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==History==
==History==
Mt. Ôtake at the northern edge of the island is one of the highest in the Ryukyus, at around 305 meters (1000 feet). Historically, this provided a commanding view of maritime traffic, allowing those based on Kumejima to raid, tax, or otherwise take advantage of opportunities to profit from, ships passing through the region. Combined with the natural fortifications provided by the rocky topography of the island, this made Kume an excellent location for ''[[wako|wakô]]'' (brigands/pirates/smugglers) to set up base in the 13th-16th centuries.<ref>Gregory Smits, ''Maritime Ryukyu'', University of Hawaii Press (2019), 100.</ref> ''[[Gusuku]]'' fortresses began to be built on Kumejima around the same time as their first appearance on Okinawa Island, in the 13th-14th centuries.<ref>Smits, 18-26.</ref>
Kumejima was one of the chief economic centers in the archipelago, particularly in terms of the export of [[turbo shells]], in the 11th century.<ref>Gregory Smits, ''Maritime Ryukyu'', University of Hawaii Press (2019), 22.</ref>
Mt. Ôtake at the northern edge of the island is one of the highest in the Ryukyus, at around 305 meters (1000 feet). Historically, this provided a commanding view of maritime traffic, allowing those based on Kumejima to raid, tax, or otherwise take advantage of opportunities to profit from, ships passing through the region. Combined with the natural fortifications provided by the rocky topography of the island, this made Kume an excellent location for ''[[wako|wakô]]'' (brigands/pirates/smugglers) to set up base in the 13th-16th centuries.<ref>Smits, 100.</ref> ''[[Gusuku]]'' fortresses began to be built on Kumejima around the same time as their first appearance on Okinawa Island, in the 13th-14th centuries.<ref>Smits, 18-26.</ref>
According to traditional narratives, a figure known as [[Gushikawa anji]] was the dominant power on Kumejima at the beginning of the 16th century. By toppling him in [[1506]] and capturing [[Gushikawa gusuku (Kume)|his primary fortress]], the Ryûkyû Kingdom under King [[Sho Shin|Shô Shin]] claimed control over the island for the first time. The kingdom later dispatched a pair of ''[[zaiban (Ryukyu)|zaiban]]'' officials to oversee and administer the island on behalf of the court, in addition to a ''[[kuramoto]]''.<ref>"[http://ryukyushimpo.jp/news/storyid-41458-storytopic-121.html Zaiban]," Okinawa Compact Encyclopedia 沖縄コンパクト事典, Ryukyu Shimpo, 1 March 2003.; "[http://ryukyushimpo.jp/news/storyid-41219-storytopic-121.html Kuramoto]." ''Okinawa konpakuto jiten'' (沖縄コンパクト事典, "Okinawa Compact Encyclopedia"). Ryukyu Shimpô. 1 March 2003. Accessed 16 January 2010.</ref>
According to traditional narratives, a figure known as [[Gushikawa anji]] was the dominant power on Kumejima at the beginning of the 16th century. By toppling him in [[1506]] and capturing [[Gushikawa gusuku (Kume)|his primary fortress]], the Ryûkyû Kingdom under King [[Sho Shin|Shô Shin]] claimed control over the island for the first time. The kingdom later dispatched a pair of ''[[zaiban (Ryukyu)|zaiban]]'' officials to oversee and administer the island on behalf of the court, in addition to a ''[[kuramoto]]''.<ref>"[http://ryukyushimpo.jp/news/storyid-41458-storytopic-121.html Zaiban]," Okinawa Compact Encyclopedia 沖縄コンパクト事典, Ryukyu Shimpo, 1 March 2003.; "[http://ryukyushimpo.jp/news/storyid-41219-storytopic-121.html Kuramoto]." ''Okinawa konpakuto jiten'' (沖縄コンパクト事典, "Okinawa Compact Encyclopedia"). Ryukyu Shimpô. 1 March 2003. Accessed 16 January 2010.</ref>
