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No Solidarity from China over 'lost' Japanese artifacts
According to Chinese officials, artifacts in Chinese hands which originate from the 琉球民族 (The Ryukyu people) of the ancient South western 琉球王国 (The Ryukyu Kingdom) should not be returned on the grounds that they were freely given to China as tribute to past Emperors during the 明朝 (Ming Dynasty) and 清朝 (Qing Dynasty), and thus cannot be considered to be anything else but the legitimate property of the Chinese people.
While not entirely unexpected, Beijing's response comes at a time during which China itself has increasingly been seeking the return of Chinese cultural artifacts which have been lost to overseas museums and collectors. A situation which, no doubt, some had hoped would lead China so show some form of solidarity with ethnic-Ryukyu.
Preemptive Action?
Although no formal state-state request has yet been made for the return of artifacts, this latest announcement is though to have been made in order to preempt any actions from Japan, and is believed to be in response to media reports that Okinawan officials had asked Japan's new ambassador to China, 宮本雄二 (Miyamoto Yuji), to raise the issue issue of the return of artifact with Chinese authorities after his investiture.
Future Possibilities?
Though stating that it would not consider returning artifacts that were offered to it as tribute, Chinese officials did however affirm that Beijing might be willing to loan some of the artifacts to Japan on a temporary basis. However, no further details were given on this possibility at the time.
| "We would like to be of assistance if the people of Okinawa wish to borrow these treasures for exhibition" Zheng Xinmiao, Vice-Minister of Culture, China |
It is not clear what impact, if any, China's announcement will have on Tokyo's willingness to return Chinese artifacts currently in Japanese museums.
琉球王国 (The Ryukyu Kingdom)?
Although split between modern day 沖縄県 and 鹿児島県 (Okinawa and Kagoshima Prefecture), 琉球王国 (The Ryukyu Kingdom) is a chain of islands that was once an sovereign state with strong historical ties to China.
琉球王国 (The Ryukyu Kingdom) established formal ties with the Chinese 明朝 (Ming dynasty) in 1372, at which time Japan was not a regional power. The kingdom recognized the dominion of the Chinese Emperor soon afterwards, and began to offer treaures and craft items as tribute.
In 1609, 琉球王国 (The Ryukyu Kingdom) was brought under the influence of the Japan, when it was invaded by the warlord of 薩摩国 (Satusma) as a punishment for refusing to join 徳川幕府 (The Tokugawa shogunate) in a shambolic military campaign against what is now the Korean Peninsular.
In 1611, 琉球王国 (the Ryukyu Kingdom) regained much of its autonomy and went on to maintain relations with both 明朝 (The Ming Dynasty) in China and 徳川幕府 (The Tokugawa Shogunate) on the Japanese Home Islands, offering both state fine gifts in tribute.
During this time, Chinese Imperial law forbid Chinese merchants from trading with Japan. However exceptions were made for 琉球王国 (the Ryukyu Kingdom), allowing it to act as an intermediary between Ming China and 薩摩国 (Satusma). 琉球王国 (Ryukyu Kingdom) trade was further opened up during the 1850s it was forced to open its economy to the west by the intervention of US Commodore Matthew Perry, who later went on to force trade relations with the rest of Japan.
Despite being a part of Japan 琉球王国 (The Ryukyu Kingdom) continued to maintain its tributary allegiance to China for many years; receiving its last formal mission in 1866 and sending its final offering of tribute in 1874.
The Kingdom was formally abolished in 1879, during 明治時代 (The Meiji-period), as a program of modernization and industrialization began to allow Japan to eclipse China as a regional power.
The islands that made up 琉球王国 (The Ryukyu Kingdom), before its abolition, were sized as bounty by US forces after WWII, and occupied for 27 years, before being handed over to the Home Islands.
At the time of their handover, US forces made no provisions for returning the island's independence, or for granting them autonomy from Japan.
Are the Ryukyu ethnically and culturally distict peoples?
Yes, the Ryukyu have their own culture, history, art and speak a dialect
that is very different from standard Japanese and is derived from a higher
language branch than most other Japanese dialects (its really a language in
itself rather than a dialect).
that is a joke! If the japnaese do cares, why not grant those people
freedom? They are an independent state! And their last king's tomb is in
that Fujiang province, where right close to Taiwan.
The Ryukyu Kingdom was a state, but also a dependency of chinese empire.
Their offical language used to be chinese. Their king remained loyal to
China even after the lost of their capital. The last king of Ryukyu kingdom
fled to China and died there. Those treasures which granted to Chinese
empire was like gift to friend who is senior. And, I would like to ask
decendent of Ryukyu people, have you ever asked your friend to get back
gifts had sent away? If they really want them back, we can consider, but
It has nothing to do with Jap mainlanders!!!!!!!!! nation with no shame
feeling!
Of course 1) If China was such a good friend, why does it not give some
treasures back as a gift of goodwill for a past friend. 2) They "were" an
independent state. They were occupied by Japan and then the US and are now
part of Japan again. They haven't been independent for quite some time.