Was Okinawa ruled by China? 

Very informative video about Okinawa (Ryukyu) and its people. Both Japan and US never treated Okinawa people with the respect they deserve. I do hope things will change for the better someday.

We Chinese love our 琉球brothers and sisters

Ryukyu independence.

I hope Ryukyu can become an independent country and become the Singapore of East Asia instead of a missile silo for the US military

Ryukyu, Korea and Vietnam were tributary states to China. The relationship was ceremonial and political. China never stationed military in these states, unless requested by these states.

支持琉球复国。

My ancestors came from Fukien province . We speak Minnan dialect just like Taiwanese. We pronounce Liu Kiu . In mandarin it's Liu Qiu.

I as Chinese support Okinawa's independence.

This is also especially interesting for me as an overseas Chinese with ancestry from southern Fujian, much like most Chinese people in Taiwan (~75%), Singapore and other parts of Southeast Asia. We call ourselves “閩南人” (the Southern Min people). Most contact and interaction between Ryukyu and China was via the Fujian province (福建省). In Okinawa’s Kumemura (久米村) it is said that many Chinese people settled in the area and during the Chinese Ming Dynasty (明朝), the Chinese emperor sent 36 families from the Fujian region, mainly the cities of Fuzhou and Zhangzhou to impart Chinese culture to the Ryukyu kingdom; this was known in history as “閩人三十六姓” (Min people of the 36 clans). Many of the descendants of these Chinese people have settled down and blended into the local Ryukyuan community. In fact, Ryukyuan food shares many similarities with food from the southern Fujian cultural area in China. We have a similar dish to goya chanpuru, which is bittergourd stir fried with eggs (苦瓜炒蛋), braised pork (滷肉), especially the leg of the pig is a huge part of our food culture; and we also frequently cook pig organs such as the stomach in peppery soups. The fish cake found in Ryukyuan food culture is less similar to the Japanese kamaboko and much more similar to the type of fishcake typical of the Fujian region in China. In fact, most people of Fujian descent would find the food in Okinawa very familiar in terms of ingredients used, but different in terms of taste. Furthermore many Taiwanese people who also speak the Southern Min (Fujian) dialect have also settled in the island of Ishigaki (石垣島) as farmers during the Japanese occupation era in Taiwan and they have remained there till today.

respect from China, we are friends, we both love peace

very accurate depiction, Respect or ritual (礼) is the core virtue in Chinese tradition for thousands of year. Asia only started to be messed up when western colonialism arrived, especially when Japan adopted this notorious colonialism.

Practiced my martial arts from an early age from a master from Ryukyu (Okinawa). He was the best ever instructor I have ever had the pleasure of learning from. I missed him so much. Respect and love to Ryukyu.

Thank you for telling more meaningful and deep history between Ryukyu and China relationship... 👍

I once read that China also transferred their knowledge of agriculture to Okinawans. They are doing it again in modern times, transferring railway tech and knowledge to Indonesia, that‘s one of the main reason Indonesia chose China instead of Japan.

作为中国人，我在中学时学到过琉球的悲惨遭遇，很多琉球人被屠杀，被送上战场，受伤害程度超过了亚洲任何其他国家，甚至超过了犹太人。但不幸的是，他们并没有像亚洲其它国家一样逃离日本的掌控，没有能够独立以拥有保护自己历史文化的权力。在之后的几十年里，琉球的历史被抹杀，篡改，成为美军的基地，持续经历极端不平等的待遇，却没有任何国家敢于为琉球人民呼吁，在整个现代世界历史里都是最悲剧的。 很惭愧的是，中国在之前的几十年里贫穷而落后，又有台湾问题，并没有正义的站出来为琉球人民争取合法的利益。我认为这样的中国不配称自己曾是琉球的保护者。 最近几天中国发生了接见琉球领导人的事情，我们才开始重新关注这个问题，我了解到很多琉球人已经成为美国和琉球人共同的子女，在中美如今的对立情况下，琉球人可能又面临了新的挑战。不管怎样，希望未来我们可以为琉球做的更多，恢复琉球灿烂的历史和文化，琉球不属于任何国家，欢迎琉球国加入东亚大家庭。

respect every okinawan and love the stories you shared. And that's the charm of acient eastern asia culture. most of time are peace, mutual respect and cooperation.. ^_^

First: Organizing a Ryukyu Independent Organization. Second: Save Ryukyu culture action. Save Ryukyu characters, languages, costumes, songs and dances, etc. Third: Supervisors should meet regularly to discuss how to achieve Ryukyu independence.

In the 15th century, Zheng He sailed to South East Asia and traded with the kingdoms there. Never once China (at that time the Ming dynasty) harmed the kingdoms there.

Best wishes for you and. all the Okinawa People from China(Shenzhen,Guangdong)

There was this distortion that being a tributary state of China means giving lots of stuffs to the China one sided. It was actually an exchange of gifts thought the tributary state would acknowledge the leadership of the more powerful country. China wanted a tributary system is to ensure that her neighbours were friendly and have no intention to attack China's borders.

