The Ryukyu Islands are located between 24.02 minutes - 30 degrees 26 minutes north latitude and 122 degrees 56 minutes to 131 minutes east longitude. The Ryukyu Islands have a total area of 3,611 square kilometers, mainly consisting of the Tokara Islands, the Amami Islands, the Ryukyu Islands, the Daito Islands, and the Senshima Islands. The Ryukyu Islands are located between the East China Sea and the Pacific Ocean. The Ryukyu Islands are the closest passage from the East China Sea and the Yellow Sea to the Pacific Ocean, with high strategic value, and are also an important sea passage for the People's Navy to enter the West Taiping Island.
Ryukyu Islands
Ryukyu Islands
With an area of 713 square kilometers, Amami Oshima is the main island of the Amami archipelago. Amami Oshima is divided into Amami City and other administrative divisions, which are under the jurisdiction of Kagoshima Prefecture. Amami Oshima is the second largest island in the Ryukyu Islands, after Okinawa.
Amami Oshima
Amami Oshima
The history of Amami Oshima is the history of the Ryukyu Kingdom. The founder of the Ryukyu Kingdom was Eizu. After Yingzu established the Yingzu dynasty, it was later divided into the three kingdoms of Shannan, Zhongshan and Beishan. The southern part of the mountains is found in the southern part of the Ryukyu Islands, the middle mountains are distributed in the central part of the Ryukyu Islands, and the northern mountains are located in the northern part of the Ryukyu Islands, which are also near the Amami Islands.
Ryukyu Three Kingdoms period
In 1372, Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang of the Ming Dynasty sent ministers to issue an edict to the three kingdoms of Ryukyu, which was also the first edict issued by the Ming Dynasty to the three kingdoms of Ryukyu. The following year, Zhongshan, Beishan and Nanshan began to send envoys to pay tribute to the Ming Dynasty, also becoming Ming vassal states.
Among the three countries of the Ryukyu Kingdom, Zhongshan Country is the strongest, Shannan Country ranks second, and Shanbei Country is the weakest In order to unify the Ryukyu Islands, King Shangbashi of Zhongshan conquered the Shanbei and Shannan countries successively, which was also another great unification in the history of the Ryukyu Kingdom. The Ryukyu Kingdom set its capital at Shurijo Castle. The king of Zhongshan sent an envoy to the Central Plains to meet the Great Ming Zi and pay tribute according to the old practice. The Ming Dynasty canonized King Zhongshan as the King of Ryukyu, and every generation of Ryukyu kings needed to be canonized by the Ming Dynasty.
Flag of the Ryukyu Dynasty
The Ming Dynasty canonized the fleet
The Ryukyu Kingdom is located at the intersection of the Central Plains Dynasty, Japan itself, and the Korean Peninsula. The Ryukyu Kingdom actively developed foreign trade, and with its good geographical location, the Ryukyu Kingdom entered a golden age. Due to the great wealth of the Ryukyu Kingdom, it attracted the attention of the Wokou pirates, and launched several attacks against the Ryukyu Kingdom.
King of Ryukyu
Ryukyu State Treasury
In the 16th century, the Ryukyu Kingdom began its territorial expansion under King Shojin. King Shangjin sent troops to Naguni Island to quell the "Oni Tiger Rebellion". The territory of the Ryukyu Kingdom expanded to Miyako Island and the Yaeyama Islands. In 1537, King Shōsei of the Ryukyu sent troops to attack the Amami Islands. The territory of the Ryukyu Kingdom has been determined. The northernmost part of the Ryukyu Kingdom is Kikai Island, the Amami Islands, and the south is Miyako Island and the Yaeyama Islands.
In 1662, the Kangxi Emperor of the Qing Dynasty sent envoys to the Ryukyu Islands to canonize the Ryukyu king. The Ryukyu Kingdom officially became a vassal state of the Qing Dynasty.
In 1609, Japan sent Satsuma troops to attack the Ryukyu Kingdom. After the defeat of the Ryukyu Kingdom. The king of Ryukyu was forced to sign a contract with Japan - "Ingots 15", and the Ryukyu Kingdom ceded Amami Goto to Japan. Japan began to set its sights on the Ryukyu countries in the Ryukyu Islands.
Ruins of the Ryukyu Palace
Ryukyu Palace
In the 60s of the 19th century, Japan began to study Western science and technology. After more than 10 years of development, Japan's military strength and comprehensive national strength have been greatly enhanced. Japan began to embark on the path of foreign expansion. Japan set its first sights on expansion in the Ryukyu Islands. Japan exiled the Ryukyu kings to Tokyo by force and renamed the Ryukyu Islands Okinawa Prefecture. Japan formally merged with the Ryukyu Kingdom.
In 1894, the Sino-Japanese War broke out between Japan and the Qing Dynasty. Japan was victorious, and the Qing dynasty was forced to sign the Treaty of Shimonoseki with Japan. According to the Treaty of Shimonoseki, the Qing Dynasty ceded Taiwan Island, Penghu Islands and other territories. The Ryukyu Islands issue is even less likely to make Japan spit it out.
Ryukyu Palace
Treaty of Shimonoseki
In 1937, Japan launched the July Seven Incident, and China began the eight-year War of Resistance. In 1941, Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, and World War II broke out in full force. Japan began to send troops to occupy Southeast Asia and the Pacific islands.
In 1945, China, the Soviet Union, the United States and the United Kingdom jointly issued the Potsdam Proclamation, and Japan's territory was only Honshu, Kyushu, Shikoku and Hokkaido, and the islands occupied by Japan had been returned to the occupying countries. The territory of Amami Oshima was invaded by Japan, and Japan should return it to China.
In 1951, Japan signed the San Francisco Treaty with the United States as the first forty-six countries, and Japan voluntarily gave up the land it had acquired in 1905, including southern Sakhalin. At that time, in order to win over Japan, the United States deliberately did not mention the Ryukyu Islands. At that time, the Soviet Union and the People's Republic of China did not participate, and this treaty was invalid and illegal.
San Francisco contract
In 1972, the United States transferred the administration of the Inner Ryukyu Islands, including Amami Oshima, to Japan. However, the United States has been transferring administration to Japan, and the mainland also has sovereignty over the Ryukyu Islands.
In 2021, Amami Oshima was awarded a historical heritage by UNESCO.