Editing Ryukyu Kingdom (section)

===Golden age of maritime trade===
For nearly two hundred years the Ryukyu Kingdom would thrive as a key player in maritime trade with [[Southeast Asia|Southeast]] and East Asia.{{Sfn | Okamoto | 2008 | p = 35}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://sitereports.nabunken.go.jp/15957|title=東南アジアと琉球|last=Okinawa Prefectural reserve cultural assets center|date=2012|website=Comprehensive Database of Archaeological Site Reports in Japan|access-date=2 September 2016}}</ref> Central to the kingdom's maritime activities was the continuation of the [[tribute|tributary]] relationship with [[Ming dynasty]] China, begun by Chūzan in 1372,{{Sfn | Matsuda | 2001 | p = 16}}{{efn|Nanzan and Hokuzan also entered into tributary relationships with Ming China, in 1380 and 1383 respectively.{{Sfn | Okamoto | 2008 | p = 36}}}} and enjoyed by the three Okinawan kingdoms which followed it. China provided ships for Ryukyu's maritime trade activities,{{Sfn | Okamoto | 2008 | p = 36}} allowed a limited number of Ryukyuans to study at the [[Guozijian (Beijing)|Imperial Academy]] in Beijing, and formally recognized the authority of the King of Chūzan, allowing the kingdom to trade formally at Ming ports. Ryukyuan ships, often provided by China, traded at ports throughout the region, which included, among others, China, [[Lê dynasty|Đại Việt]] (Vietnam), Japan, [[Mataram Sultanate|Java]], [[Korea]], [[Rajahnate of Maynila|Luzon]], [[Malacca Sultanate|Malacca]], [[Pattani Kingdom|Pattani]], [[Palembang]], [[Ayutthaya Kingdom|Siam]], and [[Aceh Sultanate|Sumatra]].<ref name= Sakamaki>{{cite journal |last=Sakamaki |first=Shunzō |title=Ryukyu and Southeast Asia |journal=[[Journal of Asian Studies]] |volume=23 |issue=3 |year=1964 |pages=382–384 |doi=10.2307/2050757 |jstor=2050757 |s2cid=162443515 |doi-access=free }}</ref>

[[File:Qing Seal for King of Ryukyu.svg|thumb|Seal from [[Qing dynasty|Qing China]] giving authority to the King of Ryukyu to rule]]
[[File:Naha Shuri Castle16s5s3200.jpg|thumb|The main building of [[Shuri Castle]]]]
Japanese products—silver, swords, fans, [[lacquer]]ware, [[byōbu|folding screens]]—and Chinese products—medicinal herbs, minted coins, glazed ceramics, brocades, textiles—were traded within the kingdom for Southeast Asian [[sappanwood]], [[Rhinoceros|rhino]] horn, [[tin]], sugar, iron, [[ambergris]], Indian [[ivory]], and Arabian [[frankincense]]. Altogether, 150 voyages between the kingdom and Southeast Asia on Ryukyuan ships were recorded in the ''[[Rekidai Hōan]]'', an official record of diplomatic documents compiled by the kingdom, as having taken place between 1424 and the 1630s, with 61 of them bound for Siam, 10 for Malacca, 10 for Pattani, and 8 for Java, among others.<ref name=Sakamaki />

The Chinese policy of ''[[haijin]]'' ({{lang|zh|海禁}}, "sea bans"), limiting trade with China to tributary states and those with formal authorization, along with the accompanying preferential treatment of the Ming Court towards Ryukyu, allowed the kingdom to flourish and prosper for roughly 150 years.{{Sfn | Murai | 2008 | p = iv}} In the late 16th century, however, the kingdom's commercial prosperity fell into decline. The rise of the ''[[wokou]]'' threat among other factors led to the gradual loss of Chinese preferential treatment;{{Sfn | Okamoto | 2008 | p = 53}} the kingdom also suffered from increased maritime competition from Portuguese [[Merchant|traders]].{{Sfn | Matsuda | 2001 | p = 16}}