Changes

===16th-17th centuries===

===16th-17th centuries===

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 rounds, 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 rounds vary greatly in size and material. Materials used included stone, earth, iron, and bronze, and the rounds found range 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 ammunition. 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>

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/>

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/>