Magiri
The Magiri (間切) were a type of administrative district of the Ryukyu Kingdom in the Ryukyu Islands that ranged from the Amami Islands in present-day Kagoshima Prefecture across all of present-day Okinawa Prefecture.[1] In concept they were similar to present day Japanese prefectures, but in size they were closer to cities, towns and villages.
History
The origin of the magiri system is unclear, but was solidified by the beginning of the reign of Shō Shin, the third king of the Second Shō Dynasty of the Ryukyu Kingdom. The rule of Shō Shin ranged between 1477 and 1526.[2] In the history of the Ryukyu Islands, the demarkation of magiri underwent two major modifications. The system also continued to varying degrees in the Amami Islands even after they were put under the control of Satsuma Domain.
The magiri were originally controlled by individual anji, but as the Ryukyu Kingdom solidified in the 15th century the anji relocated to the center of the kingdom at Shuri. After this period the title of anji became symbolic, and low-ranking official were assigned the day-to-day administration of the magiri.[2]
Each magiri had several shima, or settlements, which represented an administrative unit similar to the mura, or village, in feudal Japan. Each magiri had five to ten shima. Ryukyuan commoners were registered to a particular shima, and movement to or from the administrative areas was generally not permitted. Under the system of Shō Shin the central government at Shuri assigned each shima a noro, or priestess, to carry out religious functions of the settlement.[2][3]
The magiri system continued after the end of the Ryukyu Kingdom and annexation of Okinawa by Japan in 1879.[4] In 1907, under Imperial Edict 46, the Japanese administrative system of cities, towns, and village organization was extended to Okinawa.[1] The magiri system was officially abolished on April 1, 1908.[2]
List of Magiri
The following is a list of magiri from the Sanzan Period, including newly established ones (namely Misato, Kushi, Motobu, Ginowan, Oroku, Onna, Ōgimi, Yonashiro)
Hokuzan Kingdom
- Northern area of Okinawa Main Island and nearby islands:
- Kunigami - 国頭間切 (present day Kunigami)
- Ōgimi - 大宜味間切 (present day Ōgimi)
- Iheya - 伊平屋間切 (present day Iheya, Izena)
- Haneji - 羽地間切 (present day Nago (Haneji area, Yagaji area))
- Nakijin - 今帰仁間切 (present day Nakijin)
- Motobu - 本部間切 (present day Motobu, established in 1666)
- Nago - 名護間切 (present day Nago (excluding Haneji and Yagaji areas)
- Kushi - 久志間切 (present day Higashi and part of Nago, established in 1673)
- Kin - 金武間切 (present day Kin, Ginoza)
- Southern Amami Islands:
- Okinoerabu Island - 沖永良部島 → incorporated into Satsuma Domain (Ōsumi Province)
- Erabu - 永良部間切 (present day China, Wadomari, (Kagoshima Prefecture))
- Yoron Island - 与論島 → incorporated into Satsuma Domain (Ōsumi Province)
- Yoron - 与論間切 (present day Yoron, Kagoshima)
Chūzan Kingdom
- Central area of Okinawa Main Island and nearby islands:
- Onna - 恩納間切 (present day Onna, established in 1673)
- Yomitanzan - 読谷山間切 (present day Yomitan)
- Goeku - 越来間切 (present day Okinawa City)
- Misato - 美里間切 (present day Okinawa City, Uruma (Ishikawa Area), established in 1666)
- Gushikawa - 具志川間切 (present day Uruma (Gushikawa area))
- Katsuren - 勝連間切 (present day Uruma (Katsuren area))
- Yonashiro - 与那城間切 (present day Uruma (Yonashiro area), established in 1676)
- Chatan - 北谷間切 (present Chatan, Kadena, part of Okinawa City)
- Nakagusuku - 中城間切 (present Nakagusuku, Kita-Nakagusuku, Uruma (Tsuken Island))
- Ginowan - 宜野湾間切 (present day Ginowan, established in 1671)
- Urasoe - 浦添間切 (present day Urasoe)
- Tomari - 泊間切 (present day Naha (northern area of Naha))
- Naha - 那覇間切 (present day Naha (southern area of Naha), Tokashiki, Zamami)
- Shurimihira - 首里三平等間切 (present day Naha (Shuri area, Mawashi area) Nishihara, Haebaru)
- Nakazato - 仲里間切 (present day Kumejima (Nakazato area))
- Uezu - 上江州間切 (present day Kumejima (Gushikawa area))
Nanzan Kingdom
- Southern area of Okinawa Main Island and nearby islands:
- Tomigusuku - 豊見城間切 (present day Tomigusuku)
- Oroku - 小碌間切 (present day Naha (Oroku area), established in 1672)
- Shimajiriōzato - 島尻大里 (present day Itoman (excluding Kyan and Mabuni areas)
- Kyan - 喜屋武間切 (present day Itoman (Kyan area))
- Mabuni - 摩文仁間切 (present day Itoman (Mabuni area))
- Kochinda - 東風平間切 (present day Yaese (Kochinda area))
- Gushichan - 具志頭間切 (present day Yaese (Gushichan area))
- Shimazoeōzato - 島添大里間切 (present day Nanjō (Ōzato area), Yonabaru)
- Sashiki - 佐敷間切 (present day Nanjō (Sashiki area, Chinen area))
- Tamagusuku - 玉城間切 (present day Nanjō (Tamagusuku area))
Miyako and Yaeyama Islands
- Miyako
- Hirara - 平良間切 (present day Miyakojima (Hirara area))
- Shimoji - 下地間切 (present day Miyakojima (Shimoji area, Ueno area)
- Sunakawa - 砂川間切 (present day Miyakojima (Gusukube area))
- Yaeyama
Northern Amami Islands
- Amami Ōshima → incorporated into Satsuma Domain (Ōsumi Province)
- Kasari - 笠利間切 (present day Amami (Kasari area))
- Komi - 古見間切 (present day Tatsugō, Amami)
- Naze - 名瀬間切 (present day Yamato, Amami)
- Yakiuchi - 焼内間切 (present day Yamato, Uken)
- Sumiyō - 住用間切 (present day Amami (Sumiyō area))
- Nishikata - 西方間切 (present day Setouchi)
- Higashikata - 東方間切 (present day Setouchi)
- Kikaijima - 喜界島 → incorporated into Satsuma Domain (Ōsumi Province)
- Tokunoshima - 徳之島 → incorporated into Satsuma Domain (Ōsumi Province)
- Higashi - 東間切 (present day Tokunoshima)
- Omonawa - 面縄間切 (present day Isen)
- Nishime - 西目間切 (present day Amagi)
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "間切" [Magiri]. Nihon Kokugo Daijiten (in Japanese). Tokyo: Shogakukan. 2013. OCLC 56431036. Retrieved 2013-05-02.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 "間切" [Magiri]. Kokushi Daijiten (in Japanese). Tokyo: Shogakukan. 2013. OCLC 683276033. Retrieved 2013-05-02.
- ↑ Takara, Kurayoshi (1994/1995). "King and Priestess: Spiritual and Political Power in Ancient Ryukyu". The Ryukyuanist (Naha, Okinawa Prefecture: International Society of Ryukyuan Studies) (27): 1–2.
- ↑ "間切り" [Magiri]. Dijitaru Daijisen (in Japanese). Tokyo: Shogakukan. 2013. OCLC 56431036. Retrieved 2013-05-02.