Ryukyuan missions to Edo
Encyclopedia
Over the course of Japan's Edo period
, the Okinawan Kingdom of Ryūkyū sent eighteen , the capital of Tokugawa Japan
. The unique pattern of these diplomatic exchanges evolved from models established by the Chinese, but without denoting any predetermined relationship to China or to the Chinese world order. The Kingdom became a vassal to the Japanese feudal domain (han) of Satsuma following Satsuma's 1609 invasion of Ryūkyū
, and as such were expected to pay tribute
to the shogunate; the missions also served as a great source of prestige for Satsuma, the only han to claim any foreign polity, let alone a kingdom, as its vassal.
(琉球館) in Kagoshima
, an institution which served a role similar to a consulate for the Ryūkyū Kingdom, and then on by land to Edo. Missions traveled as a part of Satsuma's regular missions to Edo under the sankin kōtai
system, the Ryūkyūan envoys and their entourage considerably outnumbered by the Japanese envoys and entourage from Satsuma, and were housed in the Shimazu clan residences during their time in Edo. Even so, they were still regarded as diplomatic missions from a foreign country. This was reflected in the envoys' reception in Edo, in the associated rituals and meetings. Ryūkyū was, however, regarded as being quite low in the hierarchy of foreign countries in the shogunate's world view. While the Ryūkyūn embassies paralleled in many ways those sent by Joseon Dynasty Korea in the same period, various aspects of the Ryūkyūan envoys' reception reflected their lower status in the shogunate's view. Since envoys from both Korea and Ryūkyū were not equals with the shogun, intermediaries represented the shogunate in meetings with the envoys; while Korean envoys met with members of various high-ranking families (the kōke
), envoys from Ryūkyū were met by a lower-ranking master of ceremonies, the sōshaban
The nature and composition of these Ryūkyūan missions to Edo evolved over the course of time. The earliest Ryukuyan mission was received in Kyoto in 1451 (Hōtoku 3, 7th month ) Mention of this diplomatic event is among the first of its type to be published in the West in an 1832 French version of by Hayashi Shihei
. The essential character of these diplomatic expeditions mirrored the Ryūkyūan embassies to the Qing court
in Beijing. The best extant description of these embassies is found in Tsūkō ichiran
, compiled by Hayashi Akira
in 1853. Japanese modifications to the well-established concepts and patterns of foreign relations of Imperial China
developed as conditions changed.
Every mission was conducted either to congratulate a new shogun on his succession or in connection with the accession of a new king of Ryūkyū. In the latter case, approval and formal recognition of the new king would be formally requested of both the Shimazu clan
lords of Satsuma and of the shogunate, but the request was essentially simply a matter of ritual, and none were ever denied.
Extensive efforts were made to stress the foreignness of the costume, language, customs and art of the Ryūkyū Kingdom, emphasizing the glory and power of the Shimazu clan of the Satsuma Domain, the only daimyo
(feudal lords) in Japan to enjoy the fealty of a foreign kingdom. The missions served a similar function for the shogunate at times, helping to create the image that the shogun's power and influence extended overseas. The third Tokugawa shogun, Tokugawa Iemitsu
, called for an embassy to be sent from Ryūkyū in 1634, as his predecessor Tokugawa Hidetada
had done with a Korean embassy in 1617, in order to provide a show for the Imperial court and daimyō of the shogun's power.
and paintings of the exotic and brightly colored costumes and banners of the Ryūkyū delegation were produced, and bought and sold by commoners and samurai alike.
(1609). King Shō Nei
and a number of royal advisors and government officials were taken back to Kagoshima and then to Sunpu, where they met with retired shogun
Tokugawa Ieyasu
. The delegation continued north to Edo
for a formal audience in the shogunal court of Tokugawa Hidetada
. Upon returning to Kagoshima, the king and officials were required to sign oaths of loyalty to Satsuma. Secondary sources, i.e. history books, often count this as the first tribute mission.
(r. 1556–72).
on his succession. He alone of the members of the mission was granted an audience with the shogun; by contrast, the Korean representatives received several months later included three ambassadors and seven or so aides and pages. This is but one of many differences seen in the reception of Korean and Ryūkyūan embassies, reflections of the different levels of status the two countries held in the Japanese view.
