Changes

* ''Japanese/Chinese:'' 琉球館 ''(Ryuukyuukan or Ryuukyuu-yakata / Liúqiú guǎn)''

* ''Japanese/Chinese:'' 琉球館 ''(Ryuukyuukan or Ryuukyuu-yakata / Liúqiú guǎn)''

The ''Ryûkyû-kan'' or ''Ryûkyû-yakata'' were a pair of institutions, one located in early modern [[Fuzhou]] and one in [[Kagoshima]], which served as pseudo-embassies, providing bases of operations for official Sino-Ryûkyû and [[Satsuma han|Satsuma]]-Ryûkyû business, as well as lodging for Ryukyuan students and officials.

The ''Ryûkyû-kan'' or ''Ryûkyû-yakata'' were a pair of institutions, one located in early modern [[Fuzhou]] and one in [[Kagoshima]], which served as pseudo-embassies, or branch offices of the [[government of the Ryukyu Kingdom]], providing bases of operations for official Sino-Ryûkyû and [[Satsuma han|Satsuma]]-Ryûkyû business, as well as lodging for Ryukyuan students and officials.

==Kagoshima==

==Kagoshima==

The Ryûkyû-kan in Kagoshima was located below the castle, directly between the family mansions of the [[Tanegashima clan]] to the west, and of the [[Hongo clan|Hongô]] (Miyakonojô Shimazu) clan to the east. It covered an area of roughly 3599 ''[[Japanese Measurements|tsubo]]'', and appears in the ''[[Satsuma fudoki]]''.<ref>Gallery labels, [[Reimeikan Museum]], Kagoshima, Sept 2014.</ref> The structure was originally known as the ''Ryûkyû-kariya'' (琉球仮屋, Ryûkyû temporary residence), but was renamed the Ryûkyû-kan in the late 18th century.<ref>Robert Hellyer, ''Defining Engagement'', Harvard University Press (2009), 35n19.</ref> The site is occupied today by Nagata Middle School.

The Ryûkyû-kan in Kagoshima was located below the castle, directly between the family mansions of the [[Tanegashima clan]] to the west, and of the [[Hongo clan|Hongô]] (Miyakonojô Shimazu) clan to the east. It covered an area of roughly 3599 ''[[Japanese Measurements|tsubo]]'', and appears in the ''[[Satsuma fudoki]]''.<ref>Gallery labels, [[Reimeikan Museum]], Kagoshima, Sept 2014.</ref> The structure was originally constructed as a residence for elite hostages, members of the [[Sho Dynasty|Ryukyuan royal family]] who would be kept in Kagoshima to help ensure the loyalty and cooperation of the [[Kingdom of Ryukyu|Ryukyuan]] government. However, this quickly shifted into a different sort of relationship, and the building, originally known as the ''Ryûkyû-kariya'' (琉球仮屋, Ryûkyû temporary residence), became a sort of branch office for Ryukyuan official interactions with [[Satsuma han]] domainal authorities. The ''Ryûkyû kariya'' was renamed ''Ryûkyû kan'' or ''Ryûkyû yakata'', meaning roughly "Ryûkyû Hall," in [[1783]].<ref name=momoto>"Kagoshima wo aruku" 鹿児島を歩く, ''Momoto'' モモト 14 (April 2013), n.p.</ref> The site is occupied today by Nagata Middle School.

The Ryûkyû-kan played a central role in relations between the [[Kingdom of Ryukyu|Kingdom of Ryûkyû]] and the ''[[han]]'' to which it was a vassal, serving a function not unlike a modern-day embassy. Visiting dignitaries lived and worked in the ''Ryûkyû-kan'' for various lengths of time, as did students studying classic subjects in preparation for careers in the kingdom's bureaucracy, and a number of Ryukyuan permanent residents of the city. The chief Ryukyuan official permanently resident at the Ryûkyû-kan, typically of ''[[ueekata]]'' (J: ''oyakata'') rank, was known as the ''zaiban oyakata'' ("resident elder"); he and a samurai official known as the ''Ryûkyû-kikiyaku'' (lit. "listener"), were collectively known as the ''[[Ryukyu-gakari|Ryûkyû-gakari]]'', and were charged with overseeing the residents and operations of the Ryûkyû-kan, as well as performing various administrative duties related to communicating [[Satsuma han]] missives and edicts to Ryûkyû.

The Ryûkyû-kan played a central role in relations between the Kingdom of Ryûkyû and the ''[[han]]'' to which it was a vassal, serving a function not unlike a modern-day embassy. Visiting dignitaries lived and worked in the ''Ryûkyû-kan'' for various lengths of time, as did students studying classic subjects in preparation for careers in the kingdom's bureaucracy, and a number of Ryukyuan permanent residents of the city. The chief Ryukyuan official permanently resident at the Ryûkyû-kan, typically of ''[[ueekata]]'' (J: ''oyakata'') rank, was known as the ''zaiban oyakata'' ("resident elder"); he and a samurai official known as the ''Ryûkyû-kikiyaku'' (lit. "listener"), were collectively known as the ''[[Ryukyu-gakari|Ryûkyû-gakari]]'', and were charged with overseeing the residents and operations of the Ryûkyû-kan, as well as performing various administrative duties related to communicating [[Satsuma han]] missives and edicts to Ryûkyû.

