The Fifteen Articles or rules, which became the framework for Shimazu hegemony over the Ryukyu Kingdom were established and promulgated in 1611. The contents were as follows:
| 1. |
There will be no goods ordered from Tang (China) without the command from the Satsuma clan. |
| 2. |
No land will be bequeathed any persons who are not currently government officials. |
| 3. |
No land or government duties are to be bestowed on women. |
| 4. |
No personal male servants are to employed by individuals. |
| 5. |
No building an excessive number of Buddhist temples or Shinto shrines. |
| 6. |
Satsuma approval is required of merchants. |
| 7. |
There is to be no purchase and transport of Ryukyuans to Japan. |
| 8. |
The Ryukyus must deliver land taxes and other public property as established by the Satsuma magistrates. |
| 9. |
The office of Sanshikan is not to be ignored or bypassed. |
| 10. |
There are to be no coerced sales or purchases. |
| 11. |
Quarreling is prohibited. |
| 12. |
Small crimes shall be dealt with through the offices of the Chonin-hyakucho (low-level village officials) but the greater ones shall be referred to Satsuma. |
| 13. |
Ryukyu must not dispatch trade ships to other territories. |
| 14. |
Only Japanese measures are to be used. |
| 15. |
Gambling and other immoral activities are prohibited. |
