Ryukyu Kingdom
Digital Passport
Nomenclature and Geography
Category: Historical
Summary
The Ryukyu Kingdom existed from 1429 to 1872, initially as a tributary state of the Ming dynasty. It unified Okinawa Island, expanding to the Amami and Sakishima Islands, and played a key role in East Asian maritime trade. Despite a 1609 invasion, it retained de jure independence until 1872.