A Research On The Ryukyuan Dispatch System Of Official Overseas Students In Ming And Qing Dynasties

Dispatching students to China is a historically significant event to the relation between Ryukyu and China.Ryukyu dispatched overseas students to China from Hongwu 25th year in Ming Dynasty(1392)to Tongzhi 7th year in Qing Dynasty(1868).During this period,Ryukyu dispatched overseas students to China in four stages with 26 batches of students.However,only 79 of them could be admitted to The Imperial College,and 71 Ryukyuan students finally returned to their motherland after studying abroad.Focusing on Ryukyuan dispatch system in 500 years during Ming and Qing Dynasty,this thesis aims to discuss the building,developing of the system,Qing's replacement of Ming regime,and the renew of the system.In this paper I'll lay emphasis on the historic changes of the system,and offer objective comments on it.As a key link between China as the metropolitan state and Ryukyu as the vassal state,the dispatch stystem acts as a bridge to the political,trading and cultural communication between the two countries,which was naturally attached great importance by the authority.Ryukyu had formed a whole set of systematic and orderly regulations concerning selecting official students,making preparations beforehand,dispatching students,applying for students' returning home,expressing gratefulness,and appointment of the overseas students.Since Ryukyuan students'enterance to China,the royal court of Ming and Qing Dynasty embarked on the priority reception relating to the treatment,arrangement of the students.The Ryukyuan official students also received Chinese royal awards when they returned to their motherland,and those who died of illness were granted pension too.The significance of the Ryukyuan dispatch system of official overseas students can be concluded as follows:Firstly,it strengthened the relation between China as the metropolitan state and Ryukyu as the vassal state;Secondly,it prompted the political,educational,and cultural development in Ryukyu in the long run;Finally,it had a far-reaching impact on the spread of China's Confucianism in East Asia and other overseas countries.