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Relations with Japan, which seemed to be going
well, started to crumble. In 1600 Shimazu was defeated at the Battle
of Sekigahara and fell into economic crisis, and the Satsuma fief
sought to indirectly rule the Ryukyus as a way out of destitution
when the Ming empire forbade trade between itself and Japan after
the "Bunroku" and "Keicho no Eki" incidents. Shimazu used
Ryukyu discourtesy in the assistance of drifting fishermen as an
excuse to finally superscribe the Ryukyu conquest to Tokugawa Ieyasu.
It sent a total of more than 3,000 soldiers and conquers the Ryukyued,
breaking the good neighborly relations and places the Ryukyus under
Satsuma control in 1609. The outward appearance of an independent
nation was maintained towards China while being incorporated into
"Han" administration.
Satsuma ordered the dispatch of a special envoy to their domain for celebrating the New Year, which the Ryukyus called "Jokoku." Persons such as the "Keigashi," for times when the Shogun was enthroned, and the "Shaonshi," for times when the king of the Ryukyus was enthroned, were required to visit Edo. This was called the "Edo Nobori."
The Edo pilgrimages were made by traveling to the Satsuma fief from island-to-island, heading north along the west coast of Kyushu on a Satsuma ship, sailing the inland sea of Seto, and then going upriver on the Yodogawa.The caravan then traveled on foot to Edo from Fushimi, in Kyoto. It was long journey that took 10 months round trip. Chinese-style musicians accompanied envoys from the Ryukyus and performed in front of the Shogun or the Satsuma fief at their Edo house.
It can be easily imagined howYamato entertainment impacted Ryukyuan musicians. The Joururi, Noh and Kabuki of the Kyoto area, which reached prosperity, were to later influence the performing arts of the Ryukyus. This is the time when historical contact with the founder of Kumiodori, Chokun Tamagusuku, was made. |
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| Satsuma fief at their Edo house(Drawing of the Ryukyu jin Bugaku) / Okinawa Prefectural Museum |
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| Uzagaku(Drawing of the Ryukyu jin Bugaku) / Okinawa Prefectural Museum |
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| Kian diary / University of the Ryukyus Library |
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