Ryukyuan missions to Joseon
Encyclopedia
Ryukyuan missions to Joseon were diplomatic and trade ventures of the Ryūkyū Kingdom
which were intermittently sent in the years 1392-1879. These diplomatic contacts were within the Sinocentric system of bilateral and multinational relationships in East Asia. The Ryukyuan King Satto
established formal relations with the Joseon court.
These diplomatic contacts represented a significant aspect of the international relations of mutual Ryukyuan-Joseon contacts and communication. Ryukyuan missions are recorded in late-Goryeo
diplomatic history; and these diplomatic and trade relations continue uninterrupted until the war years of 1592-1598.
In 1392, the envoy from the Ryūkyū Kingdom
to the court of the Goryeo monarch became among the first foreign representatives to appear in the court of the new king of what would be called the Joseon Dynasty
. In this period, the historic, political, and diplomatic material for research on relations with the Ryukyus are encompassed within the Annals of Joseon Dynasty
(Joseon Wangjo Sillok).
were received in 1392. Ryūkyū also sent missions in 1394 and 1397. Between 1409 and 1477, the Joseon court received 13 diplomatic and trade missions from the Ryūkyū Islands.
Ryukyu Kingdom
The Ryūkyū Kingdom was an independent kingdom which ruled most of the Ryukyu Islands from the 15th century to the 19th century. The Kings of Ryūkyū unified Okinawa Island and extended the kingdom to the Amami Islands in modern-day Kagoshima Prefecture, and the Sakishima Islands near Taiwan...
which were intermittently sent in the years 1392-1879. These diplomatic contacts were within the Sinocentric system of bilateral and multinational relationships in East Asia. The Ryukyuan King Satto
Satto
Satto , also known as Chadu, was a king of Chūzan, one of three kingdoms formerly on the island of Okinawa. His reign was marked by expansion and development of Chūzan's trade relations with other states, and the beginning of Okinawa's tributary relations with Ming Dynasty China, a relationship...
established formal relations with the Joseon court.
These diplomatic contacts represented a significant aspect of the international relations of mutual Ryukyuan-Joseon contacts and communication. Ryukyuan missions are recorded in late-Goryeo
Goryeo
The Goryeo Dynasty or Koryŏ was a Korean dynasty established in 918 by Emperor Taejo. Korea gets its name from this kingdom which came to be pronounced Korea. It united the Later Three Kingdoms in 936 and ruled most of the Korean peninsula until it was removed by the Joseon dynasty in 1392...
diplomatic history; and these diplomatic and trade relations continue uninterrupted until the war years of 1592-1598.
Responding to dynastic change
Yi Seong-gye declared a new dynasty in 1392-1393 under the name of Joseon (meaning to revive an older dynasty also known as Joseon, founded nearly four thousand years previously). The country was to be called the "Kingdom of Great Joseon".. Shortly after his accession, the new monarch sent envoys to inform the Ming court at Nanking that a dynastic change had taken place.In 1392, the envoy from the Ryūkyū Kingdom
Ryukyu Kingdom
The Ryūkyū Kingdom was an independent kingdom which ruled most of the Ryukyu Islands from the 15th century to the 19th century. The Kings of Ryūkyū unified Okinawa Island and extended the kingdom to the Amami Islands in modern-day Kagoshima Prefecture, and the Sakishima Islands near Taiwan...
to the court of the Goryeo monarch became among the first foreign representatives to appear in the court of the new king of what would be called the Joseon Dynasty
Joseon Dynasty
Joseon , was a Korean state founded by Taejo Yi Seong-gye that lasted for approximately five centuries. It was founded in the aftermath of the overthrow of the Goryeo at what is today the city of Kaesong. Early on, Korea was retitled and the capital was relocated to modern-day Seoul...
. In this period, the historic, political, and diplomatic material for research on relations with the Ryukyus are encompassed within the Annals of Joseon Dynasty
Annals of Joseon Dynasty
The Annals of the Joseon Dynasty are the annual records of the Joseon Dynasty of Korea, which were kept from 1413 to 1865. The annals, or sillok, comprise 1,893 volumes and are thought to cover the longest continual period of a single dynasty in the world...
(Joseon Wangjo Sillok).
Missions to Joseon
Envoys form the Ryūkyū KingdomRyukyu Kingdom
The Ryūkyū Kingdom was an independent kingdom which ruled most of the Ryukyu Islands from the 15th century to the 19th century. The Kings of Ryūkyū unified Okinawa Island and extended the kingdom to the Amami Islands in modern-day Kagoshima Prefecture, and the Sakishima Islands near Taiwan...
were received in 1392. Ryūkyū also sent missions in 1394 and 1397. Between 1409 and 1477, the Joseon court received 13 diplomatic and trade missions from the Ryūkyū Islands.
- 1392 – An envoy and his retinue from the Kingdom of Ryūkyū are recorded as having been received at the Joseon court. The Joseon Wangjo Sillok records that the envoys from Ryūkyū were accorded "East fifth rank lower grade" Their retainers were accorded "sixth rank lower grade." The Ryūkyū delegation offered what are identified as pangmul, which is the term for gifts offered by subordinate states.
- 1394 – An envoy and his retinue from the Kingdom of Ryūkyū were received.
- 1397 – An envoy and his retinue from the Kingdom of Ryūkyū were received.
Further reading
- Kobata, Atsushi and Mitsugu Matsuda. (1969). Ryukyuan Relations with Korea and South Sea Countries; an Annotated Translation of Documents in the Rekidai Hōan. Kyoto: . OCLC 221947347