The reception for Prince Nago was attended by all daimyo below the fourth court rank; a great number of samurai lords, but of relatively low rank. In presenting formal greetings on behalf of King Shō Tei
, he bowed nine times "on the fourth mat below the Lower State[and] withdrew" and then presented obeisances on his own behalf from the veranda. This, too, reflects a lower status than the Korean ambassadors, who made only four and a half bows from the second mat below the Middle Stage. Historian Ronald Toby
, by way of contrasting the treatment of the two embassies, also adds that the Ryūkyūans were offered no grand banquet as the Koreans did, nor were they bade farewell by the rōjū
(Council of Elders; chief shogunal advisors) when they left Edo for home, as the Korean envoys did.
.
, Confucian
scholar and influential educational reformer, accompanied the mission as the Chief of Correspondence. Tei met with Japanese Confucian scholars Arai Hakuseki
, Ogyū Sorai
, and Dazai Shundai. Hakuseki would later write a history of the Ryūkyū Islands, entitled , based on discussions with Tei Junsoku and others during this envoy mission; Shundai likewise included passages about the Ryūkyūs in his .
Discussions between the Ryūkyūan emissaries and their Japanese counterparts concerned in part problems faced by the Ryūkyū Kingdom. Economic policies put into place in the ensuing years were patterned after recent Japanese policies under Shogun Tokugawa Tsunayoshi
. The influence of this 1714 mission was particularly strong in drawing the attention of the shogunate to the affairs of the Ryūkyū Kingdom.
(1752).
in the 1st year of Meiwa
(1764); and presentations of Ryukyuan music were among the offerings presented by the Ryukyuan ambassador.
Edo period
The , or , is a division of Japanese history which was ruled by the shoguns of the Tokugawa family, running from 1603 to 1868. The political entity of this period was the Tokugawa shogunate....
, the Okinawan Kingdom of Ryūkyū sent eighteen , the capital of Tokugawa Japan
Tokugawa shogunate
The Tokugawa shogunate, also known as the and the , was a feudal regime of Japan established by Tokugawa Ieyasu and ruled by the shoguns of the Tokugawa family. This period is known as the Edo period and gets its name from the capital city, Edo, which is now called Tokyo, after the name was...
. The unique pattern of these diplomatic exchanges evolved from models established by the Chinese, but without denoting any predetermined relationship to China or to the Chinese world order. The Kingdom became a vassal to the Japanese feudal domain (han) of Satsuma following Satsuma's 1609 invasion of Ryūkyū
Invasion of Ryukyu
The invasion of Ryukyu by forces of the Japanese feudal domain of Satsuma took place in 1609, and marked the beginning of the Ryūkyū Kingdom's status as a vassal state under Satsuma...
, and as such were expected to pay tribute
Tribute
A tribute is wealth, often in kind, that one party gives to another as a sign of respect or, as was often the case in historical contexts, of submission or allegiance. Various ancient states, which could be called suzerains, exacted tribute from areas they had conquered or threatened to conquer...
to the shogunate; the missions also served as a great source of prestige for Satsuma, the only han to claim any foreign polity, let alone a kingdom, as its vassal.
Evolving relationships
Royal princes or top-ranking officials in the royal government served as chief envoys, and were accompanied by merchants, craftsmen, scholars, and other government officials as they journeyed first by sea to the Ryūkyū-kanRyukyu-kan
' were institutions serving as homes and bases of operations for Ryukyuan missions in early modern Fuzhou and Kagoshima .-Kagoshima:...
(琉球館) in Kagoshima
Kagoshima, Kagoshima
is the capital city of Kagoshima Prefecture at the southwestern tip of the Kyūshū island of Japan, and the largest city in the prefecture by some margin...
, an institution which served a role similar to a consulate for the Ryūkyū Kingdom, and then on by land to Edo. Missions traveled as a part of Satsuma's regular missions to Edo under the sankin kōtai
Sankin kotai
was a policy of the shogunate during most of the Edo period of Japanese history. The purpose was to control the daimyo. In adopting the policy, the shogunate was continuing and refining similar policies of Toyotomi Hideyoshi. In 1635, a law required sankin kōtai, which was already an established...
