tokapi
後輩
- 8 Sep 2007
- 746
- 5
- 28
Some common misconceptions I've heard:
(1) Okinawa is the same as Japan: It's not true.
Okinawa has had its own distinct identity separate from Japan for many centuries, only relatively recently has it became incorporated as Japan. During this time, Japan attempted (and in many cases succeeded) in distorting the Okinawan identity as a Japanese one, and the language being merely a dialect of Japanese.The name Ryukyu itself is Japanese. The Kingdom from which the name is derived, is called Ruchukuku in Okinawan.
(2) Okinawa was part of China: Okinawa was never part of any Chinese dynasty. Prior to its annexation by Japan, Okinawa was known an independent Kingdom, the Ryukyu Kingdom. Prior to the unification of the Ryukyuan islands, there were many independent statelets. Okinawa island itself had 3 different kingdoms prior to its unification. However during the later parts of the Ming Dynasty and part of the Qing, the Ryukyu Kingdom did pay tribute like many other countries in the region at the time. In addition, some have argued that due to the heavy Chinese influence, Ryukyuans may be descended from Chinese. Again this is not true as their roots came up north instead of the east. However there certain where some migrants from China who did settle down in the islands.
(3) The ruling kings of the Ryukyu Kingdom came from Korea: I've actually heard this, and again this is not true and there's no historic evidence to prove this.Korea is Korea, China is China, Japan is Japan and Okinawa is Okinawa, case closed.
photo#1 Shiru Castle of Okinawa ( rebuilt )
photo#2 Eisa dance
(1) Okinawa is the same as Japan: It's not true.
Okinawa has had its own distinct identity separate from Japan for many centuries, only relatively recently has it became incorporated as Japan. During this time, Japan attempted (and in many cases succeeded) in distorting the Okinawan identity as a Japanese one, and the language being merely a dialect of Japanese.The name Ryukyu itself is Japanese. The Kingdom from which the name is derived, is called Ruchukuku in Okinawan.
(2) Okinawa was part of China: Okinawa was never part of any Chinese dynasty. Prior to its annexation by Japan, Okinawa was known an independent Kingdom, the Ryukyu Kingdom. Prior to the unification of the Ryukyuan islands, there were many independent statelets. Okinawa island itself had 3 different kingdoms prior to its unification. However during the later parts of the Ming Dynasty and part of the Qing, the Ryukyu Kingdom did pay tribute like many other countries in the region at the time. In addition, some have argued that due to the heavy Chinese influence, Ryukyuans may be descended from Chinese. Again this is not true as their roots came up north instead of the east. However there certain where some migrants from China who did settle down in the islands.
(3) The ruling kings of the Ryukyu Kingdom came from Korea: I've actually heard this, and again this is not true and there's no historic evidence to prove this.Korea is Korea, China is China, Japan is Japan and Okinawa is Okinawa, case closed.
photo#1 Shiru Castle of Okinawa ( rebuilt )
photo#2 Eisa dance
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