TTLA: The Ryukyu Kingdom's relations with East Asian countries in the 15th-19th centuries

INFORMATION ABOUT THE DOCTORAL THESIS

1. Full name of the doctoral candidate:Le Thi Khanh Ly               

2. Gender: Female

3. Date of birth: February 10, 1981

4. Place of birth: Phu Tho

5. Decision to recognize doctoral students: Decision No. 3202/QD-SDH, dated November 8, 2010, of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities - Vietnam National University, Hanoi.

6. Changes in the training process: Decision on changing the doctoral thesis supervisor No. 1494/QD-SDH dated November 14, 2011, of the Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities - Vietnam National University, Hanoi.

7. Thesis title:"The Ryukyu Kingdom's relations with East Asian countries in the 15th-19th centuries"

8. Major: World History Code: 62.22.03.11

9. Scientific supervisor:Prof. Dr. Nguyen Van Kim

10. Summary of the new findings of the thesis:

This dissertation focuses on presenting the formation, development, and outstanding characteristics of the Ryukyu Kingdom during the period 1429-1879, while also deeply analyzing the objectives, content, scope, and extent of Ryukyu's trade relations with East Asian countries. Compared to other countries in the region, Ryukyu had many "unique developments" in responding to and promoting relations with the countries considered the most important economic and political triangle in East Asia: China, Japan, and Southeast Asia. From there, the dissertation focuses on clarifying the fundamental issues and multifaceted consequences of diplomatic relations between countries in the region.contextand transformationcommon ofAsia in the 15th-19th centuries.

This thesis studies and evaluates the Ryukyu Kingdom's choice of a development path centered on trade and commerce. It focuses on the role of maritime trade in the development and consolidation of the kingdom's diplomatic relations and political standing. From this, it raises theoretical issues regarding the multifaceted goals and consequences of East Asian trade relations, as well as the impact of this system on internal and external influences. Analyzing the causes of the Ryukyu Kingdom's decline also reveals the challenges and challenges facing Asian nations in choosing a development path and protecting their sovereignty and national independence in the modern era.

11. Practical applications:

- The thesis isThis is the first study in Vietnam researching the history of the Ryukyu Kingdom's rise and fall.This thesis systematically and comprehensively examines the foreign relations of this kingdom; contributing to expanding and clarifying the research orientation of maritime trade in Asia and Japan within regional and inter-regional contexts; and exploring the scope and multifaceted impacts of the foreign economic policies pursued by Ryukyu and other countries in the region. The research findings contribute to clarifying the traditionally good relationship between the Vietnamese and Japanese peoples, while further strengthening and promoting the strategic partnership and cooperation between the two countries in the Asia-Pacific region today.

- This dissertation can be used as a reference document for research and training at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels in fields such as World History, International Relations, Economic History, Political Science, Oriental Studies, Japanese Studies, etc.

12. Future research directions:

- The Ryukyu Islands are a topic that has not received much research attention in Vietnam. Currently, the trend in historical research focuses heavily on economic history, especially maritime trade. Therefore, the topic of "The Ryukyu Kingdom's relations with East Asian countries"Further research is needed in both theoretical and practical fields. Many issues or directions for further development of the topic can be opened up based on the research results of the thesis, such as:

- Continue researching and further clarifying issues related to the culture, society, education, etc., of the Ryukyu Kingdom during its formation and development.

- Continue to delve deeper into the theoretical research on the activities ofEast Asian trading systemand the impact of this system on regional economic and political development, and on the fate of "small countries versus large countries" in the medieval and modern periods.

- Further research is needed to provide more specific evidence regarding the history of Vietnam-Japan relations, the transformation in nature, scope, and level of the relationship between Vietnam, Ryukyu, Japan, and other East Asian countries.

13. Scientific works related to the dissertation:

1. Le Thi Khanh Ly (2015), “The Influence of Chinese Culture on Ryukyu in the 14th - 18th Centuries”,Journal of Chinese Studies(8), pp. 60-69.

2. Le Thi Khanh Ly (2015), “Trade relations of the Ryukyu Kingdom with China in the medieval period”,Journal of Northeast Asian Studiesnumber (4), pp.57 - 65.

3. Le Thi Khanh Ly (2011), “Looking at Vietnam's current cultural diplomacy policy from a diplomatic document between Ryukyu and Dai Viet in the early 16th century”, ProceedingsInternational Scientific Conference:Foreign policy culture in an integrated world., Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and Hanoi University of Culture, pp. 315-322.

4. Le Thi Khanh Ly (2010),"New discoveries about cultural relations between Vietnam and Japan.Scientific Announcement, Hanoi University of Culture(8), pp. 38 - 45.

5. Le Thi Khanh Ly (2008), “Ryukyu’s relations with Southeast Asian countries in the 14th-16th centuries” - Proceedings of the International Conference:Vietnam in the South China Sea trade system- Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, pp. 196-221.

