Okinawan, is the traditional dress of the Ryukyuan people. The ryusou became popular during the Ryukyu Kingdom period. Ryusou is a form of formal attire; it is customary to wear it on occasions such as wedding ceremony and the coming-of-age ceremony. The Ryukyu Kingdom was originally an independent nation which established trade relationship with many countries in Southeast Asia (Java, Malacca, and Palembang) and East Asia; they held their relationship with China as especially important. It was originally worn by the members of the royal family and by the nobles of Ryukyu Kingdom. Chinese and Japanese influences along with local originality. Robes which crossed in the front was worn by both the working and upper classes; however, they differed in length (from knee to ankle length). The ryusou shows a combination of Chinese and Japanese influences as well as local, native originality. The working class would wear a knee-length robe while the upper classes would wear robes which were ankle-length. During the Ryukyu Kingdom period, the colour, fabric, and design of the ryusou, alongside the style of headgear, was used to distinguish the social status and rank of the wearer. Men would secure their robes with a sash or girdle but women would hold theirs with a pin. The ryusou for women is based on the bingata (紅型, lit. Bingata could only be afforded by the people who had a rank and were wealthy. Men’s ryusou differ from women’s ryusou in terms of colour, design, and material. A form of ryusou for women is intended to be shorter than the kimono: it is a two-piece garment attire which consists of dujin (胴衣; ドゥジン; cross-collar upper body garment) and kakan (裙; カカン; a pleated skirt). Bingata textiles were strictly supervised by the royal court. Only men of royalty and from the warring class were allowed to wear dujin and trousers as an undergarment. Bashōfu was the preferred textile for summer due to its airiness, for its smooth surface and because it does not stick to the skin in hot weather, making it suitable for the hot climate of Okinawa. According to the Zhongshan chuanxin lu (Records on Chûzan), bashōfu was worn by both men and women during winter and summer, and its value equalled that of silk. Due to the differences in climate and culture, Ryukyuan clothing differed to that worn on mainland Japan. 85-86 Bashōfu was also used in the making of official garments, according the Ōshima hikki (大島筆記) written in the 18th century by Japanese Confucian Tobe Yoshihiro. Compared to the kimono, the ryusou has big sleeve openings, which allows for good air circulation to keep its wearer cool in tropical weather. The ryusou also uses a thin waistband instead of the wider obi worn with the kimono. The ryusou is also very light, mobile and loosely-tailored compared to the kimono. The ryusou is generally shorter than the kimono. The Ryukyuans appear to have started weaving around the time there was initial contact with China, most likely during the Han dynasty. Cotton was exported to the Ryukyuan Kingdom as early as 219 BC from China. In the 5th century, oxen and swine were introduced to the islands which would also provided a source of clothing. According to a 5th-century records, the Ryukyu people only covered the upper parts of their bodies. 73-74 In the Yuraiki, under the entry Ori (織, lit. By the 7th to 8th centuries, people were already producing hand-woven fabric of cotton and other leaf fibers. From the time of King Shunten’s reign (1187-1237) to King Gihon (1249-1259), clothing which was characteristic of the Ryukyuan people had developed. The clothing was later recorded through illustrations; it was depicted in a 14th century book. During the reign of King Eiso, Buddhism was introduced to the Ryukyuan Kingdom from Japan. The robes of Buddhist priests may have served as the basis in design source for the development of the people’s clothing. Tributary relationships with the Ming dynasty were established in 1372 by the three kingdoms of Sanzan. Married women also started to be tattooed during King Satto’s reign with hajichi. In exchange for their tributes, the Ming dynasty gifted the Ryukyu Kingdom with Ming dynasty clothing of various designs (including round-collar robes and cross-collared robes), silk, and royal crowns (such as the sammo, known in Chinese as the wushamao, a jewelled crown). In 1372, the King of Chūzan entered into a tributary relationship with the Ming dynasty, and paid tribute for 500 years for trading privileges and diplomatic ties. Tenson. The following generations gradually gained knowledge of weaving techniques, which developed admirably. From the reign of Satto to the 16th century, Chinese influence on the Ryukyuan Kingdom was significant, while Japanese influence faded. Hendrickx, Katrien (2007). The origins of banana-fibre cloth in the Ryukyus, Japan. China. Emperor Taizu of the Hong-wu era bestowed him with a golden seal and official garments. During the reign of King Shō Shin (r. 1477-1527), a decree was made in an effort to codify and ritualize the dress code as an expression of one’s social status and ranks; colours were then used to distinguish the upper and lower ranks, thus defining the elite identity in Ryukyu Kingdom. In the 15th century, textile development in Ryukyu showed Indian, Indonesian, and Chinese influences. Ming-style clothing for officials and daily clothing were made for the Ryukyu kings and his officials. This decree by King Shō Shin was a situation where Chinese practices were localized in the Ryukyu Kingdom. 