page_title: Military of the Ryukyu Kingdom
section_title: Weapons
hierarchical_section_title: Military of the Ryukyu Kingdom / Weapons
caption_attribution_description: English: ship of Ryukyu 日本語: 琉球の船
context_page_description: The military of the Ryukyu Kingdom defended the kingdom from 1429 until 1879. It had roots in the late army of Chūzan, which became the Ryukyu Kingdom under the leadership of King Shō Hashi. The Ryukyuan military operated throughout the Ryukyu Islands, the East China Sea, and elsewhere that Ryukyuan ships went. Ryukyu primarily fought with other Ryukyuan kingdoms and chiefdoms, but also Japanese samurai from Satsuma Domain and pirates. Soldiers were stationed aboard ships and Ryukyuan fortifications. The Ryukyuan military declined after the 17th century.
context_section_description: The Ryukyuan military used a combination of imported weapons from China and Japan, often modified, and some domestically made weapons. The most common Chinese imports were guns and cannons, especially multi-barreled guns known as hand cannons. Japanese swords, especially the wakizashi, were highly sought after, and were usually modified to allow for better one-handed use to wield a shield. Both Chinese-style and Japanese-style halberds were also widely used.
  Ryukyu also made use of junks at sea. Ryukyuan ships were defended by soldiers and armed with cannons; fleets of nearly 100 junks were used during some of Ryukyu's military campaigns. Ryukyuan ships continued to officially operate until 1875.
caption: Ryukyuan ship
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