The Study Of The Ryukyu's Missions To China In Ming Dynasty

In the 5th year of Hongwu(1372),Ryukyu joined the "tributary system" centered round China and became one of the tributary countries of the Ming Government.During the 278 years of the intercourse between Ming and Ryukyu,Ryukyu regularly sent a big mission to China despite the rough sea,rampant Japanese pirates,changes of dynasty and frequent wars.In the friendly intercourse between two countries,every member of the Ryukyu's mission who had good diplomatic experiences or wide navigation experience was entrusted by the Ryukyu King and played an important link and bridge.In the Ming dynasty,the missions to China had not existed in a fixed model at first and experienced a process of development.Therefore,it is essential to make a complete and systematic study.Due to the lack of materials regarding the Ming Dynasty,the academic researches of the Ryukyu's missions to China stayed in a superficial step.On the basis of the Ancient Treasure Case and Ming Shi Lu the dissertation begins in the models and size of the Ryukyu's official missions to China.The dissertation analyses the reasons why the missions to China changed and further studies the characteristics and historical functions of the Ryukyu's missions to China in the expectation of providing the new thoughts for the questions concerning the missions to China in the Ming Dynasty.