Ryukyu Kingdom
Independent Kingdom (1187-1314, 1429-1879)
Location: Ryukyu Islands
Capital City: Urasoe (1187-1314), Shuri (1429-1879)
Government type: Monarchy
Main languages: Okinawan, Kunigami, Amami, Miyako, Yaeyama, Yonaguni
Main religions: Ryūkyū Shinkō, Shinto, Confucianism, Buddhism
Chronology
1187: Ryukyu Kingdom established by the Shunten dynasty. The earlier Tenson dynasty may just be legendary.
1314: Split into three kingdoms of Chuzan, Nanzan, and Hokuzan (Sanzan period)
1429: Reunited by Shō dynasty
1429-1646: Vassal of Ming China
1609-1869: Vassal of Satsuma Domain in Japan
1646-1872: Vassal of Qing China
1869-1879: Vassal of Japan
1879: Annexed to Japan
Currency
Mon (1457-1879)
1 Shu = 496 Mon • 1 Ryo = 7936 Mon
Coins from Ryukyu in the collection
•1/2 Shu, 1863 (King Shō Tai (1848-1879), copper, C#115) trial coin
Note: The coins issued in 1862-1863 for the Ryukyu kingdom (Ryūkyū Tsūhō coinage) were comissioned by daimyo Shimazu Nariakira of Satsuma ostensibly to be sent to the Ryukyus for circulation, as the Shizmau clan, being feudal lords over Ryukyu, had the right to do so. However, few if any of these coins actually made it to the islands. They were made by the Satsuma domain as a clever means to bypass the Shogunate's monopoly on coin minting to give Satsuma more money, as at the time, the domian was suffering from a significant deficit. The Ryūkyū Tsūhō coins were widely circulated around Japan, with the only area there were scarce seemingly being the Ryukyu Kingdom itself. In addition, the specific type of coin I have is a trial coin made early in the production of these that differs from the normal one, which is documented here.