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Ryukyu Tribute Trade Routes

Type Object Region Ryukyu Time c. 1372–1570

Maritime trade routes of the Ryukyu Kingdom with Ming China and Southeast Asian ports from the 14th to 16th centuries via the investiture-tribute sys…

Timeline

  1. c. 1331–1340Ryukyu Islands · Ryukyu IslandsIn the early 14th century the Ryukyu islands already had sporadic maritime contacts with Ming China, Japan, and Southeast Asian ports, laying the foundation for the later institutionalized tribute trade routes.
  2. 1372–1450Fuzhou–Naha route · Ryukyu IslandsIn the fifth year of Hongwu the Ming court invested the Zhongshan King of Ryukyu, establishing regular tribute fleet routes; Ryukyu made round trips to Fuzhou with tribute ships, transshipping Chinese goods to Japan and Southeast Asia.
  3. c. 1450–1570Naha Port · OkinawaIn the 15th–16th centuries after Ryukyu's unification Naha became a trade hub, with tribute fleets connecting China, Japan, Siam, Malacca, and other places, bringing the route network to its peak.

Sources