Changes

''Kafu'' likely existed in some form earlier, but the system was first formally put into place beginning in [[1670]], when [[Sho Shoken|Shô Shôken]] required members of the aristocracy to submit records of their lineages.<ref>[[Robert Sakai]], “The Ryukyu (Liu-ch’iu) Islands as a Fief of Satsuma,” in [[John K. Fairbank]], ''The Chinese World Order'', Harvard University Press (1968), 128.</ref>. In [[1689]], an office known as the ''[[keizuza]]''<!--系図座--> was formally established within the government of the [[Kingdom of Ryukyu|Kingdom of Ryûkyû]] to create and maintain these records in a more formal and standardized manner.

''Kafu'' likely existed in some form earlier, but the system was first formally put into place beginning in [[1670]], when [[Sho Shoken|Shô Shôken]] required members of the aristocracy to submit records of their lineages.<ref>[[Robert Sakai]], “The Ryukyu (Liu-ch’iu) Islands as a Fief of Satsuma,” in [[John K. Fairbank]], ''The Chinese World Order'', Harvard University Press (1968), 128.</ref>. In [[1689]], an office known as the ''[[keizuza]]''<!--系図座--> was formally established within the government of the [[Kingdom of Ryukyu|Kingdom of Ryûkyû]] to create and maintain these records in a more formal and standardized manner.

Following the establishment of the ''keizuza'', records of each aristocratic lineage were systematically produced, with one copy being kept by the royal government, and one, stamped with the royal seal, kept by the family described in that record. With this system in place, an aristocrat could prove his lineage, and ancestral hometown. These documents recorded not only the lineage, but also whether an individual had made formal journeys to China, [[Satsuma han|Kagoshima]], or [[Edo]].

Following the establishment of the ''keizuza'', records of each aristocratic lineage were systematically produced, with one copy being kept by the royal government, and one, stamped with the royal seal, kept by the family described in that record. With this system in place, an aristocrat could prove his lineage, and ancestral hometown. These documents recorded not only the lineage, but also accomplishments and commendations, including whether an individual had made formal journeys to China, [[Satsuma han|Kagoshima]], or [[Edo]].

As only members of the elite maintained these genealogy records, the aristocracy, or members of it, came to be known as ''keimochi'' (系持), or "lineage-holders."

As only members of the elite maintained these genealogy records, the aristocracy, or members of it, came to be known as ''keimochi'' (系持), or "lineage-holders."