Prewar Okinawa - Contents

Information in this section begins, loosely, with the appearance of fortified compounds (known as gusuku) at some point in the latter 10th and into 11th century and the competition for resources and territory between local chieftains (known as aji or anji) that would eventually lead to the division of Okinawa Island into the so-called sanzan (literally "three mountains"), or three principalities. The period ends with the conquest of Ryukyu by Satsuma. This period may be further subdivided into four sections: 1) early gusuku period, 2) gusuku period, 3) first shou dynasty period and 4) second shou dynasty - early period (the later second shou dynasty period being under Satsuma and extending through to the annexation of Ryukyu).

If you know of any good information resources or downloadable files that should be included here please let me know (e-mail address at foot of page)

Early Gusuku - Gusuku Era

The Development and Evolution of Gusuku [John Michael Purves - Okinawa History & Culture Course - lecture readings]

From King Eiso to the Sanzan Era [John Michael Purves - Okinawa History & Culture Course - lecture readings]

A Brief History of Okinawa from the Three Principalities Era (Sanzan Jidai) to the Political Unification and the Establishment of Relations with Ming China [Written by John Michael Purves]

Gusuku Sites and Related Properties of the Ryukyu Kingdom [external Wonder Okinawa Website - Japanese/English - retrieved 16th October 2007]

Gusuku Photographs

Katsuren gusuku (Photos courtesy of Mike Lynch)

Nakagusuku gusuku (Photos courtesy of Mike Lynch)

Shuri gusuku (Photos courtesy of Mike Lynch)

Zakimi gusuku (Photos courtesy of Mike Lynch)

Nakijin gusuku (Photos courtesy of Mike Lynch)

First Shou Dynasty Era

The Rise of Ming China and the Tributary System of International Relations [John Michael Purves - Okinawa History & Culture Course - lecture readings]

Tribute and Investiture [John Michael Purves - Okinawa History & Culture Course - lecture readings]

Shou Hashi and the Military Unification of Okinawa [John Michael Purves - Okinawa History & Culture Course - lecture readings]

Second Shou Dynasty Era

Shou Shin and the Political Centralization of Okinawa [John Michael Purves - Okinawa History & Culture Course - lecture readings]

The Golden Age of Ryukyu [John Michael Purves - Okinawa History & Culture Course - lecture readings]

The Dual Economic System of Ryukyu: The Contrast between life for the Ruling Classes and the Peasant Classes (Hyakusho) [Written by John Michael Purves]

WWW resources

Ryukyu Kingdom: Legend of the Kings [external Wonder Okinawa Website - Japanese/English - retrieved 16th October 2007]

Complete Listing of the Kings of Ryukyu [external Wikipedia website - Japanese - retrieved 16th October 2007]

The Ryukyu Kingdom [external Wikipedia website - Japanese - retrieved 16th October 2007]

Shuri Castle [external Wonder Okinawa Website - Jap/Eng - retrieved 16th October 2007]

jmpurves@niraikanai.wwma.net