History of the Ryukyu Islands facts for kids
The Ryukyu Islands are a chain of islands southwest of Japan. This article tells the story of their past, from ancient times to more recent events.
Contents
What's in a Name?
The name "Ryukyu" comes from old Chinese writings. The earliest mentions of "Ryukyu" were in a Chinese history book called Book of Sui in 607 CE. The name means "glazed horn-dragon."
The name "Okinawa" has a less clear origin. It was used in Okinawa itself. An old book of poems, Omoro Sōshi, mentions a special woman named "Uchinaa," which might suggest a sacred place called Okinawa. The current Japanese characters for Okinawa (沖縄) were first used in 1702.
Early History
Ancient Times
We don't know exactly when people first arrived in Okinawa. The oldest human bones found are from the Yamashita Cave Man, about 32,000 years ago. After that came the Pinza-Abu Cave Man (26,000 years ago) and the Minatogawa Man (18,000 years ago). These early people might have come from China. No stone tools were found with them, and there's a long gap of 12,000 years with no archaeological discoveries after the Minatogawa Man.
Shell Heap Culture
The Okinawa shell heap culture is divided into two periods. In the early period, people were mostly hunter-gatherers. They made pottery with wavy designs. Later, archaeological sites moved closer to the sea, showing that people started fishing more. Unlike Japan, rice farming didn't start in Okinawa until later in this period.
People in Okinawa also traded shell rings, which were used as arm decorations. These shells came from the Sakishima Islands, like Miyakojima and Yaeyama. The discovery of shell axes from 2,500 years ago in these islands suggests they were influenced by cultures from the southeastern Pacific.
Myths and Early Dynasties
The first history of Ryukyu was written in a book called Chūzan Seikan in the 1600s. It tells the Ryukyuan creation myth, which includes the first king, Tenson, and the creation of Noro, who were female priestesses.
The book also tells a story about a Japanese samurai named Minamoto no Tametomo. He supposedly came to Okinawa and had a son named Shunten. Shunten then became king. However, most historians think this story was made up later to connect Okinawa to Japan. Shunten's family ruled for three generations. Then, a new family, the Eiso dynasty, took over and ruled for five generations.
Gusuku Period
Gusuku is the name for the special castles or fortresses found in Okinawa. Many gusukus are now World Heritage Sites, recognized by UNESCO. After the shell heap culture, farming began around the 12th century, and people started living in higher places. This time is called the Gusuku period.
Gusukus could be seen in different ways: as holy places, as homes surrounded by stones, or as castles for leaders. During this time, trade with other countries, especially for porcelain, became very active. Okinawa became an important stop for trade in East Asia.
In 1272, the Mongol leader Kublai Khan ordered Ryukyu to become part of his empire, but King Eiso refused. In 1276, Mongol messengers returned, but the Ryukyuans drove them away.
The Three Kingdoms
The Three-Kingdom period, also known as the Sanzan-jidai (Three Mountains), lasted from 1322 to 1429. During this time, power slowly came together under the Shō family.
Shō Hashi (1372–1439) was a powerful leader. He conquered the middle kingdom, Chūzan, in 1404. Then he conquered the northern kingdom, Hokuzan, in 1416. Finally, he conquered the southern kingdom, Nanzan, in 1429. This united the three kingdoms into one Ryukyu Kingdom. The Chinese Emperor of the Ming dynasty recognized Shō Hashi as the ruler. Even though the Ryukyu Kingdom was independent, its kings sent gifts and paid respect to the Chinese emperors.
The Ryukyu Kingdom (1429–1879)
A Golden Age (1429–1609)
In 1429, King Shō Hashi finished uniting the three kingdoms and made Shuri Castle his capital. Shō Shin (1465–1526) became the third king of the Second Sho Dynasty. His time as king is often called the "Great Days of Chūzan" because it was a period of peace and wealth. He helped set up much of the kingdom's government and economy. During his rule, the kingdom also expanded its control to nearby islands like Miyako-jima and Ishigaki Island.
Many Chinese people moved to Ryukyu during this time to work for the government or in business. In 1392, the Chinese Ming dynasty sent 36 Chinese families from Fujian to help Ryukyu with its sea trade. Many Ryukyuan officials were descendants of these Chinese immigrants. They helped Ryukyu improve its technology and its relationships with other countries.