I've been watching a lot of your videos and sharing them on Facebook and with friends. I wish you the best of luck in achieving your goal in establishing the great country of LiuQiu. Also, I found you through Li Jing Jing.

Hope some days your country can be free from foreign occupation.

China and its peoples will always appreciate the long history friendship with Okinara and its people,

Informative speech, ancient China didn't conquer other countries only keen for trade and co-exist with other countries. Current China still practices the same principle of trade and cultural exchange, coexisting with friendly countries. China respects the smaller countries, too. Hope the Philippines, Japan, South Korea, and other countries work closely with China for peace in this region. Okinawa should go independence and not be controlled by Japan and the US.

you're 100% right. so sad that the Japanese had used Okinawan people in world war 2 for their military-shield . We China always have high valued and respect for Okinawan people ! 我们支持你 ！

My first time watching. I am impressed. Looking forward to more videos.

Great video！ Thanks for your works! As a Chinese I am very happy to watch your video . I value a lot our good relationship between China and Liuqiu！

According to the one history book I read about Ryukyu, The Ryukyu Kingdom : cornerstone of East Asia, during the Ming Dynasty Korea and Ryukyu were ranked as the closest tributaries meaning that these two nations could send more missions and trade than another other country.

Thanks for clarifying the definition of tributary state.

Rob it is a lovely message. I am from Malaysia. At least the real story i have heard. Take care.

Mister Miyagi from "Karate Kid" refuse to call himself a "Japanese" instead he says Okinawa is his country. Miyagi even attribute his style of karate to China and made a point of his family's Chinese ancestry. Although his character is fictional it is researched on the reality that Okinawan is distinct from Japanese and that little more than a 100yrs ago it is part of the Ryuku Kingdom. After WW2 many Okinawans hoped to return to independent from Japan which they see as hostile occupying force but sadly the Americans returned their country to Japanese rule. Miyagi's character sit at the heart of postwar Okinawa sentiment, someone who had reluctantly served in the Japanese army by its oppressor and seek independent from Japan.

Excellent explanation. The Tributary system was essentially one of vanity for Chinese emperors, but importantly, it was peaceful and prosperous and friendly and not based on dominance or subjugation or force.

Ryukyu republic

I am a new subscriber on your channel I really like your videos that talk about the history of Okinawa Thank you very much for your informative videos. I am of Ryukyu descent For my mother her father her grandfather was from Ryukyu Okinawa

Awesome video man!

thanks for rare history lesson

💗 Great Ryukyu.

6:38 Besides wanting Chinese goods, they also wanted pretection from China. Their relationship was like brotherhood. The big brother protecdts the younger brothers.

Thank you for the information

Hi Rob. I am chinese from Mainland China. I always like 琉球 people, i am very intersted in History and i knew what happened. I hope one day something could change.

Knowledge, humble and factual. Great work, support you!

美丽的琉球王国。琉球人，男生女生都长得漂亮。 喜欢琉球文化 琉球语 琉球音乐 琉球语歌曲。

Thanks Rob, enjoyed your video. I was born in Koza, family moved to the states 14 months later. Been back 4 times, last time came with my Mom and my blonde haired wife. Loved to move to Luuchuu.

非常好的视频，作为一个中国人听到曾经琉球人民后代讲述我们两国的友谊的历史，非常受到触动。祝愿琉球人民能够在这个世纪迎来独立自主的地位，让琉球回归琉球人民自己

🤙🏽🔥🔥🔥 Hi brother Rob, I am a Kikuyama by way of my fathers Mother. We came to Hawaii from Okinawa to work… I wasn’t raised with my fathers side of the family… my Okinawan/Visayan side. My mother is American Japanese. New subscriber, love the knowledge and culture. Thank you! I will check, but is there content here about Okinawan contributions to Hawaii?

支持琉球复国，二战后因该本有的复国权利

Great history! Thanks!

CGTN lead me to you I fully support LuChu independance!

If you would like to learn more about this subject, please check out my new updated video regarding China - Okinawa relations: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-QQFCb1WvmNM.html

Hello, I come from China, and want to know a basic fact, that is: Is the idea of restoring Ryukyu's independence in Okinawa, Japan, the wish of the majority or the dream of a few?

Free Okinawa!

Nowonder they say Okinawan prefer to join China than Japan back in the days.

Tribute and recognition for the right to trade with China. In Europe being a tribute means your resources are extorted for “protection”, being a tribute to China means a boon for your economy in exchange for political clout.

Thank you for the video, for your information Japan did tribute in the past, but they soon lost their respect for China after they’ve mastering the gun technology from their foreign traders.

Japan did pay tribute to China, during the reign of King Yoshimitsu, in the fifteenth century.

Warlord of Japan abolished the used of weapons after they conquered by Japan and subdued their King to the Emperor of Japan.

I learned the trade relationship between China and 琉球 back in elementary history classes, the trade prospered both countries, it's sad to see the China Japan relationship today.

