A significant historical exhibition currently underway at Dalian’s Lushun Museum in Liaoning Province presents compelling evidence of the Ryukyu Islands’ historical status as a tributary state to China during both the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties. The exhibition features a meticulously crafted replica of a 1629 imperial edict from Emperor Chongzhen of the Ming Dynasty, with the original document preserved in the museum’s archival collection.
The imperial decree, issued during the second year of Emperor Chongzhen’s reign, formally confirms Shang Feng’s legitimate succession to the Ryukyu throne following the death of King Shang Ning. The historical document praises the deceased monarch’s demonstrated loyalty and service to the Ming court while instructing the new ruler to exercise prudent governance, protect his domain, and maintain Ryukyu’s established tributary obligations to the Chinese empire.
The edict concludes with an elaborate enumeration of imperial gifts designated for Ryukyu and officially authorizes Ming envoys to confer Emperor Chongzhen’s formal investiture upon the new king. This exhibition not only highlights the extensive historical and political connections between imperial China and the Ryukyu archipelago but also documents historical instances of Japanese aggression toward the islands, which are situated northeast of China’s Taiwan region.
The display provides visitors with tangible historical evidence of the sophisticated tributary system that characterized East Asian international relations for centuries, offering crucial context for understanding contemporary geopolitical discussions regarding the region’s historical dynamics.