book chapter
Troubled national identity: the Ryukyuans/Okinawans
Japan's minorities : the illusion of homogeneity • London • Published In 1997 • Pages: 140-177
By: Taira, Koji.
AbstractBrief abstract written by HRAF anthropologists who have done the subject indexing for the document
In this article Taira makes the case for Okinawa statehood based on its unique history and identity. Taira argues that Okinawans are ethnically distinct from Japanese. According to Taira, modern day Okinawans are direct descendents of the Minatogawa people, a Proto-Mongoloid group, who lived on the island 20,000 years ago. Okinawans were involved in regional trade networks since the 10th century. A process of autochthonous state formation began in the 12 century and by the 15 century the island was unified under one ruler. Tributary relations with China were established in 1372. In 1609, Japan conquered the island without China's knowledge. Okinawans lived under a system of dual submission to both China and Japan, until the Meiji annexation of the islands in 1879. Okinawan identity further developed under the American Occupation (1945-1972) and afterwards under Japanese administration with a continued American presence on the island.
- SubjectsDocument-level OCM identifiers given by the anthropology subject indexers at HRAF
- External migration
- Ethnic stratification
- External relations
- cultureCulture name from the Outline of World Cultures (OWC)
- Okinawans
- HRAF PubDateThe date HRAF published the document
- 2000
- RegionThe area the document pertains to
- Asia
- Sub RegionThe more specific area the document pertains to, which is located within the Region
- East Asia
- Document TypeMay include journal articles, essays, collections of essays, monographs, or chapters/parts of monographs
- book chapter
- Evaluation
- Creator TypeThe type of person writing the document, e.g. Ethnographer, Missionary, Archaeologist, Folklorist, Linguist, Indigenous Person, and so on.
- Unknown
- AnalystThe HRAF anthropologist who subject indexed the document and prepared other materials for the eHRAF culture/tradition collection
- Ian Skoggard ; 2000
- Field DateThe date the researcher conducted the fieldwork or archival research that produced the document
- Not Specified
- Coverage DateThe date or dates that the information in the document pertains to
- 40,000 BP - 1995
- Coverage PlaceLocation of the research culture or tradition (often a smaller unit such as a band, community, or archaeological site)
- Okinawa, Japan
- NotesAdditional notes
- Koji Taira
- Includes bibliographical references (p. 174-177)
- LCCNLibrary of Congress Control Number
- 97150455
- LCSHLibrary of Congress Subject Headings
- Ryukyuans