Rin Seikō
Encyclopedia
was a scholar-bureaucrat and diplomat
of Ryūkyū Kingdom
. He was known for leading a movement to petition the government of Qing Dynasty
China to rescue the Ryūkyū Kingdom from annexation by Imperial Japan.
It was standard at the time for members of Ryūkyū's aristocratic class to have two names: and . "Rin Seikō" was his Chinese style name, while or was his Japanese style name.
, a community descended from Chinese immigrants in the Ryūkyū Kingdom. He had studied in the in his early years. Having been chosen to start on the track to becoming a bureaucrat, he traveled to China to study at the age of 26, remaining at the Imperial Academy in Beijing
for seven years. Upon returning to Okinawa, he was made instructor to the Crown Prince Shō Ten
. Many people believed he will be elevated in position and power after King Shō Tai
's death. But the government of Meiji Japan wanted to annex Okinawa, and unilaterally abolished the Ryūkyū Kingdom, and declared the islands to be the , with King Shō Tai as in 1872.
Worring about the future of Ryūkyū Kingdom, Rin Seikō left for China with Kōchi Chōjō
and Sai Taitei (蔡大鼎) for help. With the Ryūkyū-kan
in Fuzhou
as their base, Rin Seiko and Kōchi Chōjō petitioned the government of Qing Dynasty China to rescue the Ryūkyū Kingdom from annexation by Imperial Japan, but there was little response.
Finally, Imperial Japan replaces the Ryūkyū Kingdom with Okinawa Prefecture
in March 11, 1879, marked the end of Ryūkyū Kingdom. Rin Seikō went to Beijing to request China set troops to Ryūkyū Islands in the next year, but was little response. Later, he heard that China had signed a peace treaty with Japan in Tianjin
. Feeling hopeless, he killed himself by sword
in Beijing.
Diplomat
A diplomat is a person appointed by a state to conduct diplomacy with another state or international organization. The main functions of diplomats revolve around the representation and protection of the interests and nationals of the sending state, as well as the promotion of information and...
of Ryūkyū Kingdom
Ryukyu Kingdom
The Ryūkyū Kingdom was an independent kingdom which ruled most of the Ryukyu Islands from the 15th century to the 19th century. The Kings of Ryūkyū unified Okinawa Island and extended the kingdom to the Amami Islands in modern-day Kagoshima Prefecture, and the Sakishima Islands near Taiwan...
. He was known for leading a movement to petition the government of Qing Dynasty
Qing Dynasty
The Qing Dynasty was the last dynasty of China, ruling from 1644 to 1912 with a brief, abortive restoration in 1917. It was preceded by the Ming Dynasty and followed by the Republic of China....
China to rescue the Ryūkyū Kingdom from annexation by Imperial Japan.
It was standard at the time for members of Ryūkyū's aristocratic class to have two names: and . "Rin Seikō" was his Chinese style name, while or was his Japanese style name.
Life
Rin Seikō was born in KumemuraKumemura
Kumemura , located on Okinawa, in the port city of Naha and near the royal capital of Shuri, was a community of scholars, bureaucrats, and diplomats, and a center of culture and learning during the time of the Ryūkyū Kingdom...
, a community descended from Chinese immigrants in the Ryūkyū Kingdom. He had studied in the in his early years. Having been chosen to start on the track to becoming a bureaucrat, he traveled to China to study at the age of 26, remaining at the Imperial Academy in Beijing
Guozijian
The Guozijian , or Kuo Tzu Chien, the School of the Sons of State, sometimes called the Imperial Academy, Imperial College, Imperial Central School, was the national central institute of learning in Chinese dynasties after the Sui. It was the highest institute of learning in China's traditional...
for seven years. Upon returning to Okinawa, he was made instructor to the Crown Prince Shō Ten
Sho Ten
was the last crown prince of the Ryūkyū Kingdom. He lost that title upon the abolition of the kingdom and the abdication of the king, his father, Shō Tai, in 1879, and later succeeded to the title of in the kazoku peerage following his father's death in 1901.- Biography :Shō Ten was born in Shuri...
. Many people believed he will be elevated in position and power after King Shō Tai
Sho Tai
was the last king of the Ryūkyū Kingdom . His reign saw greatly increased interactions with travelers from abroad, particularly from Europe and the United States, as well as the eventual end of the kingdom and its annexation by Japan as Okinawa Prefecture.In 1879, the deposed king was forced to...
's death. But the government of Meiji Japan wanted to annex Okinawa, and unilaterally abolished the Ryūkyū Kingdom, and declared the islands to be the , with King Shō Tai as in 1872.
Worring about the future of Ryūkyū Kingdom, Rin Seikō left for China with Kōchi Chōjō
Kōchi Chōjō
' was a Ryukyuan aristocrat known for leading a movement to petition the government of Qing Dynasty China to rescue the Ryūkyū Kingdom from annexation by Imperial Japan, following the 1872 announcement by the government of Meiji Japan to do so....
and Sai Taitei (蔡大鼎) for help. With the Ryūkyū-kan
Ryukyu-kan
' were institutions serving as homes and bases of operations for Ryukyuan missions in early modern Fuzhou and Kagoshima .-Kagoshima:...
in Fuzhou
Fuzhou
Fuzhou is the capital and one of the largest cities in Fujian Province, People's Republic of China. Along with the many counties of Ningde, those of Fuzhou are considered to constitute the Mindong linguistic and cultural area....
as their base, Rin Seiko and Kōchi Chōjō petitioned the government of Qing Dynasty China to rescue the Ryūkyū Kingdom from annexation by Imperial Japan, but there was little response.
Finally, Imperial Japan replaces the Ryūkyū Kingdom with Okinawa Prefecture
Okinawa Prefecture
is one of Japan's southern prefectures. It consists of hundreds of the Ryukyu Islands in a chain over long, which extends southwest from Kyūshū to Taiwan. Okinawa's capital, Naha, is located in the southern part of Okinawa Island...
in March 11, 1879, marked the end of Ryūkyū Kingdom. Rin Seikō went to Beijing to request China set troops to Ryūkyū Islands in the next year, but was little response. Later, he heard that China had signed a peace treaty with Japan in Tianjin
Tianjin
' is a metropolis in northern China and one of the five national central cities of the People's Republic of China. It is governed as a direct-controlled municipality, one of four such designations, and is, thus, under direct administration of the central government...
. Feeling hopeless, he killed himself by sword
Wakizashi
The is one of the traditional Japanese swords worn by the samurai class in feudal Japan.-Description:...
in Beijing.