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Ryukyuan tribute missions to China (view source)
Revision as of 17:49, 10 July 2014
, 17:49, 10 July 2014Created page with " The Kingdom of Ryûkyû was a tributary of Ming, and then Qing Dynasty, China from 1372 until [[Ryukyu Shobun|its d..."
The [[Kingdom of Ryukyu|Kingdom of Ryûkyû]] was a [[tribute|tributary]] of [[Ming Dynasty|Ming]], and then [[Qing Dynasty]], China from [[1372]] until [[Ryukyu Shobun|its dissolution]] in the 1870s. Tribute missions, sent once every few years, reaffirmed Ryûkyû's subordinate relationship to the Chinese Emperor, and enabled the continuation of Ryukyuan access to Chinese trade.
Envoys traveled to [[Fuzhou]] aboard Ryukyuan ships, remaining in the city for a time and being lodged at the [[Ryukyu-kan|Ryûkyû-kan]] (C: ''Liúqiú guǎn'') located there. They typically presented a formal gift of [[sulfur]] to officials in Fuzhou, and then traveled to Beijing, first overland and then the rest of the way via the [[Grand Canal]].
In Beijing, the envoys made formal displays of obeisance and offered gifts of copper, tin, and local Ryukyuan products as tribute, receiving in exchange considerable gifts as a benevolence from the emperor.
On the return journey, the envoys were permitted to engage in commercial interactions with local Chinese merchants, exchanging Japanese silver for silks and other goods. The silver was initially provided by merchants of the [[jokamachi|castle town]] of [[Kagoshima]], but by the late 17th century a larger percentage of this silver was provided by the lords of [[Satsuma han]], who often took out loans from [[Osaka]]-based [[rice broker|merchants]] in order to do so. A "reception mission" sent from Ryûkyû to escort the envoys back from Fuzhou brought additional silver and other goods, with which to purchase additional Chinese goods. Following their return to Ryûkyû, the envoys shipped off much of the goods obtained in China to Satsuma, who then sold it at markets in Osaka and [[Kyoto]].
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==References==
*Robert Hellyer, ''Defining Engagement'', Harvard University Press (2009), 38-39.
[[Category:Muromachi Period]]
[[Category:Edo Period]]
[[Category:Ryukyu]]
[[Category:Political Institutions]]