A number of Ryukyuan students and officials were resident at the Ryûkyû-kan on a semi-permanent basis. In addition, a delegation of roughly twenty officials visited the city each year to perform "''sankin''," paying formal respects to the Satsuma daimyô, on behalf of the King of Ryûkyû. As with the ''[[sankin kotai|sankin kôtai]]'' missions performed by the daimyô, to pay respects to the shogun in [[Edo]], here too there was a connotation of this delegation, as well as the permanently resident officials, serving as political hostages. Additional missions were sent from Ryûkyû on occasions such as congratulating the daimyô on receiving certain titles and honors, or on becoming daimyô, as well as for expressing gratitude for the daimyô's recognition of a new king on the Ryukyuan throne, or for other favors granted by the daimyô to the kingdom. It was also customary for Ryukyuan Crown Princes to pay an official visit to Kagoshima upon turning fifteen years old, but the king himself was not typically obligated to journey to Kagoshima himself.

A number of Ryukyuan students and officials were resident at the Ryûkyû-kan on a semi-permanent basis. In addition, a delegation of roughly twenty officials visited the city each year to offer formal New Year's greetings to the Satsuma ''daimyô'', on behalf of the King of Ryûkyû. As with the ''[[sankin kotai|sankin kôtai]]'' missions performed by the ''daimyô'', to pay respects to the shogun in [[Edo]], here too there was a connotation of this delegation, as well as the permanently resident officials, serving as political hostages. Additional missions were sent from Ryûkyû on occasions such as congratulating the ''daimyô'' on receiving certain titles and honors, or on becoming ''daimyô'', as well as for expressing gratitude for the ''daimyô's'' recognition of a new king on the Ryukyuan throne, or for other favors granted by the ''daimyô'' to the kingdom. It was also customary for Ryukyuan Crown Princes to pay an official visit to Kagoshima upon turning fifteen years old, but the king was not typically obligated to journey to Kagoshima himself.

Satsuma's control over the Ryukyuan officials was tight, however; wandering or loitering in the area around the building was forbidden, and guards posted at the entrance checked visitors in and out<ref>Sakai. p401.</ref>. As with the [[zaiban (Ryukyu)|Japanese officials resident in Ryûkyû]], Ryukyuans resident in Kagoshima could interact with Japanese, travel around the city, and to other parts of the country, only on official business, and under tight supervision and strict regulations. Similarly strict policies applied to Japanese visiting the institution; they were forbidden from entering the building without official permission, as well as from loitering nearby or communicating with Ryukyuan individuals about anything other than official business. Further, all in-person interactions between Ryukyuan and Japanese individuals had to be conducted through an official interpreter - this despite the fact that many, if not most, Ryukyuan scholar-bureaucrats were competent in the Japanese language.

At least during New Year's, Ryukyuan visitors to the city are said to have been permitted to wander quite freely in the castle town, and to enjoy the sights.<ref name=momoto/> However, at other times or in other respects, Satsuma's control over the Ryukyuan officials is said to have been tight; wandering or loitering in the area around the building was forbidden, and guards posted at the entrance checked visitors in and out<ref>Sakai. p401.</ref>. As with the [[zaiban (Ryukyu)|Japanese officials resident in Ryûkyû]], Ryukyuans resident in Kagoshima could interact with Japanese, travel around the city, and to other parts of the country, only on official business, and under tight supervision and strict regulations. Similarly strict policies applied to Japanese visiting the institution; they were forbidden from entering the building without official permission, as well as from loitering nearby or communicating with Ryukyuan individuals about anything other than official business. Further, all in-person interactions between Ryukyuan and Japanese individuals had to be conducted through an official interpreter - this despite the fact that many, if not most, Ryukyuan scholar-bureaucrats were competent in the Japanese language.

However, this is not to say that social calls and cultural interactions between Ryukyuans and Japanese did not occur; they simply had to be requested and approved in writing ahead of time. Writings by traveling scholars such as [[Tachibana Nankei]] who visited Satsuma in the early 1780s relate meetings with Ryukyuan students in which they drank together, exchanged poetry, and shared songs. For those few Japanese from other provinces who were able to visit Kagoshima (given the tight border controls enforced by most Satsuma daimyô, with the notable exception of daimyô [[Shimazu Shigehide]], r. [[1755]]-[[1787]]), there was also the potential for the opportunity to witness Ryukyuan processions or the like in the city, outside of the Ryûkyû-kan.

However, this is not to say that social calls and cultural interactions between Ryukyuans and Japanese did not occur; they simply had to be requested and approved in writing ahead of time. Writings by traveling scholars such as [[Tachibana Nankei]] who visited Satsuma in the early 1780s relate meetings with Ryukyuan students in which they drank together, exchanged poetry, and shared songs. For those few Japanese from other provinces who were able to visit Kagoshima (given the tight border controls enforced by most Satsuma daimyô, with the notable exception of daimyô [[Shimazu Shigehide]], r. [[1755]]-[[1787]]), there was also the potential for the opportunity to witness Ryukyuan processions or the like in the city, outside of the Ryûkyû-kan.