Administrative divisions of the Ryukyu Kingdom

The administrative divisions of the Ryukyu Kingdom were a hierarchy composed of districts, magiri, or Okinawan: majiri cities, villages, and islands established by the Ryukyu Kingdom throughout the Ryukyu Islands.[2]

Map of the administrative divisions in the Okinawa Islands from the 18th century. 305 centimetres (120 in) (East–West) by 548 centimetres (216 in) (North–South). (Okinawa Prefectural Library)[a] (2.440 miles), at the scale of approximately 1:21,600.
Legend:
* Black circles : (mileposts (一里塚, ichirizuka)), drawn on either side of the highway. * The oval frames : color-coded by county, and the village names and rice yields are written inside. * White squares : castle towns, with the place names and the names of the castle lords are written inside.[b]

Divisions

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There were three districts () or : Kunigami [ja] (国頭), Nakagami [ja] (中頭), and Shimajiri [ja] (島尻), which roughly correspond to the borders of the three Okinawan kingdoms during the Sanzan period. There were 57 magiri (間切, Okinawan: majiri[3]) throughout the kingdom including the Amami Islands. In concept they were similar to present-day Japanese prefectures, but in size they were closer to Japanese cities, towns and villages. There were four cities: Shuri (首里), Naha (那覇), Tomari (), and Kume (久米). They were comparable to Japanese urban prefectures. There were over 600 villages (, Okinawan: mura[4][5]) throughout the kingdom including the Amami Islands.[c] There were approximately 24 shima () or "outlying islands", but only including islands that weren't already part of a magiri.

History

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Dress of Oji and Aji.

The three districts are based on the three kingdoms of Hokuzan, Chūzan, and Nanzan. The origin of the magiri system is unclear, but was solidified by the beginning of the reign of Shō Shin, the third king of the Second Shō Dynasty of the Ryukyu Kingdom who ruled between 1477 and 1526.[7] The magiri were originally controlled by individual aji and oyakata,[5][8] whose ruling area overwrapped in parts.[9] While as the Ryukyu Kingdom centralized at the turn of the 15th century, the aji relocated to the capital of the kingdom at Shuri. After this period the title of aji became symbolic, and low-ranking officials were assigned the day-to-day administration of the magiri.[7]

Each magiri had several villages, sometimes referred to as shima, which represented an administrative unit similar to the mura, or village, in feudal Japan.[9] Each magiri had five to ten villages. Ryukyuan commoners were registered to a particular village, and movement to or from the administrative areas was generally not permitted. Under the system of Shō Shin the central government at Shuri assigned each village a noro priestess to carry out the religious functions of the settlement.[7][10] The area was mapped on the Ryukyu kuni-ezu (琉球國絵図 of 1696 or 9th year of Genroku)[d] was compiled. That made it possible for the first time, to clarify the geopolitical location of ancient place names.[12]

The magiri system continued to varying degrees in the Amami Islands even after they were ceded to Satsuma Domain in 1624. On Okinawa Island, there were 27 magiri at the turn of the 17th century, but by the 19th century Misato, Kushi, Motobu, Ginowan, Oroku, Onna, Ōgimi, and Yonagusuku were created, bringing the total to 35. The magiri system continued after the end of the Ryukyu Kingdom and annexation of the islands by Japan in 1879.[13] In 1907, under Imperial Edict 46 [ja], the Japanese administrative system of cities, towns, and village organization was extended to Okinawa.[2] The magiri system was officially abolished on April 1, 1908.[7]

List of magiri

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The following is a list of magiri by district:

Kunigami District

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Kunigami District (国頭方, Kunigami-hō, Okinawan: Kunjan-hō), also known as Okinawan: Yanbaru[14] and Kunigami[15] or Hokuzan-fu (北山府) in Kanbun,[16] roughly correspond to the territory of Hokuzan during the Sanzan period.

