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Ryukyu Kingdom trade
In the 1450s the Ryukyu Kingdom under King Shō Toku thrived on maritime trade, with Naha as an East and Southeast Asian hub carrying sulfur, horses, …
Timeline
- 1451–1460Fuzhou · FujianRyukyu regularly sent tribute to the Ming, including sulfur, horses, and conch shells, receiving in return silk, porcelain, and copper coins. The Ming invested the Ryukyu kings, granting them legitimate trading status. Tribute ships ran frequently in the 1450s, an important channel for Ryukyu's wealth and political legitimacy.
- 1451–1460Amami Islands · AmamiRyukyu exported re-exported goods such as spices, ivory, and raw silk to Japan, maintaining contact with Satsuma through the Amami Islands. The Muromachi shogunate treated Ryukyu as an important trade partner, and the kingdom maintained a delicate balance between Ming and Japan, gaining commercial benefits from both sides.
- 1451–1460Naha port · OkinawaRyukyu ships sailed to Southeast Asia, trading with Malacca, Siam, and elsewhere, carrying Southeast Asian spices and ivory to East Asian markets. Naha port became a key node in the 15th-century East Asian maritime trade network, and the kingdom's wealth and power were strong.
Sources
- 琉球王国の歴史 — 西里喜行 (2005)
- Trade and Diplomacy on the China Coast: The Office of the Canton Trade Commissioner — Angela Schottenhammer (1999)