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영어

This paper focuses on the sovereign power of Lyukyu Kingdom(琉球王國) and the symbols of it. The conclusion of this paper is as follows. First, the most important facility for the preservation of sovereign power of Lyukyu Kingdom was the tribute-installation system(朝貢冊封體制) which was one of the universal character in the traditional East Asian society. The installation of the Lyukyu Kingdom's sovereign by the Chinese Emperor was the most indispensable proof for the authority and the power of the Lyukyu Kindom's sovereign. The tribute-installation system between Imperial China and Lyukyu Kingdom had functioned until 1879 when Meiji Japan(明治日本) annexed the latter. Second, the most important shock for the authority and power of the Lyukyu Kingdom's sovereign was the invasion of the Satsmahan(薩摩藩) to the Lyukyu Island and the Satsma's control of the Lyukyu Kingdom. Besides the installation of the Lyukyu Kingdom's sovereign by the Chinese Emperor, the King of Lyukyu had to get the permission from the lord of the Satsmahan since 1609 for the accession to the throne following the passing of the king. King Sangpoong(尙豊王) of Lyukyu Kingdom was the first one who got the permission of the Satsmahan for the accession to the throne. Third, what were the internal or foreign symbols and facilities for the king of Lyukyu? The visit of the Imperial ship from the China to Lukyu Island, the royal seal and, royal costume granted by the Chinese emperor were ones of the important foreign symbols and facilities for the authority and power of the Lyukyu Kingdom's sovereign. That kind of imperial messenger's visit to Lyukyu Kingdom, imperial granting of the royal seal and royal costume had been continued even after Satsmahan's invasion to the Lyukyu Kingdom in 1609. Besides those facilities and symbols there were internal symbols and facilities for the royal symbols and facilities of Lyukyu. For example, the royal castle(首里城) and the main pavillion(正殿) of the palaces in Naha of Lyukyu Kingdom, the royal tombs(玉陵), the female shamans(神女) who stayed at royal palace, Confucianism, the sacred paintings(日輪雙鳳雲文), the three sided circle(三巴紋) are some of the salient examples which has its own special history.