Ryukyuan missions to Imperial China

Ryukyuan kings intermittently sent diplomatic missions to the Ming and Qing emperors.These diplomatic contacts were within the Sinocentric system of bilateral and multinational relationships in East Asia.[2] 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.[3] The 500-years old tributary missions ended in the late 19th century when the Sinocentric tributary state system was superseded by the Westphalian multi-state system,[4] i.e. in 1875 during the forced annexation period of the Ryukyu Kingdom (then Ryukyu Domain) by the Empire of Japan.
RyukyuanChūzanRyukyu KingdomRyukyu DomainEmpire of JapanImperial Chinese missions to the Ryukyu KingdomForeign relations of Imperial ChinaRyukyuan missions to JoseonJoseon missions to the Ryukyu KingdomRyukyuan missions to EdoRyūkyū-kanKōchi ChōjōGoogle BooksKerr, George H.Columbia University PressHarvard University PressSuganuma, UnryuStanford University PressKing of RyukyuYukatchuUeekataPekumiSatunushi PechinChikudun PechinSesseiKikoe-ōgimiNoro priestessesSanshikanMilitary of RyukyuKumemuraTributary systemFirst Shō dynastySecond Shō dynasty