The history of Okinawa—once the independent Ryukyu Kingdom (琉球)—is long, complex, and deeply intertwined with the regional dynamics of East Asia. Early Chinese historical records, including those from the Sui dynasty under Emperor Yang (隋煬帝, AD 604–618), describe the islands as inhabited communities that gradually entered China’s tributary system. For centuries, Ryukyu functioned as a tributary state to China, not Japan, maintaining stable diplomatic missions, cultural exchanges, and extensive m