Changes

As the invading army bore down on Shuri, another attempt at negotiation was considered but ultimately rejected, as the Ryukyuans realized it was too late. Soldiers lined up at the ornamental [[Shureimon]], the outermost gate of the castle, overlapping their wooden shields in an attempt to produce a defense, but soon fell back to the Kankaimon. The attackers swept defenders off the walls with arquebus fire, as they had done elsewhere, and scaled the walls using ladders.

As the invading army bore down on Shuri, another attempt at negotiation was considered but ultimately rejected, as the Ryukyuans realized it was too late. Soldiers lined up at the ornamental [[Shureimon]], the outermost gate of the castle, overlapping their wooden shields in an attempt to produce a defense, but soon fell back to the Kankaimon. The attackers swept defenders off the walls with arquebus fire, as they had done elsewhere, and scaled the walls using ladders.

The invaders entered Shuri Castle on 4/3 and looted it, along with a number of nearby temples and noble residences, stealing or destroying Buddhist scriptures and a variety of other objects of religious or historical significance, along with considerable portions of the royal treasure. They captured Prince [[Prince Sho Ko|Gushichan Chôsei]] and the Sanshikan on 4/2, and Prince Sashiki Chôshô (the future King [[Sho Ho|Shô Hô]]) on 4/3.<ref name=miyako24/> They then turned on Naha, entering the city both by land, and through the now undefended harbor.  

The invaders entered Shuri Castle on 4/3 and looted it, along with a number of nearby temples and noble residences, stealing or destroying Buddhist scriptures and a variety of other objects of religious or historical significance, along with considerable portions of the royal treasure. They captured Prince [[Prince Sho Ko|Gushichan Chôsei]] and the Sanshikan on 4/2, and Prince Sashiki Chôshô (the future King [[Sho Ho|Shô Hô]]) on 4/3.<ref name=miyako24/> While the invaders were packing up their "loot" and coordinating their hostages, a number of royal retainers escaped the castle, perhaps led by the three sons of Urasoe ''ueekata'', and briefly continued the fight; in the course of their defeat, the three sons were killed.<ref>Smits, ''Maritime Ryukyu'', 233.</ref> The Shimazu forces then turned on Naha, entering the city both by land, and through the now undefended harbor.

Shô Nei surrendered on the fifth day of the fourth lunar month of 1609<ref name=Smits>Smits. ''Visions of Ryukyu''. pp15-19. Some other sources, such as ''Miyakonojô to Ryûkyû ôkoku'' (2012), 22-24, give the date as 4/4.</ref>, and was taken hostage, along with his queen, the heir to the throne, and roughly one hundred of his officials<ref>Kerr. p159.</ref>. Members of the Sanshikan were sent to the islands to the south, to convey the news of the invasion and to seek their surrender on behalf of the Satsuma forces; by 5/5, the entire kingdom had submitted to Satsuma authority, without any samurai so much as setting foot on any of the more southterly islands.

Shô Nei surrendered on the fifth day of the fourth lunar month of 1609<ref name=Smits>Smits. ''Visions of Ryukyu''. pp15-19. Some other sources, such as ''Miyakonojô to Ryûkyû ôkoku'' (2012), 22-24, give the date as 4/4.</ref>, and was taken hostage, along with his queen, the heir to the throne, and roughly one hundred of his officials<ref>Kerr. p159.</ref>. Members of the Sanshikan were sent to the islands to the south, to convey the news of the invasion and to seek their surrender on behalf of the Satsuma forces; by 5/5, the entire kingdom had submitted to Satsuma authority, without any samurai so much as setting foot on any of the more southterly islands.

They then returned finally to Kagoshima, where on [[1611]]/9/19, the king was forced to more formally surrender and to declare a number of oaths to the Shimazu clan. Over the course of these two years as hostages in Japan, Shô Nei and the other hostages were treated, in some ways at least, as "guests," and were treated to numerous banquets and entertainments.<ref name=sakai>[[Robert Sakai]], "The Ryukyu Islands as a Fief of Satsuma," in [[John K. Fairbank]], ''The Chinese World Order'', Harvard University Press (1968), 112-134.</ref> In 1611, two years after the invasion, the king and the other hostages were permitted to return to Shuri.