6. Le Thi Khanh Ly (2006), “Ryukyu's relationship with Siam in the 14th - 16th centuries”,Journal of Southeast Asian Studies(2), pp. 41-47.

7. Le Thi Khanh Ly (2006), “Ryukyu: A unique development case in East Asia in the 15th-16th centuries”,Journal of Southeast Asian Studies(4), pp. 27-38.

INFORMATION ON DOCTORAL THESIS

1. Full name: Le Thi Khanh Ly 2. Sex: Female

3. Date of birth: February 10, 1981 4. Place of birth: Phu Tho

5. Admission decision number: Decision 3202/QD-SĐH, dated November 8, 2010 by Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi.

6. Changes in academic process: Alteration of the supervisor of the doctoral thesis, Decision 1494/QD-SDH, dated November 14, 2011 by the Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi.

7. Official thesis title: “Relations between Ryukyu and the states in the East Asian region from the 15th^thto 19^thcentury".

8. Major: World's HistoryCode: 62.22.03.11

9. Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Nguyen Van Kim

10. Summary of the new findings of the thesis:

The thesis focuses on the formation, development and the main characteristics of the Ryukyu Kingdom in the period from 1429 up to 1879. Attention is given to the commercial relations of the kingdom with the states in the East Asian region. The thesis highlights Ryukyu's peculiar way in dealing with and promoting relations with the countries in the political and economic triangle: China, Japan and Southeast Asia. It underlines the nature and the multifaceted consequences of the relations among the East Asian countries against the backdrop of the Asian transformation in the 15^thand 19^thcenturies.

By focusing the path taken by Ryukyu in which commerce was given the highest priority, the thesis evaluates the role of commerce in the development and consolidation of its foreign relations as well as its political position in the region. The author also offers some theoretical remarks about the motives and consequences of the trading relations in the East Asian region as well as the impacts of these relations in transforming the East Asian countries. The reasons for the decline of the Ryukyu kingdom, the challenges faced by Asian countries in the course of opting for models of development, national defense and independence in the early modern time are also part of the analysis.

11. Practical applicability:

- The thesis is the first study in the Vietnam focusing on the history of the vicissitudes of the Ryukyu Kingdom and its foreign relations in a comprehensive manner. Therefore, the thesis contributes to expanding and clarifying the new research trend in maritime history of Asia as well as of Japan. The results of this thesis contribute to promoting understanding and good relationship between Japan and Vietnam as two strategic partnership in Asia nowadays.

- The thesis can be used as reference material for teaching and research in the fields of World history, International Relations, Economic History, Political Science, Oriental Studies, Japan studies, etc.

12. Further research directions:

- Ryukyu is a topic that has not received adequate attention in Vietnam. Currently, the historical researches tend to focus on the economic history, especially maritime history. The subject "Relationship between Ryukyu Kingdom and the countries in the East Asian region" is part of this research trend. Therefore, more researches need to carry out relation to this subject in both theoretical and practical issues. The thesis opens up several directions that can be explored as follows

- Examining and clarifying the issues on culture, society, education ... of the Ryukyu Kingdom.

- Analyzing and conceptualizing the theory of Trading system in East Asia and the impacts of this system on the economic and political development of the region, the fate of "weak country- strong country" in the medieval and modern times

- Giving solid evidence for the historical relationship of Vietnam and Japan, which will help contribute to the consolidation of long-term, durable relationship between Vietnam and Japan.

13. Thesis-related publications:

1. Le Thi Khanh Ly (2015), "The influence of the Chinese culture in Ryukyu in the XIV-XVIII century", Journal of Chinese studies (8), p.60-69.

2. Le Thi Khanh Ly (2015), "The commercial relations of the Ryukyu Kingdom with China in The Middle Age", Journal of research in Northeast Asia (4), pp.57-65.

3. Le Thi Khanh Ly (2011), "From a diplomat document between Ryukyu and Dai Viet in the early XVI century: View on the Vietnamese foreign and cultural policies today", summary record of The internationally scientific workshop: Foreign culture in the integrated world, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and Culture University of Hanoi, pp.315-322.

4. Le Thi Khanh Ly (2010), “New findings about the cultural relations between Vietnam and Japan,” Scientific Report of Culture University of Hanoi (8), p.38-45.

5. Le Thi Khanh Ly (2008), "Relationship between Ryukyu and the countries of South East Asia in the XIV-XVI centuries" - Summary Record of the international workshop: Vietnam in East Sea trading system -the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University of Hanoi, pp.196-221.

6. Le Thi Khanh Ly (2006), "Relationship between Ryukyu and Siam in the XIV-XVI centuries", Journal of Southeast Asian studies (2), pp.41-47.

7. Le Thi Khanh Ly (2006), "Ryukyu as a unique development model in East Asia in the XV-XVI centuries",Journal of Southeast Asian studies(4), pp.27-38.