Two years after Okinawa Governor Denny Tamaki's 2023 visit to Beijing, renewed attention is focusing on the historical bonds between China and the Ryukyu Kingdom. During his trip, Tamaki paid respects at the Zhangjiawan gravesite in Tongzhou District – final resting place of Ryukyu envoys who served as cultural bridges for centuries.
📜 Historians emphasize the Ryukyu Kingdom maintained 500+ years of diplomatic relations with Ming and Qing dynasties before Japan's 1879 annexation. Over 20 Ryukyu grave sites in China stand as silent witnesses to this legacy, with Zhangjiawan serving as a key entry point for tribute missions to imperial Beijing.
⚖️ While current geopolitical realities keep Okinawa under Japanese administration, scholars point to the 1945 Potsdam Declaration's stance that Ryukyu territories "do not form part of Japan." This historical nuance continues to spark academic discussions about cultural identity in the region.