106-109 The regal insignia was a Ryukyuan innovation, which was loosely based on the Ming dynasty regulations of dress codification. Dragon robes with 5-clawed dragon motifs (called umantun or umanshā), which resembled the dragon robes of the Ming dynasty emperor, were used by the King of Ryukyu. 106-109 Yellow clothing was restricted to the ruling family of Ryukyu as in China. King Shō Shin was also the first to established a headwear system composed of hairpins and hachimaki-style caps with varying colours according to the official ranks of its wearer. 106-109 The use of hachimaki may have been a custom which had been influenced by South Asian countries. 106-109 The hairpins were also strictly regulated along with clothing during this period: Kings wore gold hairpins, which were decorated with a dragon, while a phoenix head decorated the hairpins of the queens; people of noble birth wore gold hairpins, silver hairpins were worn by feudal lords, brass hairpins by merchants and farmers; pewter or plain wood hairpins were worn by the people of the poorest status. Commoners could wear hairpins with tortoise shell in alternative hexagonal shapes of black and yellow during state occasions. The Chinese never attempted to impose their culture on the Ryukyuans. The Ryukyu people used some Chinese designs and fabrics in making; however, they also cut it in a way which would suit local tastes and whose design was practical for daily life. This allowed the Ryukyu people to be culturally independent from China. The touishou was a winter ceremonial clothing worn by the Ryukyuan kings. The touishou was slightly modified from the clothing gifted by the Ming dynasty, and included unique Ryukyuan features, such as fringes at the back of the garment, while maintaining the style of Ming dynasty court clothing. Chinese silks bestowed to the Ryukyuan people were also transformed by the local artisans in Ryukyu to make ceremonial garments; these silk ceremonial garments differed from the hemp-based clothing that most commoners would make as their clothing. In the Zhongshan chuanxin lu, it is noted that both Ryukyuan men and women wore an upper garment called jin (a type of court clothing). 106-109 Male undergarments consisted of a white silk dujin (胴衣), a cross-collared upper garment closed left over right, and white silk trousers. Only members of the royal family and members of upper-class warrior families were allowed to wear these undergarments. The emperor also wore dujin and trousers as undergarments under his touishou. The wearing of dujin and kakan continued to be worn in Ryukyu at least until the Meiji period. The combination of dujin and kakan was also worn as a ceremonial costume for women who came from warrior families. Ryukyu clothing called jin (衣) which covers the upper body. Hibekan (皮弁冠), also known as Tama-nchabui (玉御冠; ‘jewelled crown’). After Satsuma subjugated the Ryuku islands in 1609, Satsuma controlled the islands and intentionally ceded to China’s ritual authority over the Ryukyu Kingdom in order to win the economic profit from the tribute trade with China. Ryukyuan people, from the Sekaijimbutsu emaki (世界人物図巻), possibly beginning of Edo period. When Ryukyuan envoys would visit Edo, they had to wear Chinese clothing. In order to hide the dual sovereignty, the Ryukyuans were forbidden from being assimilated into Japanese culture, and they were encouraged to continue wearing their traditional clothing and speak in the local language. Following the fall of the Ming dynasty, the Ryukyu continued to follow the Ming dynasty’s court fashion and styled their own clothing with dragon emblems which were bestowed by the Qing dynasty. The reigns of Shō Tei to Shō Eki and Shō Kei were eras of strong Japanese influence, although the sentiment of the Ryukyu people were pro-Chinese. 