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The other ''Ryûkyû-kan'' (''Liuqiu guan'' in Chinese ''pinyin''), was located in the Chinese city of Fuzhou. Built around 1430-1440, and originally known as the ''róuyuǎn yì'' (J: ''jûen-eki''),<ref>柔遠駅. A station (駅) for treating gently (柔) people from faraway (遠).</ref> this was one of a number of stations established by the Chinese to cater to foreign visitors. Fuzhou became the official site for Ryukyuan business in China in [[1470]], and for a Maritime Trade Office, or ''[[shibosi|shìbósī]]'' previously located in [[Quanzhou]]. The administration of the ''róuyuǎn yì'' in Fuzhou, now known as the ''Ryûkyû-kan'', which had previously been operated by Chinese officials, was now placed under Ryukyuan control. The hall now took on a more official status as the chief Ryukyuan headquarters in southern China, as the ''láiyuǎn yì'' (来遠駅, lit. "station for [those who] come from faraway"), a similar institution in Quanzhou, declined. Custom dictated that establishments for foreigners, such as this one, be placed outside the city gates, so as to prevent visiting foreigners from spying on formal goings-on within the city; to that end, the ''Ryûkyû-kan'' was built just beyond the city gates (specifically, the Shuǐbù-mén<!--水部門-->). A bridge called Wànshòu-qiáo (萬寿橋) stood nearby.

The other ''Ryûkyû-kan'' (''Liuqiu guan'' in Chinese ''pinyin''), was located in the Chinese city of Fuzhou. Built around 1430-1440, and originally known as the ''róuyuǎn yì'' (J: ''jûen-eki''),<ref>柔遠駅. A station (駅) for treating gently (柔) people from faraway (遠).</ref> this was one of a number of stations established by the Chinese to cater to foreign visitors. Fuzhou became the official site for Ryukyuan business in China in [[1470]], and for a Maritime Trade Office, or ''[[shibosi|shìbósī]]'' previously located in [[Quanzhou]]. The administration of the ''róuyuǎn yì'' in Fuzhou, now known as the ''Ryûkyû-kan'', which had previously been operated by Chinese officials, was now placed under Ryukyuan control. The hall now took on a more official status as the chief Ryukyuan headquarters in southern China, as the ''láiyuǎn yì'' (来遠駅, lit. "station for [those who] come from faraway"), a similar institution in Quanzhou, declined. Custom dictated that establishments for foreigners, such as this one, be placed outside the city gates, so as to prevent visiting foreigners from spying on formal goings-on within the city; to that end, the ''Ryûkyû-kan'' was built just beyond the city gates (specifically, the Shuǐbù-mén<!--水部門-->). A bridge called Wànshòu-qiáo (萬寿橋) stood nearby.

At roughly 5600 m², the Fuzhou ''Ryûkyû-kan'' was smaller than its Kagoshima counterpart, though accounts from the time describe it as having especially fine construction and decoration.<ref>[[Akazaki Kaimon]] 赤崎海門, ''[[Ryukaku danki|Ryûkaku danki]]'' 「琉客談記」 1796, reprinted in ''Shiseki shûran'' 「史籍集覧」, vol 16, Kyoto: Rinsen shoten (1996), 625.</ref> Its dormitories were one of three places in the city, along with the nearby ''[[Kaido-kan]]'' and ''[[Kokushi-kan]]''<ref>"Rekidai Hoan." p13.</ref>, which housed visiting dignitaries, scholars and students, most of whom were stopping in Fuzhou on their way between Beijing and Okinawa. The costs of hosting these visitors were mostly borne by the Chinese side. The Ryûkyû-kan also contained storage areas, where goods being gathered or prepared to be given as [[tribute]] were held, alongside offices for liaising with the Fuzhou ''shiboshi'' Maritime Trade Office. A series of shrines on the grounds were dedicated to Tenpi ([[Mazu]]) and local deities, and a mortuary chapel was erected in the memory of Ryukyuans who died in China. Chinese officials also maintained a residence at the Ryûkyû-kan.

At roughly 5600 m², the Fuzhou ''Ryûkyû-kan'' was smaller than its Kagoshima counterpart, though accounts from the time describe it as having especially fine construction and decoration.<ref name=akazaki625>[[Akazaki Kaimon]] 赤崎海門, ''[[Ryukaku danki|Ryûkaku danki]]'' 「琉客談記」 1796, reprinted in ''Shiseki shûran'' 「史籍集覧」, vol 16, Kyoto: Rinsen shoten (1996), 625.</ref> Its dormitories were one of three places in the city, along with the nearby ''[[Kaido-kan]]'' and ''[[Kokushi-kan]]''<ref>"Rekidai Hoan." p13.</ref>, which housed visiting dignitaries, scholars and students, most of whom were stopping in Fuzhou on their way between Beijing and Okinawa. The costs of hosting these visitors were mostly borne by the Chinese side. The Ryûkyû-kan also contained storage areas, where goods being gathered or prepared to be given as [[tribute]] were held, alongside offices for liaising with the Fuzhou ''shiboshi'' Maritime Trade Office. A series of shrines on the grounds were dedicated to Tenpi ([[Mazu]]) and local deities, and a mortuary chapel was erected in the memory of Ryukyuans who died in China. One civil official and one martial official, each with five or six subordinates, were assigned to the ''Ryûkyû-kan''. They maintained an office/guardhouse located between the Great Gate and the secondary gate of the compound.<ref name=akazaki625/>

 

Ryukyuan officials sojourning at the ''Ryûkyû-kan'' were permitted to go out and walk around Fuzhou to a certain extent during daylight, but were forbidden from going out at night even on official business.<ref name=akazaki625/>

The structure was renovated seven times during the [[Qing Dynasty]] (1644-1911). In the 1870s, a small number of fleeing officials temporarily made the Ryûkyû-kan their base of operations as they tried to convince China to take action to oppose Japan's [[Ryukyu shobun|overthrow and annexation of the Ryûkyû Kingdom]]. They were ultimately unsuccessful, and the kingdom's territory was annexed by the [[Meiji period|Meiji state]] as [[Okinawa Prefecture]]. For a brief period in the early decades of the 20th century, a group of Okinawans operated a tea business out of the Ryûkyû-kan.

The structure was renovated seven times during the [[Qing Dynasty]] (1644-1911). In the 1870s, a small number of fleeing officials temporarily made the Ryûkyû-kan their base of operations as they tried to convince China to take action to oppose Japan's [[Ryukyu shobun|overthrow and annexation of the Ryûkyû Kingdom]]. They were ultimately unsuccessful, and the kingdom's territory was annexed by the [[Meiji period|Meiji state]] as [[Okinawa Prefecture]]. For a brief period in the early decades of the 20th century, a group of Okinawans operated a tea business out of the Ryûkyû-kan.