This is very interesting 🤔

I went China for studying abroad program and many of Chinese friends said Ryukyu kingdom was in Chinese territory. Me as half Okinawa and Osaka(lol) was so disappointed and I tried hard to tell them it was just tributary states.

Okinawa needs independence from Japan and US

Free Liuqiu!

China gives Cambodia a lot of money according to Khmer king.

Respect. Respect one another. Peace For Okinawa. Peace For Our World!

Okinawa shall be independent

琉球一直是个独立的国家，他和中国在古代是朝贡的关系，也有很多中国人移民去琉球。

Support Ryukyu’s independence from Singapore. Hope you could go back to your peaceful paradise like centuries before❤.

琉球加油！

The worst mistake nationalist made after Japan surrendered was forgot to liberate Okinawa, or atleast “return Okinawa first back to R.O.C. Along with Taiwan & can figure it out how to rebuild Okinawa later.

with China ,peace and money; with USA ,war!

First video! awesome content! like and sub!

I'm curious why Okinawa did not become independent country?

Good bless from shanghai

11:29 Where can I hear the song? Any urls/links?

Ryu chu use Chinese language previously??

唐船到。中国当年被列強瓜分，自顧不及，沒馀力保護琉球，中国欠琉球一份忠义之情，但中国人和琉球人都没忘記。琉球必定会復国的。❤

Okinawa independent.

How ancient China respected their neighbours is what western countries cannot understand and believe, because Chinese civilization is so different. In Chinese philosophy, a great country should show generosity to others.

Sorry for the late post. I am a typical Japan person. There is a lie in the comments here that cannot be overlooked. Chinese people are making comments pretending to be Okinawan people.At least the people of Okinawa don't want to be Chinese. Yamato, Ainu, and Okinawans are ancient Jomon people with the same Jomon genes (haplogroup D). (By the way, Chinese and Koreans do not have the Haplogroup D gene.)　Since ancient times, genetically and linguistically, the Uchinanchu (Okinawan people) are the same Japan people as the Yamatonchu (Yamato people). Of course, I am well aware that the people of Okinawa have a unique culture that is different from Yamato. I love beautiful Okinawa, which retains such a culture. The people of the world must not be deceived by China's efforts to divide Japan and Okinawa. Don't forget that China are targeting Okinawa.

The only moment where china became expansionist are during the Mongolian rule (yuan dinasty)

There were dozen of countries wanted to come for tribute each year and this was reason why that an emperor from Ming density set a rule for tribute from once a year to once four year cuz China paid extremely much for each tribute😂

The United States handed over Ryukyu to the rule of the invaders

The Ryukyu Kingdom was a tributary state of China. Not that it was ruled by China, but that it was an independent client state of China and honored this relationship through yearly tributes to China. As a result, the Ryukyu Kingdom had closer relations with China than Japan did. In 1609 the Satsuma Domain conquered the Ryukyu Kingdom, but hid this fact from the Chinese emissaries that would visit Okinawa regularly, thus ruling it through a puppet Ryukyu government. Until the Meiji Restoration, the Ryukyus were never subject to extensive Japanization.

The world remember what Japan did to Ryukyu people, the massacre and culture genocide. We support you lucchu!

Which nation does Okinawa had more influence? China or Japan.

We need Okinawa independence. Have China support the independence. Okinawan sovereignty is a must.

Are you happy with that US bases are still in Okinawa?

My recollection is that Mongol didn’t invaded Okinawa but did invade Japan,can you clarify this?

I wouldn't say I like the arrogance of people who are only a little rich and think they are superior.

Kajiwara Sensei everything you said is true. At that time China was not a communist state unlike today. Because of the LooChoo trade with China the Japanese wanted that trade and therefore attacked Ryukyu. Well there was a comment I read several years ago that China said when we want LooChoo we will come for Loochoo.

If you ask most people in Okinawa today if they want to be ruled by China, they will tell you no. That's what matters today.

Need more communications between Chinese and Ryukyuan about our history ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-3d7FIF9roSY.html

I born in China, honestly the difference btw Chinese and Anglo-Saxon are more deep and basic in both cultures. Chinese culture is Agriculture and AS is animal husbandry. So westen culture are far more aggressive, they demand every land and treat everyone outside their clan as slaves and livestocks. Chinese are more focus on their own business, growing stuffs from their land and exchange with other people. so even chinese has better sailing technology and earlier than Eroupean, they didnt use it to explore the whole world and just sailing in local region. So they always got beaten up by northern and other more aggresive counterpart. they drove away acient Hugarian, acient Turkish, but beaten by Mogolian and Man clan, recently white people.

Okinawa is a country ❤🎉

China and japan couldnt trade because they both believed they had the mandate of heaven

Yes, OKINAWA ( RYUKYU ISLAND) IS THE PROTECTORATE OF CHINA (dinasty).

Lol at the end 🤣

Thank you, now I know to say Luuchuu.

i have heard 90% of ppl.were killed in.ruukyu 😢

希望琉球早日回归独立，或者回到祖国的怀抱❤

My comments which show support to you were removed by youtub as they are pro Japan/US political needs.