Changes

*''Written: [[Morishima Churyo|Morishima Chûryô]]''

*''Written: [[Morishima Churyo|Morishima Chûryô]]''

*''Published: [[1790]] ([[Suwaraya Ichibei]], Edo), [[1795]] ([[Hayashi Ihei]], Kyoto)''

*''Published: [[1790]] ([[Suwaraya Ichibei]], Edo), [[1795]] ([[Hayashi Ihei]], Kyoto)''

*''Japanese'': 琉球談 ''(Ryuukyuu banashi)''

*''Japanese'': 琉球談 ''(Ryuukyuu banashi, Ryuukyuu dan)''

''Ryûkyû-banashi''<ref>Though the characters of the title (琉球談) can be read "Ryûkyû dan," ''furigana'' in the original publication clearly identifies the reading as "Ryûkyû banashi."</ref> by [[Morishima Churyo|Morishima Chûryô]], a volume describing the history and culture of the [[Ryukyu Kingdom|Ryûkyû Kingdom]], was among the most accurate and popularly accessible books about Ryûkyû published in [[Edo period|early modern]] Japan. It was republished four times, became a source for nearly all later Edo period books on the subject, and has been described as the most popular book about Ryûkyû in the period.<ref name=fleming87>Fleming, 87-88.</ref>

''Ryûkyû-banashi'', also known as ''Ryûkyû-dan''<ref>Different original versions of the text include ''furigana'' glosses for the title, indicating its pronunciation variously as either ''Ryûkyû-dan'' or ''Ryûkyû-banashi'', depending on the copy.</ref> by [[Morishima Churyo|Morishima Chûryô]], a volume describing the history and culture of the [[Ryukyu Kingdom|Ryûkyû Kingdom]], was among the most accurate and popularly accessible books about Ryûkyû published in [[Edo period|early modern]] Japan. It was republished four times, became a source for nearly all later Edo period books on the subject, and has been described as the most popular book about Ryûkyû in the period.<ref name=fleming87>Fleming, 87-88.</ref>

Originally published by [[Suwaraya Ichibei]] in [[Edo]] in [[1790]], and then republished in [[Kyoto]] by [[Hayashi Ihei]] in [[1795]], the book was later republished twice more by Kibundô, and by Ishida Jihei, around [[1832]]. These latter two editions were sold as two-volume sets, presumably in order to raise the profit margins.

Originally published by [[Suwaraya Ichibei]] in [[Edo]] in [[1790]], and then republished in [[Kyoto]] by [[Hayashi Ihei]] in [[1795]], the book was later republished twice more by Kibundô, and by Ishida Jihei, around [[1832]]. These latter two editions were sold as two-volume sets, presumably in order to raise the profit margins.

Morishima's volume was the first popularly accessible volume to address Ryukyuan culture in a holistic way, in contrast to certain earlier publications which touched upon only [[Ryukyuan dance]], language, music, poetry, or [[kumi odori|theater]], and not all of these together.

Morishima's volume was the first popularly accessible volume to address Ryukyuan culture in a holistic way, in contrast to certain earlier publications which touched upon only [[Ryukyuan dance]], language, music, poetry, or [[kumi odori|theater]], and not all of these together.

Numerous copies survive today in libraries and archives in Japan and overseas; the text and images are also available in modern publication, in ''Morishima Chûryô shû'' ("Collection [of Works by] Morishima Chûryô").<ref>Takada Mamoru 高田衛, Hara Michio 原道生, and Ishigami Satoshi 石上敏 (eds.), ''Morishima Chûryô shû'' 森島中良集, Tokyo: Kokusho Kankôkai 国書刊行会, 1994.</ref>

Manuscript copies of the work are held today in the National Diet Library, Tsukuba University Library, and Kobe University Library, among other institutions. Numerous woodblock printed copies survive in libraries and archives in Japan and overseas; the text and images are also available in modern publication, in ''Morishima Chûryô shû'' ("Collection [of Works by] Morishima Chûryô").<ref>Takada Mamoru 高田衛, Hara Michio 原道生, and Ishigami Satoshi 石上敏 (eds.), ''Morishima Chûryô shû'' 森島中良集, Tokyo: Kokusho Kankôkai 国書刊行会, 1994.</ref>

==References==

==References==