Changes

==Relations with Ryûkyû==

==Relations with Ryûkyû==

When Fuzhou became the home of the ''shibosi'' (office supervising maritime trade) in 1470, it also became the designated port for Ryukyuans entering China on official business (chiefly, related to the paying of [[tribute]]). The ''[[Ryukyu-kan|Ryûkyû-kan]]'' (the headquarters provided by the city for Ryukyuan visitors) is believed, however, to have already been in operation at that time, having been first established around 1430-1440. Related sites included the ''Kaido-kan'', a section within the governmental areas of the city reserved for visiting foreign dignitaries, and the ''Kokushi-kan'', where Ryukyuan students and scholars studied.<ref>"[http://kyotoreview.cseas.kyoto-u.ac.jp/issue/issue2/index.html The Rekidai Hoan: An Introduction to Documents of the Ryukyu Kingdom]." Editorial Office of Rekidai Hoan, Okinawa Archives, Okinawa Prefectural Board of Education (trans.). ''Kyoto Review of Southeast Asia'' 3 (March 2003). 15 pages.</ref>

When Fuzhou became the home of the ''shibosi'' (office supervising maritime trade) in 1470, it also became the designated port for Ryukyuans entering China on official business (chiefly, related to the paying of [[tribute]]). The ''[[Ryukyu-kan|Liuqiu-guan]]'' (the headquarters provided by the city for Ryukyuan visitors) is believed, however, to have already been in operation at that time, having been first established around 1430-1440. Related sites included the ''[[Huitong-guan]]'', a section within the governmental areas of the city reserved for visiting foreign dignitaries, and the ''[[Guozijian]]'', where Ryukyuan students and scholars studied.<ref>"[http://kyotoreview.cseas.kyoto-u.ac.jp/issue/issue2/index.html The Rekidai Hoan: An Introduction to Documents of the Ryukyu Kingdom]." Editorial Office of Rekidai Hoan, Okinawa Archives, Okinawa Prefectural Board of Education (trans.). ''Kyoto Review of Southeast Asia'' 3 (March 2003). 15 pages.</ref>

Roughly 200,000 Ryukyuans are believed to have traveled to China over the course of the Ming and Qing Dynasties (the vast majority of them entering via Fuzhou), while a total of 320,000 are believed to have journeyed to Southeast Asian polities during the Ming Dynasty alone.<ref>Takara Kurayoshi 高良倉吉. ''Hosetsu to sankô mondai - Ryûkyû ôkoku-shi no kadai'' 「補説と参考問題」『琉球王国史の課題』. Hirugi-sha ひるぎ社, 1989.</ref> This included officials and students, as well as merchants and, on occasion, castaways who, for logistical and legal reasons often passed through Fuzhou after making shore or being found/rescued.

Roughly 200,000 Ryukyuans are believed to have traveled to China over the course of the Ming and Qing Dynasties (the vast majority of them entering via Fuzhou), while a total of 320,000 are believed to have journeyed to Southeast Asian polities during the Ming Dynasty alone.<ref>Takara Kurayoshi 高良倉吉. ''Hosetsu to sankô mondai - Ryûkyû ôkoku-shi no kadai'' 「補説と参考問題」『琉球王国史の課題』. Hirugi-sha ひるぎ社, 1989.</ref> This included officials and students, as well as merchants and, on occasion, castaways who, for logistical and legal reasons often passed through Fuzhou after making shore or being found/rescued.