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The government of the [[Ryukyu Kingdom|Ryûkyû Kingdom]] was patterned after that of [[Ming Dynasty]] China, with the king at the top, followed by several groups of top advisors who oversaw a series of bureaus and offices staffed by scholar-officials ranked into eighteen levels of [[court ranks of Ryukyu|court ranks]].

The government of the [[Ryukyu Kingdom|Ryûkyû Kingdom]] was patterned after that of [[Ming Dynasty]] China, with the king at the top, followed by several groups of top advisors who oversaw a series of bureaus and offices staffed by scholar-officials ranked into eighteen levels of [[Ryukyuan court ranks|court ranks]].

 

The structure and organization of government in the mature Ryûkyû Kingdom (from the 15th century onward) were largely a continuation of those from the previous century, when the Kingdom of [[Chuzan|Chûzan]] established such governmental structures based on Ming models. Over the course of the ensuing centuries, various reforms and adaptations were built atop this foundation.

 

An official known as the ''[[sessei]]'' (a position which has been compared to Prime Minister) and three known as the ''[[Sanshikan]]'' (Council of Three) were the chief royal advisors, advising the king and deciding or confirming most decisions of governance and legislation. Alongside two ministries known in Japanese as [[Moshikuchiho|Môshikuchihô]] and [[Umun bujo|Mono bugyôsho]] (O: ''Umun bujôju'')<ref>物奉行所, overseeing land resources, taxes, court coffers and finances, and staffing, among other matters.</ref>, they formed the ''[[Hyojoju|Hyôjôjû]]'', the highest administrative and legislative body in the kingdom. This highest echelon of the government was also known as ''wii-nu-uza'' (J: ''ue no oza''), or "the upper seats."

 

They worked closely with the [[Council of Fifteen]] (J: ''omote jûgonin''), the heads of the various bureaus and offices of government which constituted the "lower seats" of the government (O: ''shimu nu uza'', J: ''shimo no oza''). Policy decisions and actions were discussed between these "upper" and "lower" bodies, with decisions being ultimately determined by the king.

 

 

*Akamine Mamoru, Lina Terrell (trans.), Robert Huey (ed.), ''The Ryukyu Kingdom: Cornerstone of East Asia'', University of Hawaii Press (2017), 81.