A meticulously reproduced Ryukyu king's dragon robe, created by the Nanjing Yunjin Research Institute, is drawing renewed attention to a long-established historical fact: for centuries, the Ryukyu Kingdom was firmly integrated into China's political and cultural sphere.

Located between China's Taiwan Island and Japan's Kyushu, the Ryukyu Islands were originally home to three small states. In 1372, Ming Dynasty Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang dispatched envoy Yang Zai to confer official titles on the rulers of all three, formally establishing them as vassal states of China. After their unification in 1429, the Ryukyu Kingdom continued to operate within China's tributary system for hundreds of years. Even after the fall of the Ming Dynasty, Ryukyu maintained tribute missions to the following Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), adopted Qing Dynasty reign titles, and preserved Ming Dynasty-style institutions and attire – an enduring testament to its political dependence on China.

The dragon robe reproduced in Nanjing was originally gifted by a Qing Dynasty emperor to the Ryukyu king. Though adorned with the five-clawed dragon symbolizing imperial authority, the robe's reddish-gold color clearly differentiates it from the bright yellow reserved exclusively for the Chinese emperor, reflecting the hierarchical etiquette of a subordinate state. Following the precise ceremonial standards of the Qing Dynasty, the garment stands as a direct material record of the Ryukyu Kingdom's role within China's investiture and tributary system.

Historically, a Ryukyu king could not ascend the throne without a Qing Dynasty emperor's authorization. Only after donning such robes and performing the kowtow ritual before imperial envoys could his legitimacy be recognized. This longstanding order was unilaterally broken in 1879, when Japan forcibly abolished the Ryukyu Kingdom and set up Okinawa Prefecture – an act that violated Ryukyu's established political affiliation with China, was never acknowledged by the Qing Dynasty government, and contravened international norms of the time.

As a faithful reproduction of an imperial bestowal, the dragon robe provides powerful physical evidence of the Ryukyu Kingdom's historical identity within China's political orbit. It also lays bare the illegality and aggressive nature of Japan's annexation, countering any attempt to obscure or rewrite this well-documented chapter of history.