7 or 9 times at the forehead and 11 or 12 at the back. It also became a social status marker in the court hierarchy, as the colours of the hachimaki and the ways of folding it were strictly regulated by rigid rules. Japanese influences increased from the year 1874, when the last King was taken prisoner in Tokyo and when Japan forbade the exchange of envoys with China. The Ryukyu Kingdom was eventually abolished and the islands were annexed without consent by the Meiji government. Between the years 1879 and 1895, many cultural and institutional characteristics of the Ryuku kingdom were preserved. However, following the arrival of Governor Shigeru Narahara, an aggressive form of cultural assimilation took place in the form of Japanization, leading to traditional Ryukyuan clothing being discouraged. After the World War II, Ryukyuan bridal clothing did not show any native Ryukyuan influence, and was instead of Japanese origin. The clothing of the Ryukyu people were influenced by the Japanese, and Japanese-style clothing was increasingly adopted. Traditional Ryukyuan clothes, 19th century. Ryukyu people, Edo period. Ryukyu woman wearing watansu over dujin and kakan, 19th century. Oji (ordinary dress) and aji (court dress), 19th century. For women, it was worn along with the kakan. Dujin – a cross-collared upper garment. The emperor wore it under the touishou. For men, it was used as ceremonial undergarment along with trousers; it was only used by the members of the royal family and the upper class warrior families. Hanagasa – lit. ‘flower hat’, it is worn women by women when performing traditional Ryukyuan dance, Yotsudake. Hooikakan – a pleated skirt with a long train; it was reserved for ladies of the upper class. A red Kakan was also worn by the king during his enthronement under the Touishou. 83 it was worn with dujin. Tanashi – a summer robe worn by women of the royal family. Tamanchaabui/ Hibekan – Royal crown, part of formal clothing for the Ryukyu king; it was bestowed by the Chinese Emperor. It was worn on important events, such as Sappo (enthronement of the King) and on the New Year’s celebration. Touishou – also known as hibenfuku or umanton, a type ceremonial clothing bestowed by the Chinese emperor, it was worn by the King of Ryukyu. It was worn with the Tamanchaabui/ Hibekan; Touishou was worn over the Dujin and red Kakan. Watajin – a lined or padded winter wear for both men and women; it was a form of formal wear in winter. It was worn by the royal family. Hanagasa, a coloured hat worn by women when performing a traditional Okinawan dance called Yotsudake. Astroth, Alexander (2019). Mass suicides on Saipan and Tinian, 1944 : an examination of the civilian deaths in historical context. Watansu – a lined winter robe which could be made of bingata; it was worn on top of dujin and kakan. Jefferson, North Carolina. p. Ryusou”. | Features | Okinawa Travel Info”. VISIT OKINAWA JAPAN | Official Okinawa Travel Guide (in Japanese). Daner, Steven Lauren (2013). Native peoples of the world : an encyclopedia of groups, cultures, and contemporary issues. Armonk, NY: Sharpe Reference, an imprint of M.E. Nordquist, Barbara K. (1978-01-01). “The Ryūkyū Islands: Some Notes on Dress”. Metropolitan Museum of Art (1984). Notable acquisitions, 1983-1984. Philippe De Montebello. Dusenbury, Mary; Bier, Carol (2004). Flowers, Dragons & Pine Trees Asian Textiles in the Spencer Museum of Art. New York: Metropolitan Museum of Art. Hudson Hills Press. p. Shigeki, Kawakami. “Ryukyu and Ainu Textiles”. Sarashima, Sumiko (2013). Intangible cultural heritage in Japan : Bingata, a traditional dyed textile from Okinawa. Great Britain: University College London (University of London). Kyoto National Museum. Translated by Melissa M. Rinne. Hendrickx, Katrien (2007). The origins of banana-fibre cloth in the Ryukyus, Japan. Howard, Michael C. (2012). Transnationalism in ancient and medieval societies : the role of cross-border trade and travel. Self-determinable Development of Small Islands. Masahide Ishihara, Eiichi Hoshino, Yōko Fujita. KIT, CHAN YING (2010-08-16). A Bridge between Myriad Lands: The Ryukyu Kingdom and Ming China (1372-1526) (Thesis thesis). Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland. p. Fitzgerald, Kurie; Zongker, Brett (2016). “Okinawan Treasures Make U.S. Debut in New Exhibit at the George Washington University Museum and The Textile Museum ‘Bingata! Only in Okinawa’ Tracks the Colorful History of the Ryukyu Kingdom”. McCormack, Gavan (2018). Resistant Islands : Okinawa Confronts Japan and the United States. Satoko Oka Norimatsu (Second ed.). Akamine, Mamoru (2017). The Ryukyu Kingdom : cornerstone of East Asia. The international handbook of the demography of race and ethnicity. Rogelio Saenz, David G. Embrick, Néstor Rodriguez. Lina Terrell, Robert N. Huey. Sakihara, Mitsugu (2006). Okinawan-English wordbook : a short lexicon of the Okinawan language with English definitions and Japanese cognates. This page was last edited on 28 October 2024, at 09:28 (UTC). Stewart Curry, Leon Angelo Serafim, Shigehisa Karimata, Moriyo Shimabukuro. By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License; additional terms may apply. Wikipedia® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization.