RTUKYU PEOPLE — NEWMAN AND ENG 383 



The 'period of greatest Chinese influence {1372-1609). — In the late 

 thirteenth century China attempted to dominate the Rjukyiis politi- 

 cally, and by 1372 had the Okinawa king paying tribute. With this 

 entering wedge, Chinese-Ryulcyu trade increased. This started a flow 

 of more advanced customs and ideas into the islands, producing modi- 

 jQcations in political structure, law and medical practice, the arts and 

 literature, and funerary procedures. These modifications were largely 

 felt by the upper classes, while the Ryukyu commoners continued their 

 work-a-day life with little change. The net eifect, however, was cul- 

 tural advancement for the Ryukyus. In 1579 a Chinese emperor called 

 the islands "The Land of Propriety." This title is deserved even to 

 this day. 



In the fifteenth century Japan forced the Ryukyuans to pay tribute 

 to them as well. Perceptive islanders at that time could probably see 

 that they were caught between their more powerful neighbors. 



The sweetpotato, destined to become the staple food of the Ryukyus, 

 was introduced from China in 1605. In 1623 sugarcane was brought 

 in. Neither became vital to the Ryukyu economy for over two 

 centuries. 



The period of the Japanese protectorate {1609-1871), — Angered by 

 the Ryukyuans' refusal to help in the Korean war, Japan conquered 

 the North and Central Ryukyus in 1609. The North Ryukyus were 

 ceded to her, and these islands were Japanese-governed from then on. 

 The other islands retained more independence, at least in domestic 

 issues, but larger questions of policy were settled by agents from Japan. 

 Nevertheless the Chinese-style civil state was permitted to exist there 

 for 260 more years. 



Since China's ports were closed to Japanese ships from 1552 to 1643, 

 and in 1636 Japanese merchants were forbidden to leave their country, 

 the Ryukyu Islands became extremely useful as a means of indirect 

 trade between the two countries. Naha, the main port of Okinawa, 

 was used as a way-station in commercial transactions of high profit to 

 China and Japan. The Ryukyus gained little capital benefit, and 

 their position in this commerce can be likened to the trained fishing 

 cormorants in the Orient that are kept on a string and forced to 

 relinquish most of their catch. 



2'he period of Japanese rule {1871-191^5.) — In the nineteenth cen- 

 tury the Western powers showed enough interest in the Rj^ukyus to 

 make the Japanese apprehensive. So in 1871, just 18 years after 

 Admiral Perry broke the Japanese policy of seclusion, the Ryukyus 

 were formally annexed by Japan over China's protests. Within a 

 few years all the island chain was organized along Japanese lines. 

 The colonial policy fostered complete assimiliation of the Ryukyus 

 into the political, economic, and cultural structure of the expanding 

 Empire. In the 68 years before World War II this assimilation was 



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