Changes

*''Japanese/Chinese'': 貝姓 ''(Bai sei / Bèi xìng)''

*''Japanese/Chinese'': 貝姓 ''(Bai sei / Bèi xìng)''

The Bai family was a [[Scholar-aristocracy of Ryukyu|scholar-aristocratic]] family of [[Naha]], whose members served in various official positions within the [[government of the Ryukyu Kingdom|government of the Ryûkyû Kingdom]]. Some members even served as head of the [[Omonogusuku]], the highest post a person of Naha could be appointed to.

The Bai family was a [[Scholar-aristocracy of Ryukyu|scholar-aristocratic]] family of [[Naha]], of ''peechin'' rank, whose members served in various official positions within the [[government of the Ryukyu Kingdom|government of the Ryûkyû Kingdom]]. Some members even served as head of the [[Omonogusuku]], the highest post a person of Naha could be appointed to.

The central lineage of the family was renamed the Fukuchi or Fukuji family when they were incorporated into the mainland Japanese ''[[koseki]]'' system of family registers following the [[Ryukyu shobun|fall of the kingdom]], as their family head held the title of Fukuji ''peechin''. This central lineage claimed descent from Bai Igen (貝唯元) of Teshiraji village<!--汀志良次--> in [[Shuri]], whose descendant three generations later, Arakawa-shi, moved to the Wakasa district of Naha when he was young to be raised by his elder sister. In the late 18th or early 19th century, during the time of the sixth family head, Bai Iki (貝唯紀), the family was elevated in status, from a ''shinsan'' (新参, lit. "newcomer") family to a ''fudaiji'' (譜代次, "hereditary") family. Around that same time, or perhaps earlier, the family relocated from Wakasa to the Izumisaki district of the city.

The central lineage of the family claimed descent from [[Bai Igen]] (貝唯元) of Teshiraji village<!--汀志良次--> in [[Shuri]], whose descendant three generations later, Arakawa-shi, moved to the Wakasa district of Naha when he was young to be raised by his elder sister. In the late 18th or early 19th century, during the time of the sixth family head, [[Bai Iki]] (貝唯紀), the family was elevated in status, from a ''shinsan'' (新参, lit. "newcomer") family to a ''fudaiji'' (譜代次, "hereditary") family. Around that same time, or perhaps earlier, the family relocated from Wakasa to the Izumisaki district of the city.

Bai Iren (貝唯廉), the fourth head of the family, was appointed ''ôyako'' (head) of the ''[[shinoboseza]]'' in [[1770]], a position he shared with a [[Shuri]] aristocrat. [[Bai Iki]], the sixth head, was appointed ''ufunitii hissha'' (clerk/secretary in charge of ships) in [[1817]], and [[Sugar]] Guild Magistrate (''satôza bujô'') in [[1854]]; he also served as head of the ''Omonogusuku'' for a time.<ref name=naha06>''Naha shizoku no isshô'', 6.</ref> His successor, [[Bai Ien]] (貝唯延), was named ''gohyôgu atai hissha'' (secretary of equipping soldiers) in [[1856]] and ''satôza ôyako'' in [[1862]], and also served for a time as head of the ''Omonogusuku'', and as ''[[jito (Ryukyu)|jitô]]'' of Fukuchi in Kyan ''[[magiri]]'', coming to hold the title of Fukuji ''peechin''.<ref name=naha06/> [[Bai Izen]] (貝唯善), who would later become the eighth head of the family, was meanwhile appointed ''waka hissha'' (junior clerk/secretary) of the [[Oyamise]] in [[1855]].

Like other Naha scholar-bureaucrats, the members of the Bai family passed through numerous posts within the Naha city administration, including positions associated with the ''[[zaiban bugyo|zaiban bugyôsho]]'', the office of the [[Satsuma han]] resident official in Naha. These included positions as Naha and Yamato ''yokome''; as secretaries in the [[Oyamise]], [[Shinoboseza]], and in the office of the [[Naha satonushi]]; as ''ôyako'' or ''bujô'' (Magistrate) in the ''Satôza'' ([[Sugar]] Guild); and as ''ukaiya mui'' in the ''zaiban bugyôsho''. Sixth family head Bai Iki was among those who served as head of the Omonogusuku, having been appointed to that position in [[1852]]. Members of the family moved through the [[Ryukyuan court ranks]] over the course of their careers, typically starting at Junior Ninth Rank as ''chikudun zashiki'', and moving up to at least Seventh Rank, with the title of ''chikudun peechin'', at which point they were permitted to wear yellow ''[[hachimaki]]'' as marks of their rank. In [[1836]], the family was elevated from ''shinsan'' to ''fudai'' status, opening the possibility of being elevated as high as the Third Rank, and to the title of full ''peechin''. Bai Iki served as ''[[jito (Ryukyu)|jitô]]'' of Henoko in Kushi ''[[magiri]]'', and held the title of Takazato ''peechin'', passing this on to his son [[Bai Ien]]; Bai Ien was later transferred to being ''jitô'' of Fukuji village in Kyan ''magiri'', and so took the title of Fukuji ''peechin''. His son and successor [[Bai Izen]] then became Fukuji ''chikudun peechin''.

 

This title of Fukuji ''peechin'' led to the central lineage of the family being renamed the Fukuchi or Fukuji family as they were incorporated into the mainland Japanese ''[[koseki]]'' system of family registers following the [[Ryukyu shobun|fall of the kingdom]].

Following the October 10, 1944 air raid (known as the 10/10 air raid in Okinawa), the Fukuji family evacuated to [[Kumamoto prefecture]], and then relocated to [[Tokyo]], taking much of the family's treasures with them. This collection of documents and textiles evocative of the life and history of Naha elites was thus able to survive the war. In 2007, Fukuji Ijirô, a son of those who fled Okinawa during the war, donated much of these family treasures to the [[Naha City Museum of History]].<ref>"[http://ryukyushimpo.jp/news/storyid-20731-storytopic-6.html 福地家資料那覇市に　貴重な染織品など９７点]," Ryukyu Shimpo, 25 Jan 2007.</ref>

Following the October 10, 1944 air raid (known as the 10/10 air raid in Okinawa), the Fukuji family evacuated to [[Kumamoto prefecture]], and then relocated to [[Tokyo]], taking much of the family's treasures with them. This collection of documents and textiles evocative of the life and history of Naha elites was thus able to survive the war. In 2007, Fukuji Ijirô, a son of those who fled Okinawa during the war, donated much of these family treasures to the [[Naha City Museum of History]].<ref>"[http://ryukyushimpo.jp/news/storyid-20731-storytopic-6.html 福地家資料那覇市に　貴重な染織品など９７点]," Ryukyu Shimpo, 25 Jan 2007.</ref>