Area Name Kanji Okinawan name present-day notes
Northern area of Okinawa Main Island and nearby islands Kunigami 国頭間切 Kunjan Kunigami
Ōgimi 大宜味間切 Wujimi Ōgimi established in 1673;
changed name from Taminato (田港) in 1695
Iheya 伊平屋間切 Ihya Iheya, Izena
Haneji 羽地間切 Haniji Nago (Haneji area, Yagaji area)
Nakijin 今帰仁間切 Nachijin Nakijin
Motobu 本部間切 Mutubu Motobu established in 1666;
changed name from Inoha (伊野波) in 1667
Nago 名護間切 Nagu Nago, excluding Haneji and Yagaji areas
Kushi 久志間切 Kushi Higashi and part of Nago established in 1673
Kin 金武間切 Chin Kin, Ginoza
Southern Amami Islands Erabu 永良部間切 Irabu China, Wadomari, (Kagoshima Prefecture de facto incorporated into Satsuma Domain (Ōsumi Province) since 1624;
de jure remained a part of Ryukyu Kingdom
Yoron 与論間切 Yunnu Yoron

Nakagami District

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Nakagami District (中頭方, Nakagami-hō, also known as Okinawan: Wiikata)[17] or Chūzan-fu (中山府) in Kanbun,[16] roughly correspond to the territory of Chūzan during the Sanzan period.

Area Name Kanji Okinawan name present-day notes
Central area of Okinawa Main Island and nearby islands Onna 恩納間切 Unna Onna established in 1673
Yomitanzan 読谷山間切 Yuntanja Yomitan
Goeku 越来間切 Gwiiku Okinawa City
Misato 美里間切 Njatu Okinawa City, Uruma (Ishikawa Area) established in 1666
Gushikawa 具志川間切 Gushichaa Uruma (Gushikawa area)
Katsuren 勝連間切 Kacchan Uruma (Katsuren area)
Yonashiro 与那城間切 Yunagushiku Uruma (Yonashiro area) established with the name Nishihara (西原) in 1676;
changed name to Hirata (平田) in the same year;
finally changed to Yonashiro in 1687.
Nishihara 西原間切 Nishibaru Nishihara
Chatan 北谷間切 Chatan Chatan, Kadena, part of Okinawa City
Nakagusuku 中城間切 Nakagushiku present Nakagusuku, Kita-Nakagusuku, Uruma (Tsuken Island)
Ginowan 宜野湾間切 Jinōn present-day Ginowan established in 1671
Urasoe 浦添間切 Urashii Urasoe
Nakazato 仲里間切 Nakajatu Kumejima (Nakazato area)
Uezu 上江洲間切 Wiiji Kumejima (Gushikawa area)
Four cities
(not included in magiri)
Tomari Tumai Naha (northern area of Naha)
Naha 那覇 Nafa, Nafaa Naha (southern area of Naha), Tokashiki, Zamami contains 4 towns (, machi): Wakasa-machi (若狭町, Okinawan: Wakasa-machi), Higashi-machi (東町, Okinawan: Figashi-machi), Nishi-machi (西町, Okinawan: Nishi-machi) and Izumizaki (泉崎, Okinawan: Ijunjachi)[18]
Kume 久米 Kuninda Naha (Kume area) community of Thirty-six families from Min.
full name: Kumemura (久米村)
Chinese name: Táng íng (唐營) before 1650; Táng róng (唐榮) since 1650
Shuri Mihira 首里三平等 Sui Mifira Naha (Shuri area, Mawashi area), Nishihara, Haebaru) contains Shuri Castle and 3 hira (平等, Okinawan: fira): Mawashi no hira (真和志之平等, Okinawan: Maaji nu fira), Hae no hira (南風之平等, Okinawan: Fee nu fira) and Nishi no hira (西之平等, Okinawan: Nishi nu fira)[19]

Shimajiri District

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Shimajiri District (島尻方, Shimajiri-hō, also known as Okinawan: Shimukata)[20] or Nanzan-fu (南山府) in Kanbun,[16] roughly correspond to the territory of Nanzan during the Sanzan period.

