The archipelago defines the boundary between the East China Sea (west) and the Philippine Sea (east). With a total land area of 1,193 square miles (3,090 square km), the Ryukyus consist of 55 islands and islets divided into three major groups: the Amami island chain in the north, the central Okinawa islands, and the Sakishima islands in the south.
The descent of the modern-day Ryukyuanis disputed. One theory claims that the earliest inhabitants of these islands crossed a prehistoric land bridge from modern-day China, with later additions of Malays, Micronesians, and Japanese merging into the population. Another theory, based mostly on evidence from studies of physical anthropology and genetic research, proposes that the modern Ryukyuans and people of Southern Kyushu are more closely related to the prehistoric inhabitants of the Japanese islands.
Near the end of the sixteenth century, Japanese feudal leader Toyotomi Hideyoshi ordered the Ryūkyū kingdom to support Hideyoshi’s invasions of Korea with men and arms. However, the kingdom was already a tribute state of China. The kingdom’s policy was to not participate in military efforts against China, and they certainly did not wish to risk losing their Chinese trade. The Japanese proceeded with their attack on the Korean peninsula without the aid of the Ryūkyū kingdom. During this same period a ferocious battle of succession arose in the Ryūkyū kingdom due to the death of Hideyoshi. The Shimazu clan of Satsuma, the nearest Japanese neighbors of the kingdom, were the victors.
The Shimazu introduced the policy of banning sword ownership by commoners, which was already well established on the mainland. This lead to the development of the indigenous martial art karate, which utilizes domestic items as weapons. Perry’s “black ships”, official envoys from the United States, came in 1853. The Ryūkyū kingdom was formally annexed to Japan, as Okinawa Prefecture, by the Meiji government in 1879. The monarchy in Shuri was abolished. Hostility against mainland Japan increased in the Ryūkyūs immediately after its annexation to Japan. Japan introduced modern institutions, based on Western models, including public education using standard Japanese. This increased the number of Japanese language speakers on the islands, creating a link with the mainland. When Japan became the dominant power of the Far East, many Ryūkyūans were proud of being citizens of the Empire. However, there was always an undercurrent of dissatisfaction for being treated as a second class citizens. For example, during an earlier part of the Meiji era, Japan offered the Ryūkyū islands to the Qing Dynasty in exchange for treaty concessions, though the negotiation eventually failed.
January 27, 1855, Atlas
London, United Kingdom
TREATY BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND THB LOO-CHOO ISLANDS.—This treaty, made by Commodore Perry, and now before the American Senate, guarantees to citizens of the United States who visit the islands courteous and friendly treatment, and provides that they may purchase whatever they desire, at reasonable prices. Ships of the United States are permitted to go into any of the ports under Loo-Choo jurisdiction, for wood and water; but the port of Napa only is opened for purposes of general trade. Citizens of the United States visiting the islands in ships are to be allowed to ramble freely on shore, without surveillance; but if they "violently entger any house, or trifle with women, or foce people to sell them things," or do any other illegal act, they are subject to arrest by the local authorities, and to be delivered up to the commander of their vessels for punishment. Pilots to take vessels in and out of port are to be provided by the Government, a pilotage fee of 5 dollars in each case to be charged. If American vessels are wrecked upon the Loo-Choo coasts, the local authorities are to afford prompt assistance to save lives and property, the expenses thereof to be refunded by the United States. The price of wood for vessels is fixed at Napa at "3,600 copper coash per thousand catties;" and of water at "600 copper cash," or 43 cents., for 1,000 catties, or six barrels, full, each containing 30 gallons. Finally, a burial place for Americans is provided at Tumai.
