, Kanna Keiko, Taguchi Kei, "Shiryô shôkai Kishi Akimasa bunko Satsuyû kikô," ''Shiryôhenshûshitsu kiyô'' 31 (2006), 241.</ref> Those whose travel and studies were paid for by the government were called ''kanshô'' ("government students"), while those who had to pay their own way were called ''kingaku'' ("work-study").<ref>Gallery labels, "Kuninda - Ryûkyû to Chûgoku no kakehashi," special exhibit, Okinawa Prefectural Museum, Sept 2014.</ref> Selections were determined by some mechanism within the royal court, but individuals could also petition the court that they be considered for selection.<ref>Liao Zhenpei 廖真珮, "Ryûkyû kyûtei ni okeru Chûgoku kei ongaku no ensô to denshô" 琉球宮廷における中国系音楽の演奏と伝承, in ''Uzagaku no fukugen ni mukete'' 御座楽の復元に向けて, Naha, Okinawa: Uzagaku fukugen ensô kenkyûkai 御座楽復元演奏研究会 (2007), 110.</ref>

When the system began, it was only the children of kings and ''[[anji]]'' (high-ranking local/regional nobles), i.e. the community of [[Shuri]], the royal capital, who were able to study in Beijing; however, from the reign of [[Sho Shin|Shô Shin]] (r. [[1477]]-[[1526]]) onwards, children of scholar-aristocrat families from [[Kumemura]] began to be sent as well. For a time, it became standard for three students from Shuri, and three from Kumemura, to be sent at a time.<ref>In [[1802]], eight students - four from Kumemura, and four from Shuri - traveled to Beijing, where they were then resident for seven years. After this, the pattern returned to previous practices. Ono Masako, Tomita Chinatsu, Kanna Keiko, Taguchi Megumi, "Shiryô shôkai Kishi Akimasa bunko Satsuyû kikô," ''Shiryôhenshûshitsu kiyô'' 31 (2006), 241.</ref> Those whose travel and studies were paid for by the government were called ''kanshô'' ("government students"), while those who had to pay their own way were called ''kingaku'' ("work-study").<ref>Gallery labels, "Kuninda - Ryûkyû to Chûgoku no kakehashi," special exhibit, Okinawa Prefectural Museum, Sept 2014.</ref> Selections were determined by some mechanism within the royal court, but individuals could also petition the court that they be considered for selection.<ref>Liao Zhenpei 廖真珮, "Ryûkyû kyûtei ni okeru Chûgoku kei ongaku no ensô to denshô" 琉球宮廷における中国系音楽の演奏と伝承, in ''Uzagaku no fukugen ni mukete'' 御座楽の復元に向けて, Naha, Okinawa: Uzagaku fukugen ensô kenkyûkai 御座楽復元演奏研究会 (2007), 110.</ref>

In addition to simply receiving these young men as students in the National Academy, the [[Ming Dynasty|Ming]] or [[Qing Dynasty|Qing]] court typically also bestowed upon the students considerable gifts of formal robes, court caps, shoes, etc.<ref name=tomi41/>

In addition to simply receiving these young men as students in the National Academy, the [[Ming Dynasty|Ming]] or [[Qing Dynasty|Qing]] court typically also bestowed upon the students considerable gifts of formal robes, court caps, shoes, etc.<ref name=tomi41/>