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Japan is rarely discussed as requesting, or exacting, tribute out of neighboring polities in the way that China did; this is presumably largely because most of those neighboring polities, including Korea and Ryûkyû, were already Chinese tributaries. The Japanese did try, however, in some periods, to craft a Japan-centric world order after the Chinese model, and to exact tribute from others.

Japan is rarely discussed as requesting, or exacting, tribute out of neighboring polities in the way that China did; this is presumably largely because most of those neighboring polities, including Korea and Ryûkyû, were already Chinese tributaries. The Japanese did try, however, in some periods, to craft a Japan-centric world order after the Chinese model, and to exact tribute from others.

In the [[Yamato period]], and into the [[Nara period]], Japan did in fact receive tribute from outlying regions, such as from the Ryukyuan islands of [[Tanegashima]], the [[Amami Islands]], [[Tokunoshima]], and [[Yakushima]] beginning in [[699]], and from the [[Hayato]], a people of southern Kyushu outside of the boundaries of the Yamato state. Korea sent tribute to Japan as well, in this early period; we have the example of Kim Chhyun-chhyu, who gifted a peacock and a parrot to the court in [[647]].

In the [[Yamato period]], and into the [[Nara period]], Japan did in fact receive tribute from outlying regions, such as from the Ryukyuan islands of [[Tanegashima]], the [[Amami Islands]], [[Tokunoshima]], and [[Yakushima]] beginning in [[699]], and from the [[Hayato]], a people of southern Kyushu outside of the boundaries of the Yamato state. Korea sent tribute to Japan as well, in this early period; we have the example of Kim Chhyun-chhyu, who gifted a peacock and a parrot to the court in [[647]]. Polities based in the Japanese archipelago may have paid tribute to Korean or Chinese polities in ancient times as well, such as in the case of the state of [[Na]], which is said to have sent tribute to Han Dynasty China in the year [[57]].

Japan also received tribute from Ryûkyû, Korea, the [[Dutch East India Company|Dutch]] and the [[Ainu]] during the [[Edo period]]. These took the forms of formal missions to Edo performed by [[Ryukyuan embassy|Ryukyuan]] and [[Korean embassy|Korean envoys]] on the occasion of the accession of a new shogun, or of a new king of Ryûkyû or Korea; Ainu chiefs met with the lords of the [[Matsumae clan]] on occasion, though it has been argued that the Ainu did not perceive these meetings to be acts of subordination, nor the gifts they brought to be "tribute" per se. Representatives of the Dutch East India Company (VOC), similarly, made journeys to Edo on occasion, but it is likewise unlikely that they saw these journeys, and gift-exchanges with the shogun, as acts of subordination or as payment of tribute. Tribute or taxes were also paid by Ryûkyû to [[Satsuma han]].

Japan also received tribute from Ryûkyû, Korea, the [[Dutch East India Company|Dutch]] and the [[Ainu]] during the [[Edo Period]]. These took the forms of formal missions to Edo performed by [[Ryukyuan embassy|Ryukyuan]] and [[Korean embassy|Korean envoys]] on the occasion of the accession of a new shogun, or of a new king of Ryûkyû or Korea; Ainu chiefs met with the lords of the [[Matsumae clan]] on occasion, though it has been argued that the Ainu did not perceive these meetings to be acts of subordination, nor the gifts they brought to be "tribute" per se. Representatives of the Dutch East India Company (VOC), similarly, made journeys to Edo on occasion, but it is likewise unlikely that they saw these journeys, and gift-exchanges with the shogun, as acts of subordination or as payment of tribute. Tribute or taxes were also paid by Ryûkyû to [[Satsuma han]].

 

==Ryûkyû==

==Ryûkyû==

The Kingdom of Ryûkyû actively engaged in tributary relations with China for nearly the entire period of its existence; however, the kingdom also received tribute from outlying islands within the Ryukyuan archipelago. Even before the formal establishment of "kingdoms" on Okinawa, the island was receiving tribute from the nearby islands of [[Iheyajima]], [[Kumejima]], and the [[Kerama Islands]], beginning in [[1264]].

The Kingdom of Ryûkyû actively engaged in tributary relations with China for nearly the entire period of its existence; however, the kingdom also received tribute from outlying islands within the Ryukyuan archipelago. Even before the formal establishment of "kingdoms" on Okinawa, the island was receiving tribute from the nearby islands of [[Iheyajima]], [[Kumejima]], and the [[Kerama Islands]], beginning in [[1264]], and from the [[Amami Islands]] beginning in [[1266]].

Prior to the unification of [[Okinawa Island]] and the establishment of the Kingdom, China received tribute from three separate Okinawan polities. [[Chuzan|Chûzan]], the kingdom which controlled the central areas of the island, conquered the other two kingdoms in [[1419]]-[[1429]]. In the intervening time, Chûzan sent 52 missions to China beginning in [[1372]], [[Nanzan]] sent nineteen, beginning in [[1380]], and [[Hokuzan]] sent nine beginning in [[1383]], all of them vying as well for official recognition from the Ming Court as the only rightful king of Okinawa.

Prior to the unification of [[Okinawa Island]] and the establishment of the Kingdom, China received tribute from three separate Okinawan polities. [[Chuzan|Chûzan]], the kingdom which controlled the central areas of the island, conquered the other two kingdoms in [[1419]]-[[1429]]. In the intervening time, Chûzan sent 52 missions to China beginning in [[1372]], [[Nanzan]] sent nineteen, beginning in [[1380]], and [[Hokuzan]] sent nine beginning in [[1383]], all of them vying as well for official recognition from the Ming Court as the only rightful king of Okinawa.

Of course, exacting tribute from the outlying islands did not always go smoothly; there were, at times, revolts and rebellions, such as that of [[Oyake Akahachi]] on [[Ishigaki Island]] in [[1500]], though most of these rebellions were eventually suppressed by royal kingdom forces from Okinawa Island, or those from other islands loyal to the center and acting in its service.

Of course, exacting tribute from the outlying islands did not always go smoothly; there were, at times, revolts and rebellions, such as that of [[Oyake Akahachi]] on [[Ishigaki Island]] in [[1500]], though most of these rebellions were eventually suppressed by royal kingdom forces from Okinawa Island, or those from other islands loyal to the center and acting in its service.

Despite Ryûkyû's tributary relationship with China being an inferior one, i.e. one of subordination, Ryukyuans felt strongly about their strong ties to China, and in the 1870s in particular, when the kingdom's links to China, and indeed the kingdom's very existence, were threatened, many royal officials and political activists, including [[Rin Seiko|Rin Seikô]] and others, took action in support of maintaining (or resuming) tributary relations. Though in the end China took little action to block Japan's overthrow of the Ryûkyû Kingdom and annexation of the islands as [[Okinawa Prefecture]], Beijing did issue formal complaints in the late 1870s against Japanese efforts to put an end to the sending of tribute.

Despite Ryûkyû's tributary relationship with China being an inferior one, i.e. one of subordination, Ryukyuans felt strongly about their strong ties to China, and in the 1870s in particular, when the kingdom's links to China, and indeed the kingdom's very existence, were threatened, many royal officials and political activists, including [[Rin Seiko|Rin Seikô]] and others, took action in support of maintaining (or resuming) tributary relations. Though in the end China took little action to block Japan's overthrow of the Ryûkyû Kingdom and annexation of the islands as [[Okinawa Prefecture]], Beijing did issue formal complaints in the late 1870s against Japanese efforts to put an end to the sending of tribute.