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Poems on the Ryukyus in Chinese during Qing China found in Yamagata Prefecture

by Unknown User on 2017-12-05T07:00:00-10:00 | 0 Comments
Ryukyuan historical materials found in Yamagata Prefecture

Who would have thought that rare, Ryukyuan (Okinawan) historical resources could be found in the Tohoku region in Japan?

Map of Japan showing the locations of Yamagata Prefecture and Okinawa Prefecture

[Source: https://yahoo.jp/XQ9CgE]

Yamagata University Museum had an exhibit of the Chinese poems written by Qing Chinese and the Ryukyuans. The poesm were part of Rinsen Bunko (林泉文庫), which was a possession of Ken ISAHAYA (1857-1930).  Isahaya was born into the Yonezawa samurai family, and studies Chinese. 

Exhibit poster by Yamagata University

The image source: http://www.toho-shoten.co.jp/newimages/toho/2017/17-052.jpg

A curator at the Uruma City Library in Okinawa named Mr. Atsushi ENOKAWA and Professor Takashi Takatsu of Kagoshima University noticed that Rinsen Bunko includes some significant Ryukyuan resources. They visited Yamagata in 2014, and their research became a publication titled Sai Daitei "Ikei-mura yuso" to chosa kenkyu jigyo kenkyu seika hokokusho / 『蔡大鼎「伊計村遊草」等調査研究事業研究成果報告書』(Okinawa Prefecture Uruma City Board of Education, ed. / 沖縄県うるま市教育委員会編).

Here is a ilnk to a newspaper article of the research done in 2014. 

"Chinese classic documents from the Ryukyu Kingdom era published." Ryukyu Shimpo. April 1, 2014. 

Yamagata University Library's special exhibit can be accessible (in Japanese only) at: http://www.lib.yamagata-u.ac.jp/yklib/info10630/

Yamagata University Museum news, 2017.3/ 『山形大学附属博物館官報』、43 (ISSN 2432-907X) (PDF, in Japanese)

The exhibit catalog (in Japanes only) at: http://www.lib.yamagata-u.ac.jp/museum/gazou/kanpou/kanpou43.pdf (PDF)

 


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