Basic History of Okinawa & Ryukyu Budo

In order to truly understand Budo we should understand it's origins and the reasons behind its creation, then we can find the true purpose and the intentions that the masters had for it.

Today's post is a basic timeline of the main events known to be involved in what is now Ryukyu Budo.
Both of empty-handed and weapons Budo.
Please be aware that much of the history of Ryukyu Budo is unknown, mainly due to lost records during WWII or simply because it wasn't recorded in the first place and so forgotten.
For this reason, it's basically impossible to write a comprehensive history and any facts may be contested.
Largely because of the efforts of people like Dr Hokama Tetsuhiro Sensei and Patrick McCarthy Sensei, we do have home knowledge of pre-WWII Okinawa and the people involved in the development of Martial Arts of the Ryukyu islands.

Between 20 and 10 million years ago:

The formation of what is predominately limestone forms islands in the Pacific Ocean, off the coast of what will become known as 'Asia'.



Ryukyu Islands, Taiwan and Chinese coastline.

 

 



10,000 and 5000 BCE:

First human settlement of Ryukyu islands from Taiwan and China in the South West and from Japan in the North.
One of the first major settlements being at Seifa-Utaki in the South East of Okinawa.

525 CE:

Bodhidharma, a Buddhist monk, crosses from India to China and establishes both the Shaolin fighting tradition and Zen Buddhism.

608:

Chinese expedition to the Ryukyu islands.

618:

Travel from China to Ryukyu islands become more regular. It is possible about this time the first fighting traditions from China made their way to Okinawa.

629:

The first written mention of Ryukyu found in the Chinese Book of Sui.

800:

The Aji came into power and built castles throughout the islands. The Aji lasted until 1186 when King Tenson came to power.

1187:

King Shunten took the throne beginning the Shunten Dynasty.



Urasoe Yōdore
Tomb of Ryūkyūan Kings



1259:

King Eiso took the throne beginning the Eiso Dynasty.



1265:

Eiso tomb constructed at Gokurakuzan in Urasoe.



1296:

The Yuan from China invaded with 6,000 soldiers, but failed.

1314:

Tamaguskuku took the throne and Okinawa was divided into 3 Kingdoms (Nanzan, Chuzan and Hokuzan)

1349:

Satto took the throne of Chuzan.

1372:

King Satto became a tributary of Ming China.
According to the History of Ming Zhu Yuanzhang (1326-1398) the founder of the Ming Dynasty, visited the Ryukyu islands. The Chinese families of Zhu, Cheng, Wang, Xie and Huai settled at Shuri. It is possible that people from these families formed the basis of what would become Shuri-te.

1392:

The 36 families of Fujian immigrated to Okinawa and settles at Kume. The Zheng Yiyi family is said to have introduced Chinese boxing and the book 'The Bubishi' to the Okinawan People. This is thought to be the basis of what would become Naha-te.




King Sho Hashi

1420:

Ties established with Japan.

1432:

King Sho Hashi united 3 kingdoms, establishes the first Sho Dynasty and the 'Ryukyu Kingdom' is born.

1458:

The Gosamaru - Amawari Revolt.


Me at Katsuren castle where Amawari ruled
and location of Amawari's tomb.



King Sho En

1470:

King Sho En comes to power and establishes the second Sho Dynasty.
 

1501:

King Sho Shin issues an edict enforcing a weapons ban and prohibiting the practice of Martial Arts.
 

1579:

The gate at Shuri Castle is mounted with a plaque saying "Shurei no Kuni (Nation of Propriety)" This is to become a symbol of Okinawa and is known today as Shurimon.

1609:

Japanese Satsuma clan invasion - Shimazu of Japan conquers Okinawa and prohibits all weapons. The weapons recorded at the time were: 500 bows, 300 muskets, 100 swords with armour and helmets.

1629:

Resistance groups composed of Ch'uan Fa and Toudi societies band together, creating a new fighting style called Te (hand).

 

1740:

Chatan Yara born.

 

1782:

Kanga (Toudi) Sakugawa born (d.1837). Other theories for his birth/death dates include 1762-1843, 1786-1867 and 1840-1920.

