Prewar Okinawa - Contents

Information in this section spans a very broad chunk of Okinawa's history: from the earliest days through the unification of the main island, relations with China and Japan, the arrival of European and American vessels into the region, the annexation of Ryukyu by Japan in 1879, through to the end of the Pacific War in 1945.

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)

Prewar Okinawa Sections

The Origins of the Okinawan People, Creation Myths and Early Community Formation

Festivals and Rituals of Okinawa [external Wonder Okinawa Website - Japanese/English - retrieved 16th October 2007]

Ryukyuan religion [external Wikipedia website - English - retrieved 16th October 2007]

(PDF document) "UTAKI in Okinawa and Sacred Spaces in Asia: Community Development and Cultural Heritage" [external Japan Foundation Website - English - retrieved 18th October 2007]

The Jomon period (縄文時代) [external Wikipedia website - English - retrieved 19th October 2007]

The Yayoi period (弥生時代) [external Wikipedia website - English - retrieved 19th October 2007]

From Fortified Compounds to Okinawan Unification and the Ryukyu Kingdom

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]

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]

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

The Conquest of Ryukyu by Satsuma and the Aftermath

The Development of Formal Relations with Japan and the Road to the Conquest of Ryukyu by Satsuma [Written by John Michael Purves]

The Pechin: the Okinawan/Ryukyuan equivalent of the Japanese Samurai [external Wikipedia website - English - retrieved 16th October 2007]

Life Under Satsuma and Qing China through to Annexation by Japan in 1879 [Written by John Michael Purves]

The Structure of the Royal Government of Ryukyu [external Wikipedia website - Japanese - retrieved 16th October 2007]

The Structure of Magiri-level Administrations and Land Types [Written by John Michael Purves]

The Annexation of Ryukyu by Japan and Meiji Government Assimilation Policies

The Arrival of Europe and America in Asia and the End of Japan’s Seclusion [Written by John Michael Purves]

Okinawa Kensei: The Making of a Prefecture [Written by John Michael Purves]

(PDF document downloadable from the "publications" section of the following link) "Jahana Noboru: Okinawan Activist and Scholar" written by Gregory Smits [external - the personal website of Gregory James Smits - English/Japanese - retrieved 19th October 2007]

The Battle for Okinawa

The Battle for Okinawa [Written by John Michael Purves]

Appleman, Burns, Gugeler, and Stevens (Ed.), Okinawa: The Last Battle. Washington, D.C.: Historical Division, Department of the Army, 1948. [external - the entire book text online - retrieved 31st January 2008]

jmpurves@niraikanai.wwma.net