Editing Shuri Castle (section)

===Investiture===
[[File:琉球中国使节.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|Part of a painting depicting the Qing dynasty envoy for the induction ceremony]]
{{See also|Ryukyuan missions to Imperial China|Imperial Chinese missions to the Ryukyu Kingdom}}

Contacts between the Ryukyu Islands and China began in 1372 and lasted five centuries until the establishment of [[Okinawa Prefecture]] in 1879. When a new king commenced, the [[Emperor of China]] sent officials to attend the investiture ceremony at the castle. Through this ceremony, the kingdom reiterated its ties with China, both politically, commercially, and culturally. This custom also granted the new monarch official international recognition within east Asia.

The Chinese delegation included about 500 people, including a ''Sapposhi'' (ambassador) and a representative, both appointed by senior officials of the emperor. The envoys departed from [[Beijing]] and proceeded by land to [[Fuzhou]] in [[Fujian Province]], where they sailed to the Ryukyu Islands, sometimes via [[Kumejima, Okinawa|Kumejima]], on ''Ukanshin'' ("Crown Ships").

Among the first tasks of the Chinese delegation was a ''Yusa'' (religious ceremony) in memory of the late king. Words of condolence from the emperor were spoken in ''[[Sōgen-ji]]'' in Naha, and (after 1799) envoys were then received in ''Shikina-en''. Then the investiture ceremony took place in the ''Una'', where two platforms were erected between the ''Nanden'' and ''Seiden'', called ''Kettei'', reserved for the envoys, and ''Sendokudai''. The imperial official recited the formula for the appointment of the new king and bowed deeply.

Later, inside the castle, there was a "Feast of Investiture," followed by a "Mid-autumn Banquet", accompanied by songs and dances. This banquet was held on a temporary platform opposite the ''Hokuden'', a platform on which the Imperial envoys stood. On the shore of ''Ryutan'' and in the castle, the "Choyo Banquet", during which a boat race and musical performances took place, was also held in the presence of the delegation. Two successive farewell banquets were then held opposite ''Hokuden'', and finally a banquet at ''Tenshikan'', where the king gave the Chinese delegation gold presents as an august sign for their return.