Ryūkyūjin Raichōzu (Pictures of Ryūkyūans Arriving in Japan 琉球人来朝図) Edo: Hiranoya Sukesaburō, Ōkiya Heizaemon.

Title

Ryūkyūjin Raichōzu (Pictures of Ryūkyūans Arriving in Japan 琉球人来朝図) Edo: Hiranoya Sukesaburō, Ōkiya Heizaemon.

Creator

Date

c. 1850

Description

The Kingdom of Ryūkyū was annexed in 1609 by the Lord of Satsuma Province (present Kagoshima in Kyūshū, southern island of Japan). In order to project a powerful image and impress the central government in Edo, the Satsuma government sent envoys of the Ryūkyū to Edo on special occasions. A procession of envoys usually consisted of 100 members from the Kingdom of Ryūkyū accompanied by several hundred officials from Satsuma. There were eighteen processions recorded from 1634 and 1850. Processions were showcased with exotic costumes, traditional instruments, colorful banners of Ryūkyū, which became a huge attraction to people in Japan. The experience inspired many publications and paintings. The four sheets of colored woodblock prints evoke one's imagination of the past events.

Extent (Pages, Duration, Dimensions)

4 sheets of colored woodblock prints

Is Part Of

Asia - Japan Collection, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Library

Page Location

99