Changes

This period saw a great proliferation of trade and cultural interaction between the three Okinawan kingdoms and other states in the region; sources seem to indicate, however, that only Chūzan successfully established relations with the [[Ashikaga shogunate]] of Japan in this period. An embassy was sent to Siam in 1409, and relations with kingdoms in Java and Sumatra remained strong, having been established some time earlier by traders. All three Okinawan kingdoms, Chûzan, [[Hokuzan]], and [[Nanzan]], sent emissaries to Korea in [[1397]], likely separately, and established strong friendly relations with the newly formed [[Joseon]] dynasty. From Korea, Chūzan saw a great influx of Buddhist ideas and objects, and it is believed that [[Shinto|Shintô]] first entered Okinawa in a significant way at this time as well, from Japan.

This period saw a great proliferation of trade and cultural interaction between the three Okinawan kingdoms and other states in the region; sources seem to indicate, however, that only Chūzan successfully established relations with the [[Ashikaga shogunate]] of Japan in this period. An embassy was sent to Siam in 1409, and relations with kingdoms in Java and Sumatra remained strong, having been established some time earlier by traders. All three Okinawan kingdoms, Chûzan, [[Hokuzan]], and [[Nanzan]], sent emissaries to Korea in [[1397]], likely separately, and established strong friendly relations with the newly formed [[Joseon]] dynasty. From Korea, Chūzan saw a great influx of Buddhist ideas and objects, and it is believed that [[Shinto|Shintô]] first entered Okinawa in a significant way at this time as well, from Japan.

Naha became the busiest port on the island at this time, bringing wealth and prestige to Chûzan over its neighboring kingdoms, and enhancing already heightened tensions. The lords of both Hokuzan and Nanzan died around the same time as Bunei's father Satto, and since China never recognized more than one king (or prince, in the Chinese view) of Okinawa, all three clamored to be officially invested by the Chinese Imperial Court as the sole ruler of all of Okinawa. However, due to the recent chaos in [[Nanking]], which was taken by force by [[Yongle Emperor|Zhu Di]], installing himself as [[Ming Dynasty|Ming]] Emperor, Bunei's request lay unanswered for eleven years. A missive was finally sent in 1406.

Naha became the busiest port on the island at this time, bringing wealth and prestige to Chûzan over its neighboring kingdoms, and enhancing already heightened tensions. The lords of both Hokuzan and Nanzan died around the same time as Bunei's father Satto, and since China never recognized more than one king (or prince, in the Chinese view) of Okinawa, all three clamored to be officially invested by the Chinese Imperial Court as the sole ruler of all of Okinawa. However, due to the recent chaos in [[Nanjing]], which was taken by force by Zhu Di, installing himself as the [[Yongle Emperor]], Bunei's request lay unanswered for eleven years. A missive was finally sent in [[1406]]; Bunei was formally invested by a mission led by Shí Zhōng (時中) in the same year that [[Ououso]] of [[Nanzan]] also received investiture.<ref>Yokoyama Manabu 横山学, ''Ryûkyû koku shisetsu torai no kenkyû'' 琉球国使節渡来の研究, Tokyo: Yoshikawa kôbunkan (1987), 36.</ref>

Meanwhile, a local lord (''[[anji]]'') named Hashi led a small rebellion in 1402, and brought down the lord of Azato district, near the site of the Chûzan palace at [[Urasoe]]. It is not clear exactly what discussions took place inside the royal court, or what actions were considered, but nothing was done for five years. In 1406, less than one year after Bunei was officially recognized as king ("prince") of Chûzan by China, Hashi led a larger rebellion, ousting Bunei and establishing [[Sho Shisho|Shô Shishô]], Hashi's father, as King of Chûzan. Though records do not indicate the details of Bunei's fate, it is likely that he either died at the hands of the rebels, or escaped to some distant island to live out the rest of his days in relative solitude.

Meanwhile, a local lord (''[[anji]]'') named Hashi led a small rebellion in 1402, and brought down the lord of Azato district, near the site of the Chûzan palace at [[Urasoe]]. It is not clear exactly what discussions took place inside the royal court, or what actions were considered, but nothing was done for five years. In 1406, less than one year after Bunei was officially recognized as king ("prince") of Chûzan by China, Hashi led a larger rebellion, ousting Bunei and establishing [[Sho Shisho|Shô Shishô]], Hashi's father, as King of Chûzan. Though records do not indicate the details of Bunei's fate, it is likely that he either died at the hands of the rebels, or escaped to some distant island to live out the rest of his days in relative solitude.

==References==

==References==

*Hamashita, Takeshi (2000). ''Okinawa Nyuumon''. Tokyo: Chikumashobo.

*Hamashita, Takeshi (2000). ''Okinawa Nyuumon''. Tokyo: Chikumashobo.

*Kerr, George H. (2000). ''Okinawa: the History of an Island People''. (revised ed.) Boston: Tuttle Publishing.

*Kerr, George H. (2000). ''Okinawa: the History of an Island People''. (revised ed.) Boston: Tuttle Publishing.

[[Category:Royalty]]

[[Category:Royalty]]

[[Category:Ryukyu]]

[[Category:Ryukyu]]

[[Category:Muromachi Period]]

[[Category:Muromachi Period]]