Changes

*''Chinese/Japanese'': 福州 ''(Fuzhou; Fukushuu)''

*''Chinese/Japanese'': 福州 ''(Fúzhōu; Fukushuu)''

Fuzhou is the capital of China's [[Fujian province]], and is a major port facing the East China Sea. Located only a short distance from [[Taipei]] and from [[Okinawa]], Fuzhou was the chief center of [[Ryukyu Kingdom|Ryukyuan]] activity in China, and the chief intermediary point for Ryukyuan officials traveling between Okinawa and [[Beijing]].

Fuzhou is the capital of China's [[Fujian province]], and is a major port facing the East China Sea. Located only a short distance from [[Taipei]] and from [[Okinawa]], Fuzhou was the chief center of [[Ryukyu Kingdom|Ryukyuan]] activity in China, and the chief intermediary point for Ryukyuan officials traveling between Okinawa and [[Beijing]].

==History==

==History==

The city is located on the northern bank of the lower reaches of the Min River, and has been an active mercantile port since the [[Tang Dynasty]].  

The city is located on the northern bank of the lower reaches of the Min River, and has been an active mercantile port since the [[Tang Dynasty]]. As the chief city in the region of [[Minnan]] culture and language, the city is sometimes known as Mǐn. It is also sometimes known as Róngchéng, or Banyan City, for its many [[banyan]] trees.<ref>Akamine Mamoru, Lina Terrell (trans.), Robert Huey (ed.), ''The Ryukyu Kingdom: Cornerstone of East Asia'', University of Hawaii Press (2017), 113.</ref>

Japanese activity in Fuzhou increased especially in the 14th century, when increased pirate activity in the waters around Korea caused many ships to abandon their [[Ningpo]]-via-[[Hakata]] route and to seek a more southerly port in China.<ref>Uezato Takashi. "The Formation of the Port City of Naha in Ryukyu and the World of Maritime Asia: From the Perspective of a Japanese Network." ''[[Acta Asiatica]]'' 95 (2008). p58.</ref>

Japanese activity in Fuzhou increased especially in the 14th century, when increased pirate activity in the waters around Korea caused many ships to abandon their [[Ningpo]]-via-[[Hakata]] route and to seek a more southerly port in China.<ref>Uezato Takashi. "The Formation of the Port City of Naha in Ryukyu and the World of Maritime Asia: From the Perspective of a Japanese Network." ''[[Acta Asiatica]]'' 95 (2008). p58.</ref>

==Relations with Ryûkyû==

==Relations with Ryûkyû==

When Fuzhou became the home of the ''shibosi'' (office supervising maritime trade) in 1470, it also became the designated port for Ryukyuans entering China on official business (chiefly, related to the paying of [[tribute]]). The ''[[Ryukyu-kan|Ryûkyû-kan]]'' (the headquarters provided by the city for Ryukyuan visitors) is believed, however, to have already been in operation at that time, having been first established around 1430-1440. Related sites included the ''Kaido-kan'', a section within the governmental areas of the city reserved for visiting foreign dignitaries, and the ''Kokushi-kan'', where Ryukyuan students and scholars studied.<ref>"[http://kyotoreview.cseas.kyoto-u.ac.jp/issue/issue2/index.html The Rekidai Hoan: An Introduction to Documents of the Ryukyu Kingdom]." Editorial Office of Rekidai Hoan, Okinawa Archives, Okinawa Prefectural Board of Education (trans.). ''Kyoto Review of Southeast Asia'' 3 (March 2003). 15 pages.</ref>

When Fuzhou became the home of the ''shibosi'' (office supervising maritime trade) in 1470, it also became the designated port for Ryukyuans entering China on official business (chiefly, related to the paying of [[tribute]]). The ''[[Ryukyu-kan|Liuqiu-guan]]'' (the headquarters provided by the city for Ryukyuan visitors) is believed, however, to have already been in operation at that time, having been first established around 1430-1440. Related sites included the ''[[Huitong-guan]]'', a section within the governmental areas of the city reserved for visiting foreign dignitaries, and the ''[[Guozijian]]'', where Ryukyuan students and scholars studied.<ref>"[http://kyotoreview.cseas.kyoto-u.ac.jp/issue/issue2/index.html The Rekidai Hoan: An Introduction to Documents of the Ryukyu Kingdom]." Editorial Office of Rekidai Hoan, Okinawa Archives, Okinawa Prefectural Board of Education (trans.). ''Kyoto Review of Southeast Asia'' 3 (March 2003). 15 pages.</ref>

Roughly 200,000 Ryukyuans are believed to have traveled to China over the course of the Ming and Qing Dynasties (the vast majority of them entering via Fuzhou), while a total of 320,000 are believed to have journeyed to Southeast Asian polities during the Ming Dynasty alone.<ref>Takara Kurayoshi 高良倉吉. ''Hosetsu to sankô mondai - Ryûkyû ôkoku-shi no kadai'' 「補説と参考問題」『琉球王国史の課題』. Hirugi-sha ひるぎ社, 1989.</ref> This included officials and students, as well as merchants and, on occasion, castaways who, for logistical and legal reasons often passed through Fuzhou after making shore or being found/rescued.

Roughly 200,000 Ryukyuans are believed to have traveled to China over the course of the Ming and Qing Dynasties (the vast majority of them entering via Fuzhou), while a total of 320,000 are believed to have journeyed to Southeast Asian polities during the Ming Dynasty alone.<ref>Takara Kurayoshi 高良倉吉. ''Hosetsu to sankô mondai - Ryûkyû ôkoku-shi no kadai'' 「補説と参考問題」『琉球王国史の課題』. Hirugi-sha ひるぎ社, 1989.</ref> This included officials and students, as well as merchants and, on occasion, castaways who, for logistical and legal reasons often passed through Fuzhou after making shore or being found/rescued.

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.

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.

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 [[Second 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.

==References==

==References==

*Watanabe Miki. "[http://www.geocities.jp/ryukyu_history/china_ryukyu/Fujian.html ''Chûgoku ni okeru Ryûkyû shiseki''] 日本における琉球史跡." (personal webpage).

*Watanabe Miki. "[http://www.geocities.jp/ryukyu_history/china_ryukyu/Fujian.html ''Chûgoku ni okeru Ryûkyû shiseki''] 日本における琉球史跡." (personal webpage).

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[[Category:Cities and Towns]]

[[Category:Cities and Towns]]

[[Category:Muromachi Period]]

[[Category:Muromachi Period]]

[[Category:Edo Period]]

[[Category:Edo Period]]