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Around the 14th century, there were times in which
the main island of Okinawa was split into three fiefdoms. This was
the Sanzan ("three mountains") period. It was around the
beginning of the latter Kamakura era in mainland Japan. The Ryukyus
started full-scale overseas trade during this time.
Satto, who held power in Urasoe, answered the request of the Ming dynasty by paying tribute. This placed him under the umbrella of the Ming dynasty. In return, this established the right to stable trade with Ming China.
King Satto received the crown and clothes that recognized him as
the official king from the Ming emperor in 1404. This was the first
time the so-called "Sapposhi" envoys came to the Ryukyus.
This is why the ship that transported the people who granted the
crown, the symbol of the king, was called the "Okansen." |
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| Folding screen with Naha Harbor drawing / Okinawa Prefectural Museum |
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| Drawing of the enthronement ship arriving in port (Replica of the Chuzan Denshin roku) / Okinawa Prefectural Library |
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