Area Name Kanji Okinawan name present-day notes
Southern area of Okinawa Main Island and nearby islands Tomigusuku 豊見城間切 Tumigushiku Tomigusuku
Oroku 小禄間切 Uruku Naha (Oroku area) established in 1672
Takamine 高嶺間切 Takanmi Itoman (excluding Kyan and Mabuni areas) changed name from Shimajiriōzato (島尻大里) in 1667
Kyan 喜屋武間切 Chan Itoman (Kyan area)
Mabuni 摩文仁間切 Mabuni Itoman (Mabuni area)
Makabe 真壁間切 Makabi Itoman (Makabe area)
Kanegusuku 兼城間切 Kanigushiku Itoman (Kanegusuku area) also known as Okinawan: Shimajirikanegusuku
Kochinda 東風平間切 Kuchinda Yaese (Kochinda area)
Gushichan 具志頭間切 Gushichan Yaese (Gushichan area)
Ōzato 大里間切 Ufuzatu Nanjō (Ōzato area), Yonabaru) changed name from Shimazoeōzato (島添大里) in 1667
Sashiki 佐敷間切 Sashichi Nanjō (Sashiki area, Chinen area)
Tamagusuku 玉城間切 Tamagushiku Nanjō (Tamagusuku area)

Sakishima Islands

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Area Name Kanji Okinawan name present-day notes
Miyako Islands Hirara 平良間切 Teera Miyakojima (Hirara area)
Shimoji 下地間切 Shimuji Miyakojima (Shimoji area, Ueno area)
Sunakawa 砂川間切 Shinachaa Miyakojima (Gusukube area)
Yaeyama Islands Ōhama 大浜間切 Ufuhama Ishigaki
Miyara 宮良間切 Myaara Ishigaki
Ishigaki 石垣間切 Ishigachi Ishigaki

Northern Amami Islands

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Area Name Kanji Okinawan name present-day notes
Amami Ōshima Kasari 笠利間切 Amami (Kasari area) de facto incorporated into Satsuma Domain (Ōsumi Province) since 1624;
de jure remained a part of Ryukyu Kingdom
Komi 古見間切 Tatsugō, Amami
Naze 名瀬間切 Yamato, Amami
Yakiuchi 焼内間切 Yamato, Uken
Sumiyō 住用間切 Amami (Sumiyō area)
Nishikata 西方間切 Setouchi
Higashikata 東方間切 Setouchi
Kikaijima Shidooke 志戸桶間切 Kikai (Shidooke area)
Higa 東間切 Kikai (Sōmachi area)
Isago 伊砂間切 Kikai (Isago area) de facto incorporated into Satsuma Domain (Ōsumi Province) since 1624;
de jure remained a part of Ryukyu Kingdom
established in 1693
Nishime 西目間切 Kikai (Nishime area) de facto incorporated into Satsuma Domain (Ōsumi Province) since 1624;
de jure remained a part of Ryukyu Kingdom
Wan 湾間切 Kikai (Wan area)
Araki 荒木間切 Kikai (Araki area)
Tokunoshima Higashi 東間切 Tokunoshima
Omonawa 面縄間切 Unnō Isen
Nishime 西目間切 Amagi

See also

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References

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Notes

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  1. ^ Mountains, rivers, roads, etc. are depicted at a scale of 6 sun (, Cun (unit)) (1.193 inch) to one Li
  2. ^ The National Archives of Japan has eight of the original Genroku Maps and eight copies in storage (omitted), along with 83 sheets of the Tempō Kuni Ezu Maps for the whole country (119 if duplicates are included); those 85 volumes of the Tempō Registry (Tempo Gocho [ja], Tempō Gōchō), or the Registry of the Residents recorded the rice yield (石高, kokudaka) of each village in each province, from Matsumae Island to the Ryukyu Islands.[1]
  3. ^ As there is no topographical maps from the Sanzan period discovered, the division of the area is based on archaeological and historical considerations.[6]
  4. ^ There are three Ryukyu Kingdom maps for Oshima Island (312 by 597 centimetres or 123 by 235 inches), Yaeyama Island (261 centimetres (103 in) by 589 centimetres (232 in)), and Okinawa Island (305 centimetres (120 in) by 584 centimetres (230 in)).[11]

