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The ''Rekidai Hôan'', or "Precious Documents of Successive Generations", is an official compilation of diplomatic documents of the royal government of the [[Kingdom of Ryukyu|Kingdom of Ryûkyû]]. Covering the period from 1424 to 1867, it contains records, written entirely in Chinese, of communications between Ryûkyû and ten different trading partners in this period, detailing as well gifts given. The ten countries or trading ports are [[China]], [[Korea]], [[Siam]], [[Malacca]], [[Palembang]], [[Java]], [[Sumatra]], [[Pattani]], and Sunda Kelapa ([[Jakarta]]). There are 242 volumes in total, including four lists, and an extra four sections.

The ''Rekidai Hôan'', or "Precious Documents of Successive Generations", is an official compilation of diplomatic documents of the royal government of the [[Kingdom of Ryukyu|Kingdom of Ryûkyû]]. Covering the period from 1424 to 1867, it contains records, written entirely in Chinese, of communications between Ryûkyû and ten different trading partners in this period, detailing as well gifts given. The ten countries or trading ports are [[China]], [[Korea]], [[Siam]], [[Malacca]], [[Palembang]], [[Java]], [[Sumatra]], [[Pattani]], and Sunda Kelapa ([[Jakarta]]). There are 242 volumes in total, including four lists, and an extra four sections.

It is believed that the documents were first formally compiled in 1697 from documents kept at the [[Naha]] [[Tempi Palace]]. Some documents were already lost at this time, and copies contained errors. It is not known whether the documents had been kept separately or bound prior to this.

It is believed that the documents were first formally compiled in 1697 from documents kept at the [[Kume Tenpi-gu|Kume Tenpi-gû]]. Some documents were already lost at this time, and copies contained errors. It is not known whether the documents had been kept separately or bound prior to this.

The compilation first became known to the public, and put on display, in 1932, when it was moved from the [[Tenson Shrine]] in Naha to the Okinawa Prefectural Library. This "First Series" compiled in 1697 contained 49 volumes, but by 1932 a number were missing or severely damaged. All were destroyed in the 1945 battle of Okinawa.  

The compilation first became known to the public, and put on display, in 1932, when it was moved from the [[Shiseibyo|Tenson Shrine]] in Naha to the Okinawa Prefectural Library. This "First Series" compiled in 1697 contained 49 volumes, but by 1932 a number were missing or severely damaged. All were destroyed in the 1945 battle of Okinawa.  

Copies in Taiwan University and Tokyo University survived, and form the basis for scholarship of these documents; unfortunately, further copying errors were introduced in the 1930s-1940s when these versions were created.

Copies in Taiwan University and Tokyo University survived, and form the basis for scholarship of these documents; unfortunately, further copying errors were introduced in the 1930s-1940s when these versions were created.