Okinawa kingdom treasures on display at Seoul museum

Royal garment of the Ryukyu Kingdom (1492-1879) / Courtesy of National Palace Museum of Korea

By Baek Byung-yeul

Okinawa is well known to Koreans as the site of a fierce battle between the U.S. and mainland Japan during World War II.

By the time the islands in Okinawa Prefecture became deadly battlegrounds between the two countries, there was the Ryukyu Kingdom (1429-1879), an independent kingdom that had ruled the most parts of the islands in the region before it was annexed by Japan in 1879.

The National Palace Museum of Korea’s “Treasures from the Ryukyu Kingdom: The Splendid History of Okinawa” is a rare exhibition that gives an opportunity to introduce the lost kingdom’s royal treasures to Koreans.

Beginning from Dec. 9, about 200 cultural heritages of the kingdom are on display at the museum, featuring royal family remains including royal cloths and crown; royal artifacts; and relics showing the kingdom’s diplomatic relationships with the Joseon Kingdom (1392-1910), the last kingdom of the Korean Peninsula. The exhibition also includes 33 national treasures of Japan.

“Established in 15th century, the Ryukyu Kingdom had a great deal of cultural exchanges with the Joseon Kingdom. It thrived from seaborne trade thanks to its geographical advantage,” the curator of the museum explained.

The curator added that “The kingdom had kept its own unique culture even while it was forced to render tribute to China and mainland Japan since the 16th century.”

They are all on loan from Japanese museums and local heritage management bureau such as the Naha City Museum of History, the Okinawa Prefectural Museum & Art Museum, the Urasoe City Art Museum, the Shuri Castle Park Management Center, Urasoe City’s Board of Education, the Tokyo National Museum and the Kyushu National Museum.

“This exhibition has a great meaning as it is the first time for the 33 national treasures of Japan to be shown overseas,” the curator said.

“With this exhibition, audiences will have a chance to take a look at East Asian cultures from a broader perspective.”

The highlights of the exhibition are a royal crown and royal garments.

The crown, studded with various kinds of gems, and the clothes were used for important royal ceremonies.

Artifacts that shows close ties with Joseon on are also display -- porcelains that share similar shapes with the ones in Joseon and maps that indicate Joseon.

The exhibition runs through Feb. 8. The museum is located near exit 5 of Gyeongbokgung Station, subway line 3. Admission is free. For more information, call (02) 3701-7500 or visit www.gogung.go.kr.