The Sappo, or investiture, legitimized the rule of kings of neighboring countries by the Emperor of China. In order to conduct the investiture ceremony for the newly enthroned kings, the Chinese emperor would dispatch envoys in his name to specified countries.
The first instance of their being dispatched to the Ryukyu islands is said to have been in 1396 for the enthronement of the Hokuzan king Hanachi and in 1404 for the investiture of King Bunei. After that, for close to 500 years until the time of the investiture of the last Ryukyuan King Sho Tai, the Sappo investiture system was continued.
A single envoy group would consist of 400 people and would stay in the Ryukyus for up to six months. The duties of the envoys included attendance at the official funeral for the deceased king and the enthronement ceremony for the new king. These rites were carried out on the courtyard area of Shurijo Castle called the Una and their magnificence reflected the expectations of the kings which hosted them. In other words, the authority of the king was shown to the envoys who would report this to the Chinese emperor. The kings did this in order to maintain and receive the trade monopoly they enjoyed with China and to expand their economic power. In fact the envoys brought with them many goods from China and by obtaining these the royal government enjoyed its success as an intermediary trade country with the whole of East Asia.
Pictured at right is a portion of a pictorial scroll depicting a procession of Chinese envoys on their way to an investiture ceremony at Shurijo Castle for the new king of the Ryukyus. The whole scroll is 22.5 meters and shows the procession being composed of 380 Ryukyuans and 220 Chinese Sappo envoys. In all a total of 600 persons participated in this event. From the Okinawa Prefectural Museum Collection
Picture scroll of Chinese Investiture Envoys
Picture scroll of Chinese Investiture Envoys
Picture scroll of Chinese Investiture Envoys
