Names of Ryukyu

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Ryukyu is the name of a former kingdom that existed from 1429 to 1879. It is also the name of the Ryukyu Islands, an archipelago between Kyushu and Taiwan.

Various spellings of the word "Ryukyu" existed throughout history. The native Ryukyuan pronunciation of the word is Ruuchuu (琉球), although it can be romanized as Luuchuu or Duuchuu. The modern English spelling "Ryukyu" comes from its Japanese pronunciation, Ryūkyū. Historically, English speakers referred to the islands as Lewchew (US English) or Loochoo (UK English).[1] Many European explorers used other alternative spellings, such as Lequeos, which was coined by Portuguese navigator Tomé Pires.[2][3]

In 1879, Japan annexed the Ryukyu Kingdom, turning it into Okinawa Prefecture.[4] The native pronunciation of "Okinawa" is Uchinaa (沖縄), although the word differs between each of the six Ryukyuan languages due to sound changes.

List of names[]

Names for "Ryukyu"
Language Romanization
Okinawan Ruuchuu (琉球, alternatively Duuchuu or Luuchuu)
Japanese Ryūkyū (琉球, Jukyu, Jikyu, Jiku or Jiki in Kagoshima dialect)
Classical Chinese Dà Liúqiú (大琉球,[5] alternatively Dà Liúqiú guó 大琉球國)[6]
Mandarin Chinese Liúqiú (琉球)
Cantonese Lau4 kau4
Eastern Min Liù-giù
Hakka Liù-khiù
Manchu Lio kio (ᠯᡳᠣ ᡴᡳᠣ) or Lio kiyeo (ᠯᡳᠣ ᡴᡳᠶ᠊ᡝᠣ)
Sothern Min Liû-kiû
English Ryukyu (historically Lew Chew,[7] Lewchew or Loochoo[1])
French Ryukyu (historically Liou-tchou[7])
Dutch Ryukyu (historically Lioe-kioe[7])
Vietnamese Lưu Cầu (琉球)
Korean Ryukyu (류큐, alternatively Yugu 유구)
Portuguese Ryukyu (historically Lequeos or Lequios[2][3][8])

The term Okinawa is often used synonymously with Ryukyu, although Okinawa in an academic sense only refers to the Okinawa Islands and not the entire Ryukyu archipelago, which also consists of the Sakishima and Satsunan Islands.

Names for "Okinawa"
Language Romanization
Okinawan Uchinaa
Kunigami Fuchinaa
Miyakoan Uksïnaa
Yaeyama Ukïnaa
Yonaguni Unna
Japanese Okinawa
Mandarin Chōngshéng
Cantonese Cung1 sing4
Russian Okinava

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b "Lew Chew (Loochoo)* - Countries - Office of the Historian". history.state.gov. Retrieved 2020-08-19.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b Lach, Donald F. (1994-04-16). Asia in the Making of Europe, Volume I: The Century of Discovery. Book 2. University of Chicago Press. ISBN 978-0-226-46732-0.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b Diffie, Bailey Wallys (1977). Foundations of the Portuguese Empire, 1415-1580. U of Minnesota Press. ISBN 978-0-8166-0782-2.
  4. ^ "The History of Okinawa". VISIT OKINAWA JAPAN. Retrieved 2020-08-19.
  5. ^ "大琉球". コトバンク.
  6. ^ "琉球国金石文献述略" (in Chinese). Ancient History Institute of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. 2018-12-25.
  7. ^ Jump up to: a b c "旧条約彙纂. 第３巻（朝鮮・琉球）" (in Japanese). National Diet Library. Retrieved 2021-04-20.
  8. ^ Saraiva, Luís (January 2004). History of Mathematical Sciences: Portugal and East Asia II. ISBN 9789812702302.
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