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''Kafu'' were family registry records of the [[Ryukyuan aristocracy]] written in ''[[kanbun]]'', which included lineages and individual personal or career histories.  

''Kafu'' were family registry records of the [[Ryukyuan aristocracy]] written in ''[[kanbun]]'', which included lineages and individual personal or career histories.  

''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. The first head of the ''keizuza'' was Shô Kôtoku, also known as Prince Kochinda Chôshun<!--尚弘徳・東風平王子朝春-->, fifth son of the late King [[Sho Shitsu|Shô Shitsu]] (and thus, younger brother to the current King [[Sho Tei|Shô Tei]]).

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]].

The initial compilations produced in 1689 (or shortly thereafter) contained a total of 687 main families, and 36 additional branch families listed as heads of lineages. Many families shared names; 479 different family names appear in these initial records. These family names were single-character [[Ryukyuan names|Chinese-style names]], such as [[Sai family|Sai]] (蔡), [[Tei family (鄭)|Tei]] (鄭), and [[Bai family|Bai]] (貝).

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."

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," while commoners, lacking both in lineage records and even in surnames, were known as ''mukei'' (無系, "lacking lineage").

Today, these serve as valuable primary sources for historical research.

Today, these serve as valuable primary sources for historical research.

*Miyagi Eishô 宮城栄昌, Ryûkyû shisha no Edo nobori 琉球使者の江戸上り, Tokyo: Daiichi Shobô (1982), 7-8.  

*Miyagi Eishô 宮城栄昌, Ryûkyû shisha no Edo nobori 琉球使者の江戸上り, Tokyo: Daiichi Shobô (1982), 7-8.  

*"[http://ryukyushimpo.jp/news/storyid-40947-storytopic-121.html Kafu]." Okinawa Compact Encyclopedia (沖縄コンパクト事典, ''Okinawa konpakuto jiten''). Ryukyu Shimpo. 1 March 2003. Accessed 6 October 2010.

*"[http://ryukyushimpo.jp/news/storyid-40947-storytopic-121.html Kafu]." Okinawa Compact Encyclopedia (沖縄コンパクト事典, ''Okinawa konpakuto jiten''). Ryukyu Shimpo. 1 March 2003. Accessed 6 October 2010.

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