They then returned finally to Kagoshima, where on [[1611]]/9/19, the king was forced to more formally surrender and to declare a number of oaths to the Shimazu clan. Over the course of these two years as hostages in Japan, Shô Nei and the other hostages were treated, in some ways at least, as "guests," and were treated to numerous banquets and entertainments.<ref name=sakai>[[Robert Sakai]], "The Ryukyu Islands as a Fief of Satsuma," in [[John K. Fairbank]], ''The Chinese World Order'', Harvard University Press (1968), 112-134.</ref> In 1611, two years after the invasion, the king and the other hostages were permitted to return to Shuri.

In the king's absence, Kabayama Hisataka and his deputy [[Honda Chikamasa]] governed the islands on behalf of their lord. Fourteen samurai officials from Satsuma, along with 163 of their staff<ref>Kerr. p159.</ref>, examined the kingdom's political structures and economic productivity, and conducted land surveys of all the islands. Following the king's return to Shuri and the resumption of governance under the royal establishment, two Ryûkyûan officials remained as hostages in Kagoshima until Satsuma was convinced that Shô Nei and his officials were operating in accordance with their oaths. The following year, the lords of [[Ozato|Ôzato]] and [[Katsuren]] returned to Okinawa, while a third, [[Kunigami Seiya|Kunjan ''anji'']], took their place in [[1614]]. He took on a Japanese name and journeyed alongside Shimazu clan warriors to fight in the 1615 [[Osaka Summer Campaign]], but did not arrive before the fighting ended. He was permitted to return to Ryûkyû the following year.<ref>"[http://kotobank.jp/word/%E5%9B%BD%E9%A0%AD%E6%AD%A3%E5%BC%A5 Kunigami Seiya]" 国頭正弥. ''Digital-ban Nihon jinmei daijiten'' デジタル版 日本人名大辞典. Accessed via Kotobank.jp, 12 November 2011.</ref>

In the king's absence, Kabayama Hisataka and his deputy [[Honda Chikamasa]] governed the islands on behalf of their lord.<ref name=kerr159>Kerr. p159.</ref> Smits writes that Nago ''ueekata'' was the chief Ryukyuan official who oversaw the court until the king's return.<ref>It is unclear, however, whether this refers to [[Nago Ryoho|Nago Ryôhô]], a member of the Council of Three who was captured by the Shimazu, or his father [[Nago Ryoin|Nago Ryôin]], who had already retired from government service. Smits, 235.</ref> Fourteen samurai officials from Satsuma, along with 163 of their staff<ref name=kerr159/>, examined the kingdom's political structures and economic productivity, and conducted land surveys of all the islands. Following the king's return to Shuri and the resumption of governance under the royal establishment, two Ryûkyûan officials remained as hostages in Kagoshima until Satsuma was convinced that Shô Nei and his officials were operating in accordance with their oaths. The following year, the lords of [[Ozato|Ôzato]] and [[Katsuren]] returned to Okinawa, while a third, [[Kunigami Seiya|Kunjan ''anji'']], took their place in [[1614]]. He took on a Japanese name and journeyed alongside Shimazu clan warriors to fight in the 1615 [[Osaka Summer Campaign]], but did not arrive before the fighting ended. He was permitted to return to Ryûkyû the following year.<ref>"[http://kotobank.jp/word/%E5%9B%BD%E9%A0%AD%E6%AD%A3%E5%BC%A5 Kunigami Seiya]" 国頭正弥. ''Digital-ban Nihon jinmei daijiten'' デジタル版 日本人名大辞典. Accessed via Kotobank.jp, 12 November 2011.</ref>

==Consequences and effects==

==Consequences and effects==