The island came to be known for [[Kumejima tsumugi]], a type of pongee cloth which became a common [[tribute]] item or gift presented by the kingdom to the [[Tokugawa shogunate|Tokugawa shoguns]]. ''Tsumugi'' is believed to have been produced on Kumejima beginning in [[1632]]. Kumejima was also the primary location in the kingdom for the growing of [[cotton]], which was also sent to Kagoshima and [[Edo]] as a tribute good.<ref>''Bingata! Only in Okinawa'', George Washington University Museum and the Textile Museum (2016), 74.</ref>
The island came to be known for [[Kumejima tsumugi]], a type of pongee cloth which became a common [[tribute]] item or gift presented by the kingdom to the [[Tokugawa shogunate|Tokugawa shoguns]]. ''Tsumugi'' is believed to have been produced on Kumejima beginning in [[1632]]. Kumejima was also the primary location in the kingdom for the growing of [[cotton]], which was also sent to Kagoshima and [[Edo]] as a tribute good.<ref>''Bingata! Only in Okinawa'', George Washington University Museum and the Textile Museum (2016), 74.; Miyagi Eishô 宮城栄昌, ''Ryûkyû shisha no Edo nobori'' 琉球使者の江戸上り, Tokyo: Daiichi Shobô (1982), 108-110.</ref>
Like many other islands, Kumejima was sometimes used as a destination for exiling prominent individuals; [[Makishi Chochu|Makishi Chôchû]], a scholar-official who fell afoul of his political enemies and was accused of scheming behind the king's back, was sentenced to a ten-year exile on Kumejima in [[1858]]; he died in [[1862]], however, on his way to [[Kagoshima]] after having the conditions of his exile altered.<ref>"[http://ryukyushimpo.jp/news/storyid-42977-storytopic-121.html Makishi Chôchû]." ''Okinawa Compact Encyclopedia'' (沖縄コンパクト事典, ''Okinawa konpakuto jiten''). Ryukyu Shimpo. 1 March 2003. Accessed 29 September 2010.; "[http://kotobank.jp/word/%E7%89%A7%E5%BF%97%E6%9C%9D%E5%BF%A0 Makishi Chôchû]." Asahi Encyclopedia of Japanese Historical Figures (朝日日本歴史人物事典, ''Asahi Nihon rekishi jinbutsu jiten''). Asahi Shinbun Corporation. Accessed via Kotobank.jp, 29 September 2010.</ref>
Like many other islands, Kumejima was sometimes used as a destination for exiling prominent individuals; [[Makishi Chochu|Makishi Chôchû]], a scholar-official who fell afoul of his political enemies and was accused of scheming behind the king's back, was sentenced to a ten-year exile on Kumejima in [[1858]]; he died in [[1862]], however, on his way to [[Kagoshima]] after having the conditions of his exile altered.<ref>"[http://ryukyushimpo.jp/news/storyid-42977-storytopic-121.html Makishi Chôchû]." ''Okinawa Compact Encyclopedia'' (沖縄コンパクト事典, ''Okinawa konpakuto jiten''). Ryukyu Shimpo. 1 March 2003. Accessed 29 September 2010.; "[http://kotobank.jp/word/%E7%89%A7%E5%BF%97%E6%9C%9D%E5%BF%A0 Makishi Chôchû]." Asahi Encyclopedia of Japanese Historical Figures (朝日日本歴史人物事典, ''Asahi Nihon rekishi jinbutsu jiten''). Asahi Shinbun Corporation. Accessed via Kotobank.jp, 29 September 2010.</ref>
==Notable Sites==
*[[Kumejima Tenko-gu|Kumejima Tenkô-gû]] - a shrine to the Chinese deity [[Tenpi]] (aka Māzǔ), established by a [[Chinese investiture envoys|Chinese investiture mission]] which became castaway on Kumejima in [[1757]]. Today, one of a very few Tenpi shrines extant and active in Japan.
==References==
==References==
