Ryūkyū Islands facts for kids

The Ryūkyū Islands (琉球諸島, Ryūkyū-shotō), also known as the Nansei Islands (南西諸島, Nansei-shotō, lit. "Southwest Islands"), are a chain of Japanese islands in a line between Kyushu and Taiwan. The native people of the Ryūkyū Islands are the Ryūkyūan people.

History

In the islands, the Ryūkyū Kingdom (琉球王国, Ryūkyū-ōkoku) dates from the middle 14th century. It entered into a tributary relationship with Imperial China.

In the early 17th century, the kingdom entered into a tributary relationship with Japan, preserving as usual the independence of the kingdom and its rulers.

In 1765, the islands were described by Hayashi Shihei in Sangoku Tsūran Zusetsu.

Timeline

• 1314: Kingdoms of Nanzan, Chūzan, and Hokuzan are founded

• 1429: Ryūkyū Kingdom is founded

• 1609: Ryūkyū Kingdom is attacked by Satsuma Domain

• 1872: creation of the Ryūkyū Domain, 1872-1879

• 1879: creation of Okinawa Prefecture

• 1945: Battle of Okinawa

• 1972: United States gives the Ryūkyū Islands back to Japan

Geography

The islands are at the eastern edge of the East China Sea and the western edge of the Pacific Ocean.

The Islands are separated into two geographical regions: the Northern Ryūkyū Islands, centered on Amami Island, and the Southern Ryūkyū Islands, centered on Okinawa Island. Sometimes the Southern Ryūkyū Islands are further divided into the Okinawa Islands and the Sakishima Islands.

The largest of the islands is Okinawa Island.

Culture

Karate was invented by the local people (mainly from Okinawa). The Japanese phrase "Karate-do" means "way of the empty hand").

Related pages

• Provinces of Japan
• Prefectures of Japan
• List of regions of Japan
• List of islands of Japan
• Ryukyuan languages

Images for kids

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  Satellite photo of the Ryukyu islands (Nansei islands)

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  The last sunset in Japan is seen from Yonaguni.

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  Sea routes used by Japanese missions to Tang China

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  Tanegashima matchlock

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  Okinawa Islands during the Sanzan Period

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  Harimizu utaki (Harimizu Shrine), a Ryukyuan shrine in Miyakojima, Okinawa Prefecture

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  Jōmon Sugi in Yakushima

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  The Yonaguni Monument, a rock formation along the south coast of Yonaguni Island

See also

In Spanish: Islas Ryūkyū para niños