Under Satsuma's Influence (1609–1871)
In April 1609, the Shimazu clan from Japan's Satsuma Domain invaded the Ryukyu Kingdom. Three thousand soldiers and over a hundred warships sailed from Kagoshima. The invaders defeated the Ryukyuans in the Amami Islands and then at Nakijin Castle on Okinawa Island. They also captured Urasoe Castle. Finally, Satsuma captured Shuri Castle, the capital, and King Shō Nei. The King told his army, "life is a treasure," and they surrendered. Many valuable cultural treasures were taken to Kagoshima. As a result, the Amami Islands were given to Satsuma in 1611.
After 1609, the Ryukyuan kings became vassals (like a loyal subject) of Satsuma. Even though it was still called an independent kingdom, the islands were sometimes seen as a part of Japan. The Shimazu clan made a rule that common people could not own swords. This led to the development of Okinawan martial arts, where people used everyday items as weapons.
In the 1600s, the Ryukyu Kingdom was unique because it was a tributary state of China and also a vassal of Japan. This was important because China would only trade with countries that paid tribute to them. So, Ryukyu became a way for Japan to trade with China, especially when Japan closed off most foreign trade.
In 1853, American ships, known as "Black Ships," arrived. In 1871, an event called the Mudan incident happened in Taiwan. Fifty-four Ryukyuans were killed after their ship crashed there.
Ryukyu Becomes a Japanese Domain (1872–1879)
In 1872, the Ryukyu Kingdom was changed into a feudal domain of Japan. After Japan's expedition to Taiwan in 1874, Japan's role as the protector of the Ryukyuan people was recognized. However, the idea that the Ryukyu Kingdom was independent continued until 1879. In 1878, the islands were listed as paying tribute to Japan. The main island was called "Tsju San," meaning "middle island." The main port was open for foreign trade.
The islands produced things like tea, rice, sugar, tobacco, and silk. They also made cotton, paper, porcelain, and lacquered goods.
Okinawa Prefecture (1879–1937)
In 1879, Japan decided to officially take over the Ryukyu Kingdom. China protested and asked former U.S. President Ulysses Grant to help. One idea was for Japan to take the northern islands, China to take the Miyako and Yaeyama islands, and the central islands to remain independent. But the talks failed, and Japan took over the entire Ryukyu archipelago.
The Ryukyu domain was ended and became Okinawa Prefecture under the Japanese government. The king, Shō Tai, was forced to move to Tokyo. As a form of compensation, he was given a special title in Japan.
After Japan took over, many Ryukyuans felt upset. Japan tried to remove Ryukyuan culture, including their language, religion, and traditions. For example, in public schools, only standard Japanese was allowed. Students who spoke their own language were sometimes made to wear "dialect cards" around their necks to shame them. This helped more people learn Japanese, connecting them to the mainland. While some Ryukyuans were proud to be part of the Japanese Empire, many still felt like they were treated as second-class citizens.
Okinawa and World War II
Before World War II, the Japanese government wanted to make everyone feel united and ready for war. They did this by drafting people into the military and using nationalistic messages. Many people in the Ryukyu Islands, even though they had only been full Japanese citizens for a short time, wanted to prove their loyalty to Japan, despite facing prejudice from mainland Japanese people.
In 1943, during World War II, the U.S. president asked China if it wanted to claim the Ryukyu Islands after the war. China replied that it would be okay with the U.S. and China sharing control of the islands. On March 23, 1945, the United States began its attack on Okinawa Island, which was the last island before the planned invasion of mainland Japan.
Battle of Okinawa: April 1 – June 22, 1945
The Battle of Okinawa was one of the last major battles of World War II. Around 120,000 soldiers died. The Ryukyu Islands were the only inhabited part of Japan where a land battle took place during the war. More than one-third of the civilian population, which was about 300,000 people, were killed. Many important historical documents, artifacts, and cultural sites, including the royal Shuri Castle, were destroyed.
Americans expected Okinawans to welcome them, but Japanese propaganda had made Okinawans afraid of Americans. Because of this, some Okinawans joined militias and fought alongside the Japanese. This made it hard for Americans to tell soldiers from civilians, leading to many civilian deaths.
