Changes

==History==

==History==

It is not clear exactly when firearms were introduced to Ryûkyû, but it is known that Ryûkyû enjoyed extensive trade with China, including trade in weapons, up until the 1450s, when a ban was placed on Fujian merchants selling weapons overseas, as these were needed to defend the coasts against ''[[wako|wakô]]'' raids. It is believed that gunpowder and firearms were first introduced to Ryûkyû from China, through this trade, though the Chinese Court had officially forbidden selling sulphur, or saltpeter (ingredients for making gunpowder) or gunpowder itself, overseas.<ref name=uezato77>Uezato. p77.</ref>　The fact that Ryûkyû obtained weapons and gunpowder despite both of these bans is evidence that the China-Ryûkyû trade consisted not solely of the official [[tribute]] trade, but extended to smuggling as well. Ryûkyû had no need to trade for sulphur, though, at least, since the kingdom had a supply from [[Iotorishima|Iôtorishima]], a small island near [[Tokunoshima]]; in fact, sulphur was something Ryûkyû frequently sent overseas in exchange for other goods, and there was even a so-called ''Iô gusuku'' ("sulphur warehouse") in [[Naha]] harbor expressly for the purpose of storing the material imported from Iôtorishima.<ref>Uezato. p78.</ref>

It is not clear exactly when firearms were introduced to Ryûkyû, but it is known that Ryûkyû enjoyed extensive trade with China, including trade in weapons, up until the 1450s, when a ban was placed on Fujian merchants selling weapons overseas, as these were needed to defend the coasts against ''[[wako|wakô]]'' raids. It is believed that gunpowder and firearms were first introduced to Ryûkyû from China, through this trade, though the Chinese Court had officially forbidden selling sulphur, or saltpeter (ingredients for making gunpowder) or gunpowder itself, overseas.<ref name=uezato77>Uezato. p77.</ref>　The fact that Ryûkyû obtained weapons and gunpowder despite both of these bans is evidence that the China-Ryûkyû trade consisted not solely of the official [[tribute]] trade, but extended to smuggling as well. Ryûkyû had no need to trade for sulphur, though, at least, since the kingdom had a supply from [[Iotorishima|Iôtorishima]], a small island near [[Tokunoshima]]; in fact, sulphur was something Ryûkyû frequently sent overseas in exchange for other goods, and there was even a so-called ''Iô gusuku'' ("sulphur warehouse") in [[Naha]] harbor expressly for the purpose of storing the material imported from Iôtorishima.<ref>Uezato. p78.</ref>

The early Korean records allude to the presence of Ryukyuan officials within the government tasked with being in charge of firearms, but it is unclear if indeed such a post or position existed at the time. The ''[[Ryukyukoku yuraiki|Ryûkyû-koku yuraiki]]'' indicates a "head of production of firearms / fire arrows"<!--比屋勢頭親雲上 or 火矢勢頭親雲上--> (O: ''hyaa shii du [[peechin]]'') named Matsuuji (in the Japanese reading of the name) who is held to have introduced [[fireworks]] to Ryûkyû in [[1479]], so such a position seems to have been in place at that time. Furthermore, an official known as the ''[[boraakugami bugyo|boraakugami bugyô]]'' is known to have had gunpowder technology among his responsibilities.<ref>Uezato. pp77-78.</ref>

The early Korean records allude to the presence of Ryukyuan officials within the government tasked with being in charge of firearms, but it is unclear if indeed such a post or position existed at the time. The ''[[Ryukyukoku yuraiki|Ryûkyû-koku yuraiki]]'' indicates a "head of production of firearms / fire arrows"<!--比屋勢頭親雲上 or 火矢勢頭親雲上--> (O: ''hyaa shii du [[peechin]]'') named Matsuuji (in the Japanese reading of the name) who is held to have introduced [[fireworks]] to Ryûkyû in [[1479]], so such a position seems to have been in place at that time. Furthermore, an official known as the ''[[boraakugami bugyo|boraakugami bugyô]]'' is known to have had gunpowder technology among his responsibilities.<ref>Uezato. pp77-78.</ref>

By the end of the 16th century, these Chinese-style weapons were used extensively. It is believed that the technology, and the form of the devices, may not have changed very much. The simple addition of metal shot, that is, ammunition, where previously gunpowder was used alone, converted devices which produced only light, sound, and heat (flame, sparks, explosions) for salutes and the like into weapons.<ref name=uezato82>Uezato. p82.</ref> Such "hand cannon" ammunition has been found in excavations at a great many sites, including [[Shuri castle]], [[Nakijin gusuku]], [[Goeku gusuku]], [[Tonakijima]]<ref>A small island betwen Okinawa to the east and [[Kumejima]] to the west.</ref>, [[Katsuren gusuku]], [[Itokazu gusuku]], and [[Ufu gusuku]]<!--大城グスク-->. Ranging from the 14th to 16th century, the shot varies greatly in size and material. Materials used included stone, earth, iron, and bronze, and the shot found ranges from one to two centimeters in diameter to more than ten centimeters.<ref name=uezato82/>