 

1800:

Sokon (Bushi) Matsumura born (d. 1892). Other theories for his birth/death dates include 1798-1890 and 1896. Bushi Matsumura will become known as the greatest Toudi-ka who ever lived.



Bushi Matsumura

1828:

Anko Asato born (d. 1906).

  

1829:

Kosaku Matsumora born (d. 1898)

  

1832:

Anko Itosu born (d. March 1916) 

 

1853:

Commodore Matthew Perry of US Navy arrived at Okinawa.
 
 

1868:

Meiji Restoration begins in Japan.
Gichin Funakoshi born (d. 1957)

1873:

Bushi Matsumura wrote a letter to student Kuwae Ryosei regarding Budo.

Letter by Bushi Matsumura

1877:

Uechi Kanbun born (d. 1948)

1878:

Yabiku Moden born (d.1841)

1879:

Japanese Meiji Government abolished Ryukyu Kingdom and reforming it into the Okinawa Prefecture. The last King of Ryukyu (Sho Tai) forced to moved to Tokyo. Okinawa is now part of Japan.

1885:

Choshin Chibana born (d. 1969)

1888:

Chojun Miyagi born (d. 1953) 

1889:

Kanryo Higashionna opens his first Dojo in Naha.
Kenwa Mabuni born (d.1952)

1891:

Hohan Soken born (d. 1982)

1895:

The Dai Nippon Butokukan opens in Tokyo.

1897:

Taira Shinken born (d. 1970)

1902:

Chojun Miyagi joins Higashionna's Dojo.

Chojun Miyagi

1907:

Soshin Nagamine born (d. 1997)

 

1908:

Anko Itosu submits his 10 articles of Toudi to the Okinawa Prefecture Board of Education.
 
 

1912:

Taisho Era begins

1914:

Gichin Funakoshi writes "The Martial Arts of Okinawa: About Toudi" and submits it to various newspapers.

1916:

Gichin Funakoshi does first demonstration of Toudi in Kyoto

Gichin Funakoshi (Founder of Shotokan)

 

1918:

Choshin Chibana opens a Dojo in Shuri.

1923:

Mas Oyama born (d, 1994)

1924:

Gichin Funakoshi awarded the first ever Toudi Dan rank.

1928:

Kenwa Mabuni moves to Tokyo to spread Toudi.

1929:

Gichin Funakoshi begins to change the name Toudi to his preferred Karate to mean Empty Hands. This becomes the popular name for it in Tokyo.
 
 

1936:

Meeting of prominent Karate masters takes place. In attendance were Chomo Hanashiro, Chotoku Kyan, Choki Motobu, Chojun Miyagi, Juhatsu Kyoda, Chosin Chibana, Shinpan Gusukuma, Chotei Oroku and Genwa Nakasone among others.
During this meeting many things were discussed and decided upon including agreement of the name 'Karate', Dan ranks, unification of kata, promotion, and instalment into the education system.
This same year, Gichin Funakoshi opened this Shotokan Dojo.

1945:

The battle of Okinawa at the end of World War II. This battle was the largest amphibious landing in the Pacific of WWII. It also resulted in the largest casualties with over 100,000 Japanese casualties and 50,000 casualties for the Allies. Local Okinawan civilian casualties may have been as high as 300,000 exact numbers are unknown.
USA occupies Okinawa.

Allied Troops Landing in Okinawa

1957:

The 1st All Japan Karate Championship Tournament is held.

1972:

Okinawa returned to Japan.


Today:
Budo is still taught by the leading authorities of both empty handed and weapons martial arts in Okinawa. People come from all over the world to visit this tiny island for it's rich culture and Budo training.

Left to right: Myself, Sensei Robert Slywa, Andrew Glover
In Okinawa... doing Budo stuff.

Please be aware this is only a brief history. There is much more that could have been included (especially from the 20th century), but I'm sure you don't want to spend days just reading this post. If you wish to know more on this topic the sources for the information in this post are:


Web sites:

• www.oika.net/  (Thank you Sensei Rob)
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ryukyu_Kingdom
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Okinawa

Books:

• Okinawan Karate Timeline & 100 Masters By   Dr Hokama Tetshiro
• Shin Gi Tai   By Robert Clarke
• Okinawa No Bushi No Te   By Ronald L Lindsey

Thanks for reading.
Derm

Ͼ