As the fighting got worse, Japanese soldiers hid in caves with civilians, which also increased civilian casualties. Japanese soldiers even shot Okinawans who tried to surrender to the Allied forces. The U.S. used Japanese-Americans who spoke Okinawan to broadcast messages, which made the Japanese believe that Okinawans who didn't speak Japanese were spies or disloyal. These people were often killed.
In the Yaeyama Islands, the Japanese military forced people to leave their towns and go to the mountains, even though malaria was common there. Fifty-four percent of the island's population died from hunger and disease.
After the War
After the war, the United States occupied the Ryukyu Islands. They were first governed by the U.S. Military Government (1945-1950), then by the U.S. Civil Administration (1950-1972). The Treaty of San Francisco in 1952 officially ended the war. However, since the Battle of Okinawa, the presence of permanent American military bases has caused problems between Okinawans and the U.S. military. During the occupation, American soldiers were not subject to local laws because Okinawa was occupied by the U.S.
The U.S. kept control even after the occupation of Japan ended in 1952. The U.S. dollar was the official money, and cars drove on the right side of the road, like in America, instead of the left side like in Japan. The islands switched to driving on the left in 1978, six years after they were returned to Japan. The U.S. used its time as occupier to build large army, air force, navy, and marine bases on Okinawa.
On November 21, 1969, U.S. President Richard Nixon and Japanese Prime Minister Eisaku Sato agreed that the U.S. would return the Ryukyu Islands to Japan in 1972. They signed the 1971 Okinawa Reversion Agreement on June 17, 1971. The U.S. gave the islands back to Japan on May 15, 1972. This also slowed down a movement for Ryukyu to become independent again. Under the agreement, the U.S. kept its rights to military bases on the island to protect Japan, but these bases were not allowed to have nuclear weapons. The U.S. military still controls about 19% of the island, and the 30,000 American service members are a big part of island life.
Military Bases and Local Concerns
After Okinawa rejoined Japan in 1972, Japan signed a treaty with the U.S. so that American military personnel could stay in Okinawa. This agreement meant that if an American soldier was accused of a crime in Okinawa, the U.S. military could try them if the victim was another American or if the crime happened while on duty. This is common for military personnel stationed in other countries.
Some people claim that if the U.S. military left, Okinawa could make more money from tourism because more land would be available for development. In the 1990s, a special committee was set up to help ease tensions, and about 50 square kilometers of land were returned to Japan.
Other complaints are that the military bases disturb the lives of Okinawan people. The American military occupies more than one-fifth of the main island. Kadena Air Base, the biggest and most active air force base in East Asia, is on the island. Islanders complain that the base makes a lot of noise and can be dangerous. In 1959, a jet fighter crashed into a school, killing 17 children and injuring 121. On August 13, 2004, a U.S. military helicopter crashed into Okinawa International University, injuring the three crew members. The U.S. military arrived first and stopped local police from investigating for six days. Also, unexploded bombs from WWII are still a danger, especially in quiet areas.
Notable People
- Isamu Chō was a Japanese army officer known for his strong nationalistic views.
- Takuji Iwasaki was a Japanese expert in weather, biology, history, and culture.
- Uechi Kanbun started Uechi-ryū, a main style of karate from Okinawa.
- Ōta Minoru was a Japanese admiral during World War II and the last commander of naval forces defending Oroku Peninsula during the Battle of Okinawa.
- Akira Shimada was a governor of Okinawa Prefecture who died in the battle in 1945.
- Mitsuru Ushijima was the Japanese general during the Battle of Okinawa in World War II.
- Kentsū Yabu was an important teacher of Shōrin-ryū karate in Okinawa from the 1910s to the 1930s. He was one of the first to show karate in Hawaii.
- Simon Bolivar Buckner Jr. was an American Lieutenant-General who was killed during the Battle of Okinawa, making him the highest-ranking U.S. officer killed by enemy fire in WWII.
- Ernest Taylor Pyle was an American journalist who died in combat on Ie Jima, Okinawa, during World War II.
See also
- History of the Amami Islands
- Gusuku
- Okinawa Prefecture
- Ryukyu Kingdom
- Ryukyuan people
- Shuri Castle
