O'Fallon Martial Arts

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3. DEVELOPMENT IN OKINAWA (Cont.)

Okinawa Society after 1609 AD

Keimochi government officials Keimochi
Traditional Island Nobility
Police
Lower-ranking Keimochi

Satsuma Samurai Satsuma Samurai
Considered the Okinawans as barbarians. The Samurai were a lurking threat to the Okinawan people and especially the government officials. They controlled the society to benefit mainland Japan yet continued to allow China to take its own economic profit from the island.

Wester sailors Foreigners
Many were armed sailors and could easily threaten the Keimochi. This group was the wild card in Okinawan society. Okinawans regarded the Western foreigners as barbarians.

Okinawan peasant farmer Peasants
The poor in Okinawan society included impoverished peasants and farmers. They had no leisure time to study martial arts.

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Revised 1 Jan 2009

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	Keimochi Traditional Island Nobility Police Lower-ranking Keimochi
	Satsuma Samurai Considered the Okinawans as barbarians. The Samurai were a lurking threat to the Okinawan people and especially the government officials. They controlled the society to benefit mainland Japan yet continued to allow China to take its own economic profit from the island.
	Foreigners Many were armed sailors and could easily threaten the Keimochi. This group was the wild card in Okinawan society. Okinawans regarded the Western foreigners as barbarians.
	Peasants The poor in Okinawan society included impoverished peasants and farmers. They had no leisure time to study martial arts.