Clothing that was purchased at an antique shop in Fukuoka that could have been gifted to the Ryukyu Kingdom by China donated to the Churashima Foundation for restoration and research

Clothing that was purchased at an antique shop in Fukuoka that could have been gifted to the Ryukyu Kingdom by China donated to the Churashima Foundation for restoration and research

Masahiro Shuzo CEO Masakuni Higa (far left) and Okinawa Churashima Foundation Chairman Yoshihiro Hanashiro with the summer clothing donated to the foundation by Higa. August 29, Okinawa Churashima Foundation offices in Shuritobaru-Cho, Naha


August 30, 2019 Ryukyu Shimpo

An article of clothing has been found that could possibly be summer wear known as “Umansa,” and was gifted to the Ryukyu Kingdom by ancient China, the likes of which are not known to currently exist in Okinawa.

Masahiro Shuzo Co. Ltd. CEO Masakuni Higa purchased the clothing from an antique shop in Fukuoka about 10 years ago, and it along with 6 handwritten scrolls from the early modern Ryukyu era were donated to the Okinawa Churashima Foundation (OCF, Yoshihiro Hanashiro, Chairman) August 29.

Neither the maker nor the historical background of the article of clothing are known, so the OCF plans investigate.

Scrolls including calligraphy by Shō Iku (left) and Wáng Wén zhì(center) that were donated to the Okinawa Churashima Foundation. August 29, Okinawa Churashima Foundation offices in Shuritobaru-Cho, Naha

There is also a plan to mend the clothing so that it can be displayed to the public.

On August 29, a donation ceremony was held at the foundations offices in Shuritobaru-Cho, Naha, Higa said, “I purchased it as I thought it belonged in Okinawa. [It is good] if it can help develop Ryukyu culture.”

OCF Research Center’s Ryukyu History and Culture Research Laboratory’s assistant lab manager Atsushi Koki said of the scrolls, which appear to have belonged to Ryukyuan King Shō Iku, “These are important items that can be used to examine artistic techniques from this era of the Ryukyu Kingdom.”

Regarding the clothing, he said, “We have a confirmed “Umanton,” winter clothing, but we do not have any examples of Umansa except for what is written in ancient texts,” adding that he was looking forward to the results of the forthcoming research.

(English translation by T&CT and Sam Grieb)

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