system, the Ryūkyūan envoys and their entourage considerably outnumbered by the Japanese envoys and entourage from Satsuma, and were housed in the Shimazu clan residences during their time in Edo. Even so, they were still regarded as diplomatic missions from a foreign country. This was reflected in the envoys' reception in Edo, in the associated rituals and meetings. Ryūkyū was, however, regarded as being quite low in the hierarchy of foreign countries in the shogunate's world view. While the Ryūkyūn embassies paralleled in many ways those sent by Joseon Dynasty Korea in the same period, various aspects of the Ryūkyūan envoys' reception reflected their lower status in the shogunate's view. Since envoys from both Korea and Ryūkyū were not equals with the shogun, intermediaries represented the shogunate in meetings with the envoys; while Korean envoys met with members of various high-ranking families (the kōke
Koke
A was a noble ranking below a daimyo in Japan during the Edo period. Their lands were assessed at less than ten thousand koku, making them ineligible for the rank of daimyo.Unlike hatamoto, whose duties were military, the kōke had certain privileged missions...
), envoys from Ryūkyū were met by a lower-ranking master of ceremonies, the sōshaban
The nature and composition of these Ryūkyūan missions to Edo evolved over the course of time. The earliest Ryukuyan mission was received in Kyoto in 1451 (Hōtoku 3, 7th month ) Mention of this diplomatic event is among the first of its type to be published in the West in an 1832 French version of by Hayashi Shihei
Hayashi Shihei
was a Japanese military scholar and a retainer of the Sendai Domain.His name is sometimes misread as Rin Shihei....
. The essential character of these diplomatic expeditions mirrored the Ryūkyūan embassies to the Qing court
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....
in Beijing. The best extant description of these embassies is found in Tsūkō ichiran
Tsuko ichiran
' is a mid-19th century Japanese compilation of documents or "survey of intercourse" related to the foreign relations of the Tokugawas and the Tokugawa shogunate....
, compiled by Hayashi Akira
Hayashi Akira
was a Edo period scholar-diplomat serving the Tokugawa Shogunate in a variety of roles similar to those performed by serial Hayashi clan neo-Confucianists since the time of Tokugawa Ieyasu...
in 1853. Japanese modifications to the well-established concepts and patterns of foreign relations of Imperial China
Foreign relations of Imperial China
Imperial China had a long tradition of foreign relations. From the Qin Dynasty until the Qing Dynasty, the Culture of China had an impact upon neighboring and distant countries, while gradually being transformed by outside influences as well....
developed as conditions changed.
Every mission was conducted either to congratulate a new shogun on his succession or in connection with the accession of a new king of Ryūkyū. In the latter case, approval and formal recognition of the new king would be formally requested of both the Shimazu clan
Shimazu clan
The were the daimyō of the Satsuma han, which spread over Satsuma, Ōsumi and Hyūga provinces in Japan.The Shimazu were identified as one of the tozama or outsider daimyō clans in contrast with the fudai or insider clans which were hereditary vassals or allies of the Tokugawa clan,The Shimazu were...
lords of Satsuma and of the shogunate, but the request was essentially simply a matter of ritual, and none were ever denied.
Extensive efforts were made to stress the foreignness of the costume, language, customs and art of the Ryūkyū Kingdom, emphasizing the glory and power of the Shimazu clan of the Satsuma Domain, the only daimyo
Daimyo
is a generic term referring to the powerful territorial lords in pre-modern Japan who ruled most of the country from their vast, hereditary land holdings...
(feudal lords) in Japan to enjoy the fealty of a foreign kingdom. The missions served a similar function for the shogunate at times, helping to create the image that the shogun's power and influence extended overseas. The third Tokugawa shogun, Tokugawa Iemitsu
Tokugawa Iemitsu
Tokugawa Iemitsu was the third shogun of the Tokugawa dynasty. He was the eldest son of Tokugawa Hidetada, and the grandson of Tokugawa Ieyasu. Iemitsu ruled from 1623 to 1651.-Early life :...
, called for an embassy to be sent from Ryūkyū in 1634, as his predecessor Tokugawa Hidetada
Tokugawa Hidetada
was the second shogun of the Tokugawa dynasty, who ruled from 1605 until his abdication in 1623. He was the third son of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first shogun of the Tokugawa shogunate.-Early life :...
had done with a Korean embassy in 1617, in order to provide a show for the Imperial court and daimyō of the shogun's power.
Cultural impacts
Numerous woodblock printsWoodblock printing in Japan
Woodblock printing in Japan is a technique best known for its use in the ukiyo-e artistic genre; however, it was also used very widely for printing books in the same period. Woodblock printing had been used in China for centuries to print books, long before the advent of movable type, but was only...
and paintings of the exotic and brightly colored costumes and banners of the Ryūkyū delegation were produced, and bought and sold by commoners and samurai alike.
