Changes

After another kowtow and some music played by the Ryukyuan royal ensemble, the king knelt as the investiture edict was read. He then performed another kowtow, and the title of "king" (C: ''guo-wang''; J: ''kokuô'') was formally granted to him. Further kowtows accompanied the presentation of the Imperial gifts and of the Imperial patent and edict. Though Chinese custom dictated that the edict and patent be returned to the envoys afterward, Ryûkyû always requested to keep the objects as national heirlooms. The envoys' request to have them returned, Ryukyuan request to keep them, and granting of permission quickly became part of the investiture ritual. Before granting permission, the envoys also requested that the patents and edicts from previous investitures be shown to them<ref name=chen/>.

After another kowtow and some music played by the Ryukyuan royal ensemble, the king knelt as the investiture edict was read. He then performed another kowtow, and the title of "king" (C: ''guo-wang''; J: ''kokuô'') was formally granted to him. Further kowtows accompanied the presentation of the Imperial gifts and of the Imperial patent and edict. Though Chinese custom dictated that the edict and patent be returned to the envoys afterward, Ryûkyû always requested to keep the objects as national heirlooms. The envoys' request to have them returned, Ryukyuan request to keep them, and granting of permission quickly became part of the investiture ritual. Before granting permission, the envoys also requested that the patents and edicts from previous investitures be shown to them<ref name=chen/>.

The investiture ceremony concluded with the envoys being led by the king on a tour of the castle, and by a mutual kowtow of farewell. Throughout, the king was swathed in formal Chinese costume gifted him by the Imperial Court. The formal outfit, or ''hibenfuku'' in Japanese (皮弁服), included a [[dragon robe]], belt (J: ''sekitai''), black silk shoes called ''kanku'', ritual sword (J: ''chiyoganemaru''), and black silk crown. The crown, or ''hibenkan'' (皮弁冠), was made of a mixture of black ''tsumugi'' and bast fibers, which formed a sort of crepe, molded over a rigid frame and lined with jewels and gold decorations. The crown, visible in official Ryukyuan royal portraits, originally had nine ridges, but after [[1756]], it came to have twelve ridges, indicating a greater honorary rank for the king. An eleven-inch golden hairpin with a dragon motif was then stuck through the crown, which was additionally held on with red-orange braided tassels.<ref name=dress>''Encyclopedia of World Dress and Fashion, Volume 6: East Asia''. Oxford University Press, 2010. p422.</ref>

The investiture ceremony concluded with the envoys being led by the king on a tour of the castle, and by a mutual kowtow of farewell. Throughout, the king was swathed in formal Chinese costume gifted him by the Imperial Court. The formal outfit, or ''hibenfuku'' in Japanese (皮弁服), included a [[dragon robe]], belt (J: ''sekitai''), black silk shoes called ''kanku'', ritual sword (J: ''chiyoganemaru''), and black silk crown. The crown, called ''hibenkan'' in Japanese (皮弁冠; C: ''[[pi bian]] guan'')<ref>Garrett, Valery. Chinese Clothing: An Illustrated Guide. Oxford University Press, 1994. pp5-6.</ref>, was made of a mixture of black ''tsumugi'' and bast fibers, which formed a sort of crepe, molded over a rigid frame and lined with jewels and gold decorations. The crown, visible in official Ryukyuan royal portraits, originally had nine ridges, but after [[1756]], it came to have twelve ridges, indicating a greater honorary rank for the king. An eleven-inch golden hairpin with a dragon motif was then stuck through the crown, which was additionally held on with red-orange braided tassels.<ref name=dress>''Encyclopedia of World Dress and Fashion, Volume 6: East Asia''. Oxford University Press, 2010. p422.</ref>

When not wearing this ceremonial investiture crown, the king, and certain officials, would often wear a Chinese court cap called ''usanmo'' in Japanese. Made of black silk, its round form enclosed the head, and had long, stiff wings which stuck out to either side.<ref name=dress/>

When not wearing this ceremonial investiture crown, the king, and certain officials, would often wear a Chinese court cap called ''usanmo'' in Japanese. Made of black silk, its round form enclosed the head, and had long, stiff wings which stuck out to either side.<ref name=dress/>