Ryukyu's historical tributary ties with China highlighted

A recently opened exhibition in Dalian, Liaoning province, offers important evidence that the Ryukyu Islands, located to the northeast of China's Taiwan region, was a tributary state of China during the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368-1911), and that Japan had a record of aggression against the archipelago.

A replica of an edict from the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) to the King of Ryukyu is on display at the exhibition, which is ongoing in Dalian's Lushun Museum, with the original preserved in the museum's archives.

The imperial document dates back to 1629, the second year of Emperor Chongzhen's reign, and it formally confirms Shang Feng's succession to the Ryukyu throne after the death of Ryukyu's King Shang Ning.

The edict praises the late Ryukyu king's loyalty and service, and urges the new ruler to govern with caution, safeguard the realm and maintain Ryukyu's duties as a tributary state. It concludes with a detailed list of imperial gifts for Ryukyu and authorizes Ming envoys to confer Emperor Chongzhen's investiture.

Han Xingfang, former deputy director of Lushun Museum and a longtime researcher on the subject, wrote in an article that the phrase "suffered harassment from a neighboring state" in the edict refers to the 1612 incident, in which Japan sent 3,000 troops to invade Ryukyu and captured King Shang Ning.

This dark episode in Ryukyu's past is also recorded in the chronicle The History of the Ming Dynasty, the accounts of which say that the Ryukyu king was later released and the kingdom resumed its tribute missions.

According to Han, the Ming Dynasty conducted a total of 15 investiture missions to Ryukyu, with the one issued during Emperor Chongzhen's reign being the last.

Ryukyu's tributary relationship with China continued during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).

In the 11th year of Emperor Shunzhi's reign (1644-1661), King Shang Zhi of Ryukyu sent envoys to Beijing to return "two old imperial edicts, one imperial decree and a gilded silver seal", and to request new investiture documents and seals.

Through this envoy mission, the edict made during Emperor Chongzhen's reign eventually made its way back to China.

Xinhua contributed to this story.