Changes

Though the kingdom's official histories seem to represent the people of the Miyakos and Yaeyamas as separate peoples who the Okinawa-based kingdom fought with and then incorporated, local legends, along with archaeological and other evidence, seems to suggest a notable influx in the 14th century of people from the north - people with superior metalworking technology, seafaring abilities, and established practices of trade with China. These people may have been ''[[wako|wakô]]'' driven south in the late 14th century by the collapse of the [[Southern Court]] in Kyushu.<ref>Smits, ''Maritime Ryukyu'', 56.</ref>

Though the kingdom's official histories seem to represent the people of the Miyakos and Yaeyamas as separate peoples who the Okinawa-based kingdom fought with and then incorporated, local legends, along with archaeological and other evidence, seems to suggest a notable influx in the 14th century of people from the north - people with superior metalworking technology, seafaring abilities, and established practices of trade with China. These people may have been ''[[wako|wakô]]'' driven south in the late 14th century by the collapse of the [[Southern Court]] in Kyushu.<ref>Smits, ''Maritime Ryukyu'', 56.</ref>

Following Shuri's defeat of the islanders, the islands were then incorporated (albeit loosely) into the kingdom, and officials were dispatched from Shuri to oversee and administer the islands.<ref>Kerr, 115.</ref> Shuri appointed officials known as ''[[Shuri oyako|Ufu Sui uyaku]]'' and ''[[zaiban (Ryukyu)|zaiban]]'' to oversee matters in the outer islands, on behalf of the royal government.<ref>"[http://ryukyushimpo.jp/news/storyid-41458-storytopic-121.html Zaiban]," Okinawa Compact Encyclopedia 沖縄コンパクト事典, Ryukyu Shimpo, 1 March 2003.</ref> These ''zaiban'' operated under the authority of a ''kuramutu'' (J: ''[[kuramoto]]'') based on [[Ishigaki Island]].<ref>"[http://ryukyushimpo.jp/news/storyid-41219-storytopic-121.html Kuramoto]." ''Okinawa konpakuto jiten'' (沖縄コンパクト事典, "Okinawa Compact Encyclopedia"). Ryukyu Shimpô. 1 March 2003. Accessed 16 January 2010.</ref> Beginning as early as [[1503]], Shuri also appointed ''Ôamu tsukasa'', priestess officials under the [[Oamushirare|Makabe Ôamushirare]] (''Makan Ufuanshitari'') high priestess based in Shuri, to serve as the chief religious officials in the Miyakos.<ref>Plaque at former site of Makan dunchi. [https://www.flickr.com/photos/toranosuke/15442912996/in/photostream/]</ref>

Following Shuri's defeat of the islanders, the islands were then incorporated (albeit loosely) into the kingdom, and officials were dispatched from Shuri to oversee and administer the islands.<ref>Kerr, 115.</ref> Shuri appointed officials known as ''[[Shuri oyako|Ufu Sui uyaku]]'' and ''[[zaiban (Ryukyu)|zaiban]]'' to oversee matters in the outer islands, on behalf of the royal government.<ref>"[http://ryukyushimpo.jp/news/storyid-41458-storytopic-121.html Zaiban]," Okinawa Compact Encyclopedia 沖縄コンパクト事典, Ryukyu Shimpo, 1 March 2003.</ref> These ''zaiban'' operated under the authority of a ''kuramutu'' (J: ''[[kuramoto]]'') based on [[Ishigaki Island]].<ref>"[http://ryukyushimpo.jp/news/storyid-41219-storytopic-121.html Kuramoto]." ''Okinawa konpakuto jiten'' (沖縄コンパクト事典, "Okinawa Compact Encyclopedia"). Ryukyu Shimpô. 1 March 2003. Accessed 16 January 2010.</ref> Beginning as early as [[1503]], Shuri also appointed ''Ôamu tsukasa'', priestess officials under the [[Oamushirare|Makabe Ôamushirare]] (''Makan Ufuanshitari'') high priestess based in Shuri, to serve as the chief religious officials in the Miyakos.<ref>Plaque at former site of Makan dunchi. [https://www.flickr.com/photos/toranosuke/15442912996/in/photostream/]</ref> These priestesses were local women from the Miyakos who traveled to Shuri to receive their official appointments.<ref>Smits, ''Maritime Ryukyu'', 179.</ref>

One of the most oft-discussed and perhaps most oppressive aspects of life under the kingdom for residents of the Miyakos was a [[poll tax]] (or "head tax") implemented in [[1637]] and continued by the Empire of Japan through the abolition of the kingdom, into the early years of the 20th century. Each individual (i.e. each "head") in the islands owed a certain amount to Shuri (and, later, to the prefectural government in [[Naha]]). This was not only a heavy tax burden simply in terms of the amount to be paid, but also because islanders were often obliged to pay in X, thus requiring them to convert their grain, textiles, or other products into X. This heavy tax burden frequently led to uprisings, riots, and protests. One particularly notable set of protests, known as the [[Miyako Island Peasantry Movement]], took place in [[1893]] to [[1895]], and not only involved local protests in the Miyakos, but also Miyako Islanders traveling to Tokyo to petition before the [[Imperial Diet]] for an end to the oppressive tax burden. The poll tax system was eventually abolished in [[1903]].

One of the most oft-discussed and perhaps most oppressive aspects of life under the kingdom for residents of the Miyakos was a [[poll tax]] (or "head tax") implemented in [[1637]] and continued by the Empire of Japan through the abolition of the kingdom, into the early years of the 20th century. Each individual (i.e. each "head") in the islands owed a certain amount to Shuri (and, later, to the prefectural government in [[Naha]]). This was not only a heavy tax burden simply in terms of the amount to be paid, but also because islanders were often obliged to pay in X, thus requiring them to convert their grain, textiles, or other products into X. This heavy tax burden frequently led to uprisings, riots, and protests. One particularly notable set of protests, known as the [[Miyako Island Peasantry Movement]], took place in [[1893]] to [[1895]], and not only involved local protests in the Miyakos, but also Miyako Islanders traveling to Tokyo to petition before the [[Imperial Diet]] for an end to the oppressive tax burden. The poll tax system was eventually abolished in [[1903]].