1609–1611
The Kingdom of Ryūkyū was invaded by forces from the Satsuma Domain in the 12th year of KeichōKeicho
was a after Bunroku and before Genna. This period spanned from October 1596 to July 1615. The reigning emperors were and .-Change of era:* 1596 : The era name was changed to Keichō to mark the passing of various natural disasters...
(1609). King Shō Nei
Sho Nei
' was king of the Ryūkyū Kingdom from 1587–1620. He reigned during the 1609 invasion of Ryūkyū and was the first king of Ryūkyū to be a vassal to the Shimazu clan of Satsuma, a Japanese feudal domain....
and a number of royal advisors and government officials were taken back to Kagoshima and then to Sunpu, where they met with retired shogun
Shogun
A was one of the hereditary military dictators of Japan from 1192 to 1867. In this period, the shoguns, or their shikken regents , were the de facto rulers of Japan though they were nominally appointed by the emperor...
Tokugawa Ieyasu
Tokugawa Ieyasu
was the founder and first shogun of the Tokugawa shogunate of Japan , which ruled from the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600 until the Meiji Restoration in 1868. Ieyasu seized power in 1600, received appointment as shogun in 1603, abdicated from office in 1605, but...
. The delegation continued north to Edo
Edo
, also romanized as Yedo or Yeddo, is the former name of the Japanese capital Tokyo, and was the seat of power for the Tokugawa shogunate which ruled Japan from 1603 to 1868...
for a formal audience in the shogunal court of Tokugawa Hidetada
Tokugawa Hidetada
was the second shogun of the Tokugawa dynasty, who ruled from 1605 until his abdication in 1623. He was the third son of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first shogun of the Tokugawa shogunate.-Early life :...
. Upon returning to Kagoshima, the king and officials were required to sign oaths of loyalty to Satsuma. Secondary sources, i.e. history books, often count this as the first tribute mission.
1629
No formal tribute/diplomatic mission was sent in this year, but three high-ranking officials from the Ryūkyū government journeyed to Edo to perform before Shogun Tokugawa IemitsuTokugawa Iemitsu
Tokugawa Iemitsu was the third shogun of the Tokugawa dynasty. He was the eldest son of Tokugawa Hidetada, and the grandson of Tokugawa Ieyasu. Iemitsu ruled from 1623 to 1651.-Early life :...
1649
The 1649 mission was headed by Prince Gushikawa Chōei. Chōei was the seventh son of Shō Kyū, son of King Shō GenSho Gen
Shō Gen was king of the Ryūkyū Kingdom from 1556 to 1572. He was called "Gen, the mute." the king required considerable support from the Sanshikan , the chief council of royal advisors...
(r. 1556–72).
1682
Prince Nago led a mission in 1682 to congratulate Shogun Tokugawa TsunayoshiTokugawa Tsunayoshi
was the fifth shogun of the Tokugawa dynasty of Japan. He was the younger brother of Tokugawa Ietsuna, thus making him the son of Tokugawa Iemitsu, the grandson of Tokugawa Hidetada, and the great-grandson of Tokugawa Ieyasu....
on his succession. He alone of the members of the mission was granted an audience with the shogun; by contrast, the Korean representatives received several months later included three ambassadors and seven or so aides and pages. This is but one of many differences seen in the reception of Korean and Ryūkyūan embassies, reflections of the different levels of status the two countries held in the Japanese view.
The reception for Prince Nago was attended by all daimyo below the fourth court rank; a great number of samurai lords, but of relatively low rank. In presenting formal greetings on behalf of King Shō Tei
Shō Tei
' was the 11th King of the Second Shō Dynasty of the Ryūkyū Kingdom, who held the throne from 1669 until his death in 1709. He was the ruler of Ryūkyū at the time of the compiling of the Chūzan Seibu ....
, he bowed nine times "on the fourth mat below the Lower State
Ronald Toby
Ronald P. Toby is an American historian, academic, writer and Japanologist.-Career:As a university professor, Toby's teaching experience has included the University of California at Berkeley, the Keio University and the University of Tokyo....
, by way of contrasting the treatment of the two embassies, also adds that the Ryūkyūans were offered no grand banquet as the Koreans did, nor were they bade farewell by the rōjū
Roju
The ', usually translated as Elder, was one of the highest-ranking government posts in Tokugawa Japan. The term refers either to individual Elders, or to the Council as a whole; under the first two shoguns, there were only two Rōjū...