References

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  1. ^ Genroku Map of the Ryukyu Kingdom, Okinawa Island (元禄国絵図琉球国沖縄島, Genroku-kuni-ezu Ryūkyūkoku Okinawa-jima)"元禄国絵図琉球国沖縄島 [Genroku Map of the Ryukyu Kingdom, Okinawa Island]". Digital Archives (in Japanese). National Archives of Japan | the Independent Administrative Institution. Retrieved 2024-07-21. The name written at the end of the rice yield entry reveals that the maps were created by the Satsuma Domain (Matsudaira Satsuma no Kami). Those maps along with the registries were designated as the Important Cultural Properties of Japan in 1983.
  2. ^ a b "間切" [Magiri]. Nihon Kokugo Daijiten (in Japanese). Tokyo: Shogakukan. 2013. OCLC 56431036. Archived from the original on 2007-08-25. Retrieved 2013-05-02.
  3. ^ "goi-shōsai — Shuri / Naha hōgen [Vocabulary details — Shuri and Naha dialects]". ryukyu-lang.lib.u-ryukyu.ac.jp. Retrieved 2020-03-14.
  4. ^ "ムラ [mura]". Shuri – Naha hōgen dētabēsu [The database of the Shuri – Naha Dialects] (in Japanese).[permanent dead link]
  5. ^ a b 大宜味村教育委員会 [Ogimi Village Board of Education]. "Ōgimi-son bunkazai kisochōsa oyobi rekishi bunka kihonhōshin sakutei jigyō hōkokusho [Project Report: Basic Survey for Cultural Property in Ogimi Village along with the Formulation of the Basic Policy for History and Culture]" (PDF) (in Japanese). Agency for Cultural Affairs of Japan. Retrieved 2023-05-11.
  6. ^ "Yobi chishiki". Digital Archives of Rare Materials. Okinawa Prefectural Library. Retrieved 2020-11-15.
  7. ^ a b c d "間切" [Magiri]. Kokushi Daijiten (in Japanese). Tokyo: Shogakukan. 2013. OCLC 683276033. Archived from the original on 2007-08-25. Retrieved 2013-05-02.
  8. ^ "Itoman no ayumi [The history of Itoman ]". Itoman City. Retrieved 2023-05-11.
  9. ^ a b Nakae, Jun'ichi (1974). "Meiji zenki okinawa hōken-nōgyō no kōsei". Tochi Seido Shigaku (in Japanese). 16 (3). Seiji keizaigaku - Keizaishi gakkai: 43–53. doi:10.20633/tochiseido.16.3_43.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: ref duplicates default (link)
  10. ^ Takara, Kurayoshi (Winter 1994–1995). "King and Priestess: Spiritual and Political Power in Ancient Ryukyu" (PDF). The Ryukyuanist (27). Naha, Okinawa Prefecture: International Society of Ryukyuan Studies: 1–2. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-09-27. Retrieved 2013-05-02.
  11. ^ 元禄国絵図(読み)げんろく くにえずKotobank (ed.). "Genroku kuni-ezu". Genroku kuni-ezu (元禄国絵図). Nihon rekishi chimei taikei (in Japanese). Retrieved 2024-07-21. Originals saved at: Cabinet Library, National Archives of Japan, and the Historiographical Institute of the University of Tokyo
  12. ^ Tana, Sinji; 田名真之 (2014). Nantō chimei-kō : omoro kara Okinawa-shi tanjō made. Okinawa-bunko (in Japanese). Hirugisha.
  13. ^ "間切り" [Magiri]. Dijitaru Daijisen (in Japanese). Tokyo: Shogakukan. 2013. OCLC 56431036. Archived from the original on 2007-08-25. Retrieved 2013-05-02.
  14. ^ "ヤンバル". Shuri – Naha hōgen dētabēsu [The database of the Shuri – Naha Dialects] (in Japanese).
  15. ^ "ヤンバル". Nakijin hōgen onsei dētabēsu [Nakijin dialect speech database] (in Japanese).
  16. ^ a b c Chūzan Seifu, preamble
  17. ^ Wiikata (ウィーカタ, wiikata)"Wiikata". Shuri – Naha hōgen dētabēsu [The database of the Shuri – Naha Dialects] (in Japanese).
  18. ^ "ナファユマチ [Nafayu-machi]". Shuri – Naha hōgen dētabēsu [The database of the Shuri – Naha Dialects] (in Japanese).
  19. ^ "スイミフィラ [Suimi fira]". Shuri – Naha hōgen dētabēsu [The database of the Shuri – Naha Dialects] (in Japanese).
  20. ^ "シムカタ [Shimukata]". Shuri – Naha hōgen dētabēsu [The database of the Shuri – Naha Dialects] (in Japanese).