An 1819 view of RyuKyu

translation by Robert Orozco

One of the earliest reports of Okinawa to the Western world.

 

I hope that everyone is doing well. As I go through some of the things I have regarding research and historical documents on old Uchina - (Okinawa), I find that there is little reference to anything karate or Ti- related. In reading The Account of a Voyage of Discovery to the West Coast of Corea, and the Great Loo-Choo Island by Basil Hall this gives a glimpse of Old Okinawa in the Year 1819. Not only is it interesting to see the way in which the words are written by how they are heard phonetically but it is interesting to read about how the accounts state that the RyuKyu (Loo-Choo) people are very different then the Chinese, Koreans, and Japanese.


Although many parts of the logs reference that the people of RyuKyu dress similar to Chinese in as well as some of the higher ranking officials having the ability to speak Chinese the Character of the people were not Chinese. Below is an entry which speaks about the difference of Character that was observed from an outsiders point of view:


"During our intercourse with these people, there did not occur one instance of theft. They were all permitted to come on board  indiscriminately; to go into the cabins, store-rooms, and wherever they liked, unattended. At the temple the Alceste's stores of every kind were lying about, as well as the carpenter's and armourer's tools; and in the observatory, the instruments, books, and pencils were merely placed under cover; yet there was not a single article taken away, though many hundreds of people were daily admitted, and allowed to examine whatever they pleased. This degree of honesty is a feature which distinguishes the people of Loo-choo from the Chinese, as well as from the inhabitants  the islands in the South Sea and of the Malay Archipelago; among whom even fear, as was ascertained by Captain Cook and other voyagers, is altogether insufficient to prevent theft. At Loo-choo the people are considerably civilized; but they have few wants, and they appear to be perfectly contented. Honesty is perhaps the natural consequence of such a state of society."


The only log which suggests any type of fighting ability an account of mimicry by one of the natives visiting the ship. There are entries which tell of the ability of the natives to mimic movements and dances without difficulty. Below is the entry which points to some fighting ability of the natives.


"On returning to the cabin to tea, they were all in high spirits, and while amusing themselves with a sort of wrestling game, Ookooma, who had seen us placing ourselves in the boxer's sparring attitudes, threw himself suddenly into the boxer's position of defence, assuming at the same time a fierceness of look which we had never before seen in any of them. The gentleman to whom he addressed himself, thinking that Ookooma wished to spar, prepared to indulge him; but MÃdera's quick eye saw what was going on, and by a word or two made him instantly resume his wonted sedateness. We tried in vain to make MÃdera explain what were the magical words which he had used to Ookooma. He appeared anxious to turn our thoughts from the subject, by saying, "Loo-choo man no fight; Loo-choo man write no fight, no good, no, no. Ingerish very good, yes, yes, yes; Loo-choo man no fight." Possibly he considered that Ookooma was taking too great a liberty; or, perhaps, he thought even the semblance of fighting unsuitable with the strict amity subsisting between us."


The more I read about Okinawa and how the people differed from the countries in the same area, I always wonder why people spend so much time researching other countries besides Okinawa. I find this similar to someone asking to describe my Native American tribe from a person who belongs to a different tribe and then writing it down as fact. The current trend of research of kata usually points to China or people tend to wonder what angle a particular foot is placed or if a direction started left or right. I think that this type of research does not address the Uchina- spirit of Ti- or karate because these things do not matter as it only points to outside understanding. 

The inside or in between movements do not change even if the outside movements appear to be changed and  even different. To ask why a person will stand in neko ashi dachi with the foot 45 or 90 degrees means that a person does not understand the nature of old school karate. Today's karate is caught up on the labeling and "this is the only way or oldest way how to do it" but again this is a misleading path to not understanding the Uchina-nchu mind and how Karate evolved from this way of thinking.

Respectfully,

Robert Orozco