(Council of Elders; chief shogunal advisors) when they left Edo for home, as the Korean envoys did.
1710
Mission to Edo included 168 from Ryūkyū, far exceeding the size of any previous mission. This is a reflection in large part of the relative prosperity of the kingdom under the guidance of royal advisor Sai OnSai On
', also known as ' was a scholar-bureaucrat official of the Ryūkyū Kingdom, serving as regent, instructor, and advisor to King Shō Kei...
.
1714
The largest mission in the history of the practice journeys to Edo, led by Princes Yonagusuku and Kin. Tei JunsokuTei Junsoku
' was a Confucian scholar and government official of the Ryūkyū Kingdom. He has been described as being "in an unofficial sense... the 'minister of education'", and is particularly famous for his contributions to scholarship and education in Okinawa and Japan...
, Confucian
Confucianism
Confucianism is a Chinese ethical and philosophical system developed from the teachings of the Chinese philosopher Confucius . Confucianism originated as an "ethical-sociopolitical teaching" during the Spring and Autumn Period, but later developed metaphysical and cosmological elements in the Han...
scholar and influential educational reformer, accompanied the mission as the Chief of Correspondence. Tei met with Japanese Confucian scholars Arai Hakuseki
Arai Hakuseki
was a Confucianist, scholar-bureaucrat, academic, administrator, writer and politician in Japan during the middle of the Edo Period, who advised the Shogun Tokugawa Ienobu. His personal name was Kinmi or Kimiyoshi . Hakuseki was his pen name...
, Ogyū Sorai
Ogyu Sorai
, pen name Butsu Sorai, was a Japanese Confucian philosopher. He has been described as the most influential such scholar during the Tokugawa period. His primary area of study was in applying the teachings of Confucianism to government and social order...
, and Dazai Shundai. Hakuseki would later write a history of the Ryūkyū Islands, entitled , based on discussions with Tei Junsoku and others during this envoy mission; Shundai likewise included passages about the Ryūkyūs in his .
Discussions between the Ryūkyūan emissaries and their Japanese counterparts concerned in part problems faced by the Ryūkyū Kingdom. Economic policies put into place in the ensuing years were patterned after recent Japanese policies under Shogun Tokugawa Tsunayoshi
Tokugawa Tsunayoshi
was the fifth shogun of the Tokugawa dynasty of Japan. He was the younger brother of Tokugawa Ietsuna, thus making him the son of Tokugawa Iemitsu, the grandson of Tokugawa Hidetada, and the great-grandson of Tokugawa Ieyasu....
. The influence of this 1714 mission was particularly strong in drawing the attention of the shogunate to the affairs of the Ryūkyū Kingdom.
1748–1752
An embassy from the Ryūkyū Islands arrived in Japan in the 1st year of Kan'en (1648), and another embassy arrived in the 2nd year of HōrekiHoreki
was a after Kan'en and before Meiwa. The period spanned the years from October 1751 through June 1764. The reigning emperor and emperess were and .-Change of era:...
(1752).
1764
The king of the Ryūkyū Islands sent an ambassador to the court of Empress Go-SakuramachiEmpress Go-Sakuramachi
was the 117th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.Go-Sakuramachi's reign spanned the years from 1762 through 1771....
in the 1st year of Meiwa
Meiwa
was a after Hōreki and before An'ei. This period spanned the years from June 1764 through November 1772. The reigning empress and emperor were and .-Change of era:...
(1764); and presentations of Ryukyuan music were among the offerings presented by the Ryukyuan ambassador.
