Changes

The ''[[kokuo shotokuhi|kokuô shôtoku-hi]]'', a famous stele standing outside of [[Shuri castle]], relates in its inscription that it was erected in [[1543]] in commemoration of the dispatch of a sword and sacred beads from Miyako, during the reign of [[Sho Shin|Shô Shin]];<ref>''Okinawa bijutsu zenshû'' 沖縄美術全集. vol. 4. Okinawa Times, 1989. Description of Plates 81-82.</ref> according to the traditional histories, this sword (likely the one known as [[Famous Samurai Swords|Jiganemaru]]) was a gift from Nakasone to the king explicitly as an expression of gratitude for Shuri's recognition of his position and authority.<ref>Kerr, 118, 121-122.; "[http://kotobank.jp/word/%E4%BB%B2%E5%AE%97%E6%A0%B9%E8%B1%8A%E8%A6%8B%E8%A6%AA Nakasone Toyomiya]." Kotobank.jp. (Originally from Takara, Kurayoshi. "Nakasone Toyomiya." ''Asahi Nippon Rekishi Jinbutsu Jiten'', Asahi Shimbun Publishers.) Accessed 11 July 2009.; "Nakasone Tuyumya." ''Okinawa konpakuto jiten'' (沖縄コンパクト事典, "Okinawa Compact Encyclopedia"). [http://ryukyushimpo.jp/news/storyid-42371-storytopic-121.html Ryukyu Shimpo] (琉球新報). 1 March 2003. Accessed 11 July 2009.; "Nakasone Tuyumiya Genga." ''Okinawa rekishi jinmei jiten'' (沖縄歴史人名事典, "Encyclopedia of People of Okinawan History"). Naha: Okinawa Bunka-sha, 1996. p54.</ref>

The ''[[kokuo shotokuhi|kokuô shôtoku-hi]]'', a famous stele standing outside of [[Shuri castle]], relates in its inscription that it was erected in [[1543]] in commemoration of the dispatch of a sword and sacred beads from Miyako, during the reign of [[Sho Shin|Shô Shin]];<ref>''Okinawa bijutsu zenshû'' 沖縄美術全集. vol. 4. Okinawa Times, 1989. Description of Plates 81-82.</ref> according to the traditional histories, this sword (likely the one known as [[Famous Samurai Swords|Jiganemaru]]) was a gift from Nakasone to the king explicitly as an expression of gratitude for Shuri's recognition of his position and authority.<ref>Kerr, 118, 121-122.; "[http://kotobank.jp/word/%E4%BB%B2%E5%AE%97%E6%A0%B9%E8%B1%8A%E8%A6%8B%E8%A6%AA Nakasone Toyomiya]." Kotobank.jp. (Originally from Takara, Kurayoshi. "Nakasone Toyomiya." ''Asahi Nippon Rekishi Jinbutsu Jiten'', Asahi Shimbun Publishers.) Accessed 11 July 2009.; "Nakasone Tuyumya." ''Okinawa konpakuto jiten'' (沖縄コンパクト事典, "Okinawa Compact Encyclopedia"). [http://ryukyushimpo.jp/news/storyid-42371-storytopic-121.html Ryukyu Shimpo] (琉球新報). 1 March 2003. Accessed 11 July 2009.; "Nakasone Tuyumiya Genga." ''Okinawa rekishi jinmei jiten'' (沖縄歴史人名事典, "Encyclopedia of People of Okinawan History"). Naha: Okinawa Bunka-sha, 1996. p54.</ref>

[[Gregory Smits]] takes a critical approach to the histories written by the kingdom, however, noting that they "take on the qualities of a Chinese-style morality play," emphasizing certain figures as heroes or villains, and coloring the narrative of Miyako-Shuri interactions overall as one of uncivilized, "barbaric" places prone to violence which needed to be shown the morality and superior culture of [[Confucianism|Confucian]] civilization. Putting aside stories which cannot be verified by other sources, Smits suggests that all we can know with any certainty is that there was some factionalism and fighting in the Miyako Islands in the 14th century. He suggests that after [[Okinawa Island]] began engaging in formal tribute trade with the Ming Empire in the 1370s, rumors of the prosperity or luxury goods brought to Okinawa through that trade may have reached the Miyakos and inspired efforts to establish stronger (and/or more official) trade relations with Okinawa. Miyako and Yaeyama Islanders were likely also trading with the Chinese coast, and Shô Shin's attack on the islands may have been aimed at reining this trade in and claiming a stronger Shuri monopoly on the China trade.<ref>Smits, ''Maritime Ryukyu'', University of Hawaii Press (2019), 55.</ref>

[[Gregory Smits]] takes a critical approach to the histories written by the kingdom, however, noting that they "take on the qualities of a Chinese-style morality play," emphasizing certain figures as heroes or villains, and coloring the narrative of Miyako-Shuri interactions overall as one of uncivilized, "barbaric" places prone to violence which needed to be shown the morality and superior culture of [[Confucianism|Confucian]] civilization.<ref>Smits, ''Maritime Ryukyu'', 54.</ref> Putting aside stories which cannot be verified by other sources, Smits suggests that all we can know with any certainty is that there was some factionalism and fighting in the Miyako Islands in the 14th century. He suggests that after [[Okinawa Island]] began engaging in formal tribute trade with the Ming Empire in the 1370s, rumors of the prosperity or luxury goods brought to Okinawa through that trade may have reached the Miyakos and inspired efforts to establish stronger (and/or more official) trade relations with Okinawa. Miyako and Yaeyama Islanders were likely also trading with the Chinese coast, and Shô Shin's attack on the islands may have been aimed at reining this trade in and claiming a stronger Shuri monopoly on the China trade.<ref>Smits, ''Maritime Ryukyu'', University of Hawaii Press (2019), 55.</ref>

Though the kingdom's official histories seem to represent the people of the Miyakos and Yaeyamas as separate peoples who the Okinawa-based kingdom fought with and then incorporated, local legends, along with archaeological and other evidence, seems to suggest a notable influx in the 14th century of people from the north - people with superior metalworking technology, seafaring abilities, and established practices of trade with China. These people may have been ''[[wako|wakô]]'' driven south in the late 14th century by the collapse of the [[Southern Court]] in Kyushu.<ref>Smits, ''Maritime Ryukyu'', 56.</ref>

Though the kingdom's official histories seem to represent the people of the Miyakos and Yaeyamas as separate peoples who the Okinawa-based kingdom fought with and then incorporated, local legends, along with archaeological and other evidence, seems to suggest a notable influx in the 14th century of people from the north - people with superior metalworking technology, seafaring abilities, and established practices of trade with China. These people may have been ''[[wako|wakô]]'' driven south in the late 14th century by the collapse of the [[Southern Court]] in Kyushu.<ref>Smits, ''Maritime Ryukyu'', 56.</ref>