By the end of the 16th century, these Chinese-style weapons were used extensively. It is believed that the technology, and the form of the devices, may not have changed very much. The simple addition of metal shot, that is, ammunition, where previously gunpowder was used alone, converted devices which produced only light, sound, and heat (flame, sparks, explosions) for salutes and the like into weapons.<ref name=uezato82>Uezato. p82.</ref> Such "hand cannon" ammunition has been found in excavations at a great many sites, including [[Shuri castle]], [[Nakijin gusuku]], [[Goeku gusuku]], [[Tonakijima]]<ref>A small island betwen Okinawa to the east and [[Kumejima]] to the west.</ref>, [[Katsuren gusuku]], [[Itokazu gusuku]], and [[Ufu gusuku]]<!--大城グスク-->. Ranging from the 14th to 16th century, the shot varies greatly in size and material. Materials used included stone, earth, iron, and bronze, and the shot found ranges from one to two centimeters in diameter to more than ten centimeters.<ref name=uezato82/>

A 1605 royal government record lists in detail the Ryukyuan military's equipment, including ''[[yumi]'' (bows), ''[[hako]]'' (pikes or halberds), and swords, along with "two hundred guns big and small," gunpowder, and shot. It is unclear exactly what type of weapons these are.<ref>This document refers to the weapons as ''tehyaa'' ("hand fire arrow"), using the ''[[kanji]]'' 『銃』 (J: ''jû''), which in modern Japanese today simply means "gun," "rifle," or "handgun"; nothing resembling the term ''teppô'' (鉄砲, arquebus) appears in the Ryukyuan document, but that does not mean we can easily know precisely which terms Ryûkyû used at that time to refer to which type of weapons.</ref> There is no explicit evidence that European-style matchlocks were used in Ryûkyû at this time, but Uezato argues that given the state of affairs in the region at the time, it should not be considered unlikely that European-style firearms would have been introduced to Ryûkyû already by this time. The writings of [[Fernao Mendes Pinto|Fernaõ Mendes Pinto]], written in the 1560s, mention that there were more than 300,000 arquebuses in Japan at that time (though whether this number can be trusted is another matter), and touch upon trade with Ryûkyû, seeming to indicate that matchlocks would have been introduced to Ryûkyû as well. Uezato is careful, however, to point out that we cannot definitively say that they were introduced.<ref>Uezato. p83.</ref>

A 1605 royal government record lists in detail the Ryukyuan military's equipment, including ''[[yumi]'' (bows), ''[[hako]]'' (pikes or halberds), and swords, along with "two hundred guns big and small," gunpowder, and shot. It is unclear exactly what type of weapons these are.<ref>This document refers to the weapons as ''tehyaa'' ("hand fire arrow"), using the ''[[kanji]]'' 『銃』 (J: ''jû''), which in modern Japanese today simply means "gun," "rifle," or "handgun"; nothing resembling the term ''teppô'' (鉄砲, arquebus) appears in the Ryukyuan document, but that does not mean we can easily know precisely which terms Ryûkyû used at that time to refer to which type of weapons.</ref> There is no explicit evidence that European-style matchlocks were used in Ryûkyû at this time, but Uezato argues that given the state of affairs in the region at the time, it should not be considered unlikely that European-style firearms would have been introduced to Ryûkyû already by this time. The writings of [[Fernao Mendes Pinto|Fernaõ Mendes Pinto]], written in the 1560s, mention that there were more than 300,000 arquebuses in Japan at that time (though whether this number can be trusted is another matter), and touch upon trade with Ryûkyû, seeming to indicate that matchlocks would have been introduced to Ryûkyû as well. Uezato is careful, however, to point out that we cannot definitively say that they were introduced.<ref>Uezato. p83.</ref>

Ryûkyû also made use of a form of cannon called ''ishibiya'' and closely related to the "hand cannon" or ''hyaa''. The term ''ishibiya'' later came to refer specifically to those which fired shots of one ''[[kanme]]'' in weight (3.75kg) or heavier. Ammunition of this type has been found in excavations at Shuri castle. Cannon were also mounted at [[Mie gusuku|Mie]] and [[Yarazamori gusuku]] which defended the port of [[Naha]] and were used against Satsuma ships in 1609<ref name=turnbull/>, and fortresses such as Nakijin gusuku in the north of Okinawa island were definitively equipped with gunports.<ref>Turnbull. p33.</ref>  

In addition to wielding inferior weapons compared to the European-style matchlocks used by the Satsuma invaders, Turnbull surmises that techniques of firing in volleys were unfamiliar in Ryûkyû, contributing to their unpreparedness.<ref name=turnbull/>

 

Today, four examples of "traditional"-style ''hyaa'' firearms are extant in Okinawa.<ref name=uezato80/>

Turnbull surmises that techniques of firing in volleys were unfamiliar in Ryûkyû, contributing to their unpreparedness in the face of the invaders from Satsuma, who made extensive use of arquebuses and of volley-firing tactics.<ref name=turnbull/>

===Cannon===

Today, four examples of these "traditional"-style firearms are extant in Okinawa.<ref name=uezato80/>

Ryûkyû also made use of a form of cannon called ''ishibiya'' and closely related to the "hand cannon" or ''hyaa''. The term ''ishibiya'' later came to refer specifically to those which fired shots of one ''[[kanme]]'' in weight (3.75kg) or heavier. Ammunition of this type has been found in excavations at Shuri castle. Cannon were also mounted at [[Mie gusuku|Mie]] and [[Yarazamori gusuku]] which defended the port of [[Naha]] and were used against Satsuma ships in 1609<ref name=turnbull/>, and fortresses such as Nakijin gusuku in the north of Okinawa island were definitively equipped with gunports.<ref>Turnbull. p33.</ref> None of these survive today, so it is difficult to know exactly what they were like, but if we surmise based on what other peoples in the region were using, it was most likely a muzzle-loading weapon, with some direct application of fire to ignite the device.<ref>Uezato. p87.</ref>

==References==

==References==