Missions Table
| Year | Mission type | Shogun | Ryūkyūan King | Lead Envoy | Number in entourage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1634 | Congratulation & Gratitude | Tokugawa Iemitsu Tokugawa Iemitsu Tokugawa Iemitsu was the third shogun of the Tokugawa dynasty. He was the eldest son of Tokugawa Hidetada, and the grandson of Tokugawa Ieyasu. Iemitsu ruled from 1623 to 1651.-Early life :... |
Shō Hō Sho Ho ', also known as Shengfeng, was a king of the Ryūkyū Kingdom. He succeeded Shō Nei, whose reign saw the invasion of Ryūkyū by Japanese forces in 1609 and the subjugation of the kingdom to Satsuma Domain, and ruled from 1621 until 1640.... |
Princes Tamagusuku, Kin, Sashiki | Unknown |
| 1644 | Congratulation & Gratitude | Tokugawa Iemitsu | Shō Ken | Princes Kin, Kunigami | 70 |
| 1649 | Gratitude | Tokugawa Iemitsu | Shō Shitsu Sho Shitsu ' was a king of the Ryūkyū Kingdom who held the throne from 1648 until his death in 1668.The fourth son of King Shō Hō, he was named Prince of Sashiki in 1637, at the age of eight, and was granted Sashiki magiri as his domain... |
Prince Gushikawa Chōei | 63 |
| 1653 | Congratulation | Tokugawa Ietsuna Tokugawa Ietsuna was the fourth shogun of the Tokugawa dynasty of Japan who was in office from 1651 to 1680. He was the eldest son of Tokugawa Iemitsu, thus making him the grandson of Tokugawa Hidetada and the great-grandson of Tokugawa Ieyasu.-Early Life :... |
Shō Shitsu | Prince Kunigami | 71 |
| 1671 | Gratitude | Tokugawa Ietsuna | Shō Tei Shō Tei ' was the 11th King of the Second Shō Dynasty of the Ryūkyū Kingdom, who held the throne from 1669 until his death in 1709. He was the ruler of Ryūkyū at the time of the compiling of the Chūzan Seibu .... |
Prince Kin | 74 |
| 1682 | Congratulation | Tokugawa Tsunayoshi Tokugawa Tsunayoshi was the fifth shogun of the Tokugawa dynasty of Japan. He was the younger brother of Tokugawa Ietsuna, thus making him the son of Tokugawa Iemitsu, the grandson of Tokugawa Hidetada, and the great-grandson of Tokugawa Ieyasu.... |
Shō Tei | Prince Nago | 94 |
| 1710 | Congratulation & Gratitude | Tokugawa Ienobu Tokugawa Ienobu was the sixth shogun of the Tokugawa dynasty of Japan. He was the eldest son of Tokugawa Tsunashige, thus making him the nephew of Tokugawa Ietsuna and Tokugawa Tsunayoshi, the grandson of Tokugawa Iemitsu, the great-grandson of Tokugawa Hidetada, and the great-great grandson of Tokugawa... |
Shō Eki | Princes Miri, Tomigusuku | 168 |
| 1714 | Congratulation & Gratitude | Tokugawa Ietsugu Tokugawa Ietsugu Tokugawa Ietsugu; 徳川 家継 was the seventh shogun of the Tokugawa Dynasty, who ruled from 1713 until his death in 1716... |
Shō Kei Sho Kei ' was king of the Ryūkyū Kingdom from 1713-1752. His reign, strongly guided by royal advisor Sai On, is regarded as a political and economic golden age and period of the flowering of Okinawan culture.... |
Princes Kin, Yonagusuku | 170 |
| 1718 | Congratulation | Tokugawa Yoshimune Tokugawa Yoshimune was the eighth shogun of the Tokugawa shogunate of Japan, ruling from 1716 until his abdication in 1745. He was the son of Tokugawa Mitsusada, the grandson of Tokugawa Yorinobu, and the great-grandson of Tokugawa Ieyasu.-Lineage:... |
Shō Kei | Prince Goeku | 94 |
| 1748 | Congratulation | Tokugawa Ieshige Tokugawa Ieshige Tokugawa Ieshige; 徳川 家重 was the ninth shogun of the Tokugawa shogunate of Japan.The first son of Tokugawa Yoshimune, his mother was the daughter of Okubo Tadanao, known as Osuma no kata. His childhood name was Nagatomi-maru. He underwent the genpuku coming-of-age ceremony in 1725... |
Shō Kei | Prince Gushikawa | 98 |
| 1752 | Gratitude | Tokugawa Ieshige | Shō Boku Shō Boku ' was a king of Ryukyu. His reign began in 1756. Although a period of relative stability he had to contend with a tsunami in 1771 that devastated the Miyako Islands and Yaeyama Islands. His reign also saw the Chinese envoy Chou Huang who wrote a sixteen volume topography of the islands for the... |
Prince Nakijin | 94 |
