The following is a collage of pictures displaying a tapestry, which we are told, was taken from the Shuri Castle and off of the island of Okinawa by a young marine after the Battle of Okinawa. As the story goes, he then kept it in his possession for the next 50 years.  He then sold it to a Mr. Dennis Fritchie about 14 years ago. At the time Dennis, an accomplished martial artist himself, owned a local martial art store.  Presently Mr. Fritchie is a Detective of Internal Investigations for the Martin County Sheriff’s department.  Shortly after Mr. Fritchie purchased it from this unnamed marine, Peggy Hess and Jack Summers bought it from him.  Their intentions all along have been to return this beautiful Ryukyuan artifact back to its rightful home.  It is estimated to be approximately 350 years old.  If you take notice you will see two different “Mon” of the Tokugawa government; one is at the mouth and the other, the more older of the two is at the tail.  

This beautiful, antique tapestry is completely embroidered and made up of hemp, cotton, silk and gold fibers.  Peggy believes it might be considered to be a "tsuzure", a technique which reached Japan from China in the late 15th or early 16th century during the Muromachi (Ashikage) period.  Production was at its height in the Tokugawa period; particularly in the early 17th century.  Tsuzure was used mainly for robes and gift-wrapping.  She believes that this tapestry was probably used for gift wrapping.

She has read that there were cultural exchanges between Japan and the Ryukyu kingdom.  During the Edo period [1609-1872] when there was a change of king in the Ryukyu Kingdom or a new shogun assumed office in Japan, the Ryukyu Kingdom was required under its tributary relationship with Japan to dispatch envoys to Edo, present day Tokyo.

These processions were known as Shaon-shi in the case of a change of King and Keiga-shi in the case of a change in Shogun. The term Edo-nobori or "going to Edo " was applied to both cases.  From 1634-1850 envoys were dispatched on 18 occasions. The Ryukyu Kingdom envoys went together with the party of envoys from the Shimazu Clan of Satsuma-Han.

She believes that most likely this Tsuzure was used as a gift covering during one of these "Edo-nobori" occasions because the presence of two different Tokugawa Mons speaks of it's importance.   

She knows there is a Ryukyu-American research Association that seeks to return treasures dating from the Ryukyu era and taken during the battle of Okinawa, but only had a name Mr. Shizuo Kishaba in Tomari, Naha.  We have since located Mr. Kishaba and he is doing some 'behind the scenes' work for us on helping to place and identify the tapestry properly.

(NOTE: The invasion of Okinawa by the Satsuma Clan of southern Japan in 1609 is one of the most significant events regarding the development of Okinawan Martial Arts and the history of the Ryukyu Islands. The Satsuma Clan was a losing faction in one of Japan’s internal power struggles. When the powerful Lord Shimazu of Satsuma, a recalcitrant baron at least in the eyes of Tokugawa Ieyasu, was defeated in October 1600, Japan was then unified under the Tokugawa Clan. The Tokugawa Shogan then allowed the Satsuma Clan to invade the Ryukyu Islands because the Satsuma army had been subdued but not thoroughly broken. The Tokugawa shogunate wanted the ambitions of the Satsuma samurai temporarily satisfied. The invasion was ideal for this purpose and also allowed the Satsuma Clan to expand its domain and keep its army occupied. In February 1609, the Satsuma Clan launched an expedition against Okinawa with a force of three thousand samurai aboard a fleet of one hundred junks. The Okinawan soldiers were no match for the seasoned warriors of Satsuma. On April 5, 1609, the Okinawan government surrendered and the Satsuma warriors occupied Shuri Castle. They immediately took control of the affairs of the island and sternly ruled the Ryukyu Islands from then on. However, they forced the Okinawans to maintain the political status quo with China so as not to interfere with trade. Okinawa was never to be independent again and was completely subjugated by the Satsuma Clan.)


Other Notes: 
Further it is recorded that: 
“Hacksaw Ridge and Sugar Loaf Ridge were sites where some of the heaviest fighting took place during the battle for Okinawa. These ridges were two of the main objectives needed before Shuri Castle fortifications could be taken. It was here that Marines and soldiers of the 1st Marine and 77th Army Divisions presses on Shuri.

Tokugawa Mons:

Left to right, top to bottom.

Forth column, third row, mons at the tip of the tail on the tapestry

Third column, fifth row, gold mons in the dragons claw by face.

Women’s Friendship Tour  Marguerite Hess, 1195 Ocean View Circle,  Jensen Beach, Fla 34957  Telephone: (772) 334- 7731 

e-mail: peggyhess@womenskaratetour.org OR dphess@bellsouth.net   

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