Ryukyu Dynasty banquet reenacted with traditional dragon boats on the Ryutan Pond

Ryukyu Dynasty banquet reenacted with traditional dragon boats on the Ryutan Pond

A funa-asobi banquet held to welcome a Chinese envoy during the Ryukyu Dynasty was reenacted on February 12, at the Ryutan Pond, Shuri, Naha.


February 13, 2012　Ryukyu Shimpo

On February 12, the funa-asobi banquet of the style of the Ryukyu Dynasty was reenacted at Shuri Castle in Naha. Many people enjoyed listening to court music and dragon boat songs from all over Okinawa while watching boats on Ryutan Pond in Shurijo Castle Park. About 300 years ago, this type of banquet would have been held to welcome an envoy from China. On this occasion, the Tomigusuku Dragon Boat Association and the Shurijo Castle Park Management Center cooperated to reenact the event.

Members of local dragon boat groups from Naha, Itoman, Ishigaki and Tomigusuku performed their boat songs. First-year students from Tomigusuku Junior High School and Nagamine Junior High School wearing traditional clothing known as basajin paddled two dragon boats on the pond.

Nagamine Junior High School student Rintaro Miyazato said, “Paddling the boat was hard work, but I got to know a little about the history of exchange between Ryukyu and China. It was good.”

(English translation by T&CT, Mark Ealey)

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