| 1764 | Congratulation | Tokugawa Ieharu Tokugawa Ieharu Tokugawa Ieharu Tokugawa Ieharu Tokugawa Ieharu (徳川家治 (June 20, 1737 – September 17, 1786) was the tenth shogun of the Tokugawa shogunate of Japan, who held office from 1760 to 1786.Ieharu was the eldest son of Tokugawa Ieshige, the ninth shogun.-Events of the Ieharu's bakufu:... |
Shō Boku | Prince Yomitanzan | 96 |
| 1790 | Congratulation | Tokugawa Ienari Tokugawa Ienari Tokugawa Ienari; 徳川 家斉 was the eleventh and longest serving shogun of the Tokugawa shogunate of Japan who held office from 1787 to 1837.-First wife:... |
Shō Boku | Prince Ginowan | 96 |
| 1796 | Gratitude | Tokugawa Ienari | Shō On | Prince Ōgimi | 97 |
| 1806 | Gratitude | Tokugawa Ienari | Shō Kō Sho Ko ' was a king of the Ryūkyū Kingdom, who held the throne from 1804 to 1828, when he was forced to abdicate in favor of his son, Shō Iku... |
Prince Yomitanzan | 97 |
| 1832 | Gratitude | Tokugawa Ienari | Shō Iku | Prince Tomigusuku | 78 |
| 1842 | Congratulation | Tokugawa Ieyoshi Tokugawa Ieyoshi Tokugawa Ieyoshi was the 12th shogun of the Tokugawa shogunate of Japan.He was the second son of the 11th shogun, Tokugawa Ienari, and appointed Mizuno Tadakuni to conduct the Tenpo reform.... |
Shō Iku | Prince Urasoe | 99 |
| 1850 | Gratitude | Tokugawa Ieyoshi | 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... |
Prince Tamakawa | 99 |
See also
- Japanese missions to JoseonJapanese missions to JoseonJapanese missions to Joseon represent a crucial aspect of the international relations of mutual Joseon-Japanese contacts and communication. The bilateral exchanges were intermittent....
- Joseon missions to JapanJoseon missions to JapanJoseon missions to Japan represent a crucial aspect of the international relations of mutual Joseon-Japanese contacts and communication. In sum, these serial diplomatic ventures illustrate the persistence of Joseon's kyorin diplomacy from 1392 to 1910.The chronology of one side in a bilateral...
- Dutch missions to EdoDutch missions to EdoThe Dutch East India Company missions to Edo were regular tribute missions to the court of the Tokugawa Shogun in Edo to reassure the ties between the Bakufu and the Opperhoofd...
- Joseon tongsinsa
- Ryukyuan missions to Imperial ChinaRyukyuan missions to Imperial ChinaRyukyuan missions to Imperial China were diplomatic missions which were intermittently sent from the Ryukyuan kings to the Ming and Qing emperors. These diplomatic contacts were within the Sinocentric system of bilateral and multinational relationships in East Asia.-History:King Satto...
- Ryukyuan missions to JoseonRyukyuan missions to JoseonRyukyuan missions to Joseon were diplomatic and trade ventures of the Ryūkyū Kingdom which were intermittently sent in the years 1392-1879. These diplomatic contacts were within the Sinocentric system of bilateral and multinational relationships in East Asia...
- Hua-Yi distinctionHua-Yi distinctionThe distinction between Hua and Yi is an ancient Chinese conception that differentiated a culturally defined "China" from cultural or ethnic outsiders...
- Tsūkō ichiranTsuko ichiran' is a mid-19th century Japanese compilation of documents or "survey of intercourse" related to the foreign relations of the Tokugawas and the Tokugawa shogunate....
, mid-19th century text
External links
- National Archives of JapanNational Archives of JapanThe preserve Japanese government documents and historical records and make them available to the public. Although Japan's reverence for its unique history and art is well documented and illustrated by collections of art and documents, there is almost no archivist tradition...
: Ryūkyū Chuzano ryoshisha tojogyoretsu, scroll illustrating procession of Ryūkyū emissary to Edo, 1710 (Hōei 7). - Waseda UniversityWaseda University, abbreviated as , is one of the most prestigious private universities in Japan and Asia. Its main campuses are located in the northern part of Shinjuku, Tokyo. Founded in 1882 as Tokyo Senmon Gakko, the institution was renamed "Waseda University" in 1902. It is known for its liberal climate...
— Hayashi ShiheiHayashi Shiheiwas a Japanese military scholar and a retainer of the Sendai Domain.His name is sometimes misread as Rin Shihei....
. (1785). 三国通覧図説 (Sangoku Tsuran Zusetsu)