Ryukyuan missions to Imperial China

Ryukyuan 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 established formal relations with China.[1] Satto became the first Ryukyuan king to send a mission to China. He was also the first to receive investiture and to submit to Chinese suzerainty.

The Ming and Qing archival records identify the Ryukyu Islands among the "unconquered barbarian countries" rather than among China's colonies. The Ryukyuan missions to China were managed by the Reception Department of the Board of Ceremonies rather than by some other Imperial bureau or agency.[2]

The tributary missions ended in the late 19th century when the Sinocentric tributary state system was superseded by the Westphalian multi-state system.[3]

See also

Notes

References

Further reading

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