The International Status Of Ryukyu At The Turn Of The Ming And Qing Dynasties

The decline and downfall of the Ming Dynasty, the establishment andprosperity of the Qing Dynasty, changed the pattern of East Asia and affectedthe historical process of Ryukyu. At the turn of the Ming and Qing dynasties, anumber of historical events happened such as the opening up of Moon Port,Portuguese’s navigation to the east, Satsuma invasion of Okinawa, the turn ofthe Ming and Qing dynasties, the rise of Zheng Chenggong trade group, theestablishment of Qing and Ryukyu tributary relations etc, which hadsignificant impact on the international status of Ryukyu and made theinternational status of Ryukyu show a special kind of state in this period. Thispaper aims to observe, analyze the Ryukyu’s position in the internationalcommunity of East Asia at the turn of the Ming and Qing dynasties: First, dueto the changes of the situation in East Asia, the occurrence of many majorevents, Ryukyu’s overseas trade environment deteriorated sharply and the eraof International Bond had gone. However, Ryukyu still continued trade withChina and played an important function in the Sino-Japanese economic andtrade exchanges at the turn of the Ming and Qing dynasties. It was still astronghold in the East Asia Economic and Trade Network. Second, at the turnof the Ming and Qing dynasties, Ryukyu remained relatively independentpolitical status, maintained a close relationship overtly or covertly with Chinaand Japan and played a specific political and military functions between thetwo countries. Third, the turn of the Ming and Qing dynasties was theformative years of the unique culture of Ryukyu. Various overseas Exoticculture and Ryukyu original indigenous cultures interacted with each other inthis particular geographical environment, which bred and strengthenedRyukyu’s special religious beliefs, consciousness, behavior, folklore and art etc.The unique character of Ryukyu community further presented.At the turn of the Ming and Qing dynasties, the formation and evolutionof Ryukyu’s international position had deep historical roots. Ryukyu based onthe consideration of the reality, chose to exist and develop in the tributarysystem led by the Qing Dynasty, which could guarantee its security andinterests. The intrinsic factor includes the historical accumulation and thevalue identity of the tributary relationship, as well as the practical interests ofRyukyu maritime group which led the maritime trade. In accordance withmarine history perspective, the international status of the Ryukyu wasdetermined by the interaction among China, Japan and Ryukyu. It was alsothe inevitable result of the Ryukyu social and cultural development. Ryukyu’sresource was single so that socio-economic and cultural developmentdepended on the steady development of the overseas trade, the material and cultural exchanges between the land and sea. Ryukyu’s overseas trade basedon East Asia tributary system, which led that keeping Sino-Ryukyusuzerain-vassal relations became the first reality needs for Ryukyu.