*** Welcome to piglix ***

Ryūkyū Kingdom

Ryukyu Kingdom
琉球國
Tributary state of the Ming dynasty
(1429–1644)
Tributary state of the Qing dynasty
(1644–1874)
Vassal state of Satsuma Domain
(1609–1872)
Vassal state of the Empire of Japan
(1872–1879)
1429–1879
Flag Royal Crest
Capital Shuri
Languages Ryukyuan (native languages), Classical Chinese, Classical Japanese
Religion native Ryukyuan religion, Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism
Government Monarchy
King (國王)
 •  1429–1439 Shō Hashi
 •  1477–1526 Shō Shin
 •  1587–1620 Shō Nei
 •  1848–1879 Shō Tai
Sessei (摂政)
 •  1666–1673 Shō Shōken
Regent (國司, Kokushi)
 •  1751–1752 Sai On
Legislature Shuri cabinet (首里王府), Sanshikan (三司官)
History
 •  Unification 1429
 •  Satsuma invasion April 5, 1609
 •  Reorganized into Ryukyu Domain 1875
 •  Annexed by Japan March 11, 1879
Area 2,271 km² (877 sq mi)
Preceded by
Succeeded by
Hokuzan
Chūzan
Nanzan
Empire of Japan
Satsuma Domain
Ryukyu Domain
Today part of  Japan

The Ryukyu Kingdom (Japanese: 琉球王国 Ryūkyū Ōkoku; Okinawan: 琉球國 Ruuchuu-kuku; Middle Chinese: Ljuw-gjuw kwok; historical English name: Lewchew, Luchu, and Loochoo) was an independent kingdom that ruled most of the Ryukyu Islands from the 15th to the 19th century. The kings of Ryukyu unified Okinawa Island and extended the kingdom to the Amami Islands in modern-day Kagoshima Prefecture, and the Sakishima Islands near Taiwan. Despite its small size, the kingdom played a central role in the maritime trade networks of medieval East and Southeast Asia.

In the 14th century, small domains scattered on Okinawa Island were unified into three principalities: Hokuzan (北山?, Northern Mountain), Chūzan (中山?, Central Mountain) and Nanzan (南山?, Southern Mountain). This was known as the Three Kingdoms or Sanzan (三山, Three Mountains) period. Hokuzan, which constituted much of the northern half of the island, was the largest in terms of land area and military strength, but was economically the weakest of the three. Nanzan constituted the southern portion of the island. Chūzan lay in the center of the island, and was economically the strongest. Its political capital at Shuri, Nanzan was adjacent to the major port of Naha and Kume-mura, the center of traditional Chinese education. These sites, and Chūzan as a whole, would continue to form the center of the Ryukyu Kingdom until its abolition.


...
Wikipedia

...