noun
Ryukyuan gratitude mission to Edo
Historical term for a diplomatic mission sent by the Ryukyu Kingdom to Edo (Tokyo) to express gratitude upon the accession of a new Ryukyuan king. Often contrasted with 慶賀使 (congratulatory mission).
See also: 慶賀使
謝恩使は、琉球国王の代替わりに際して江戸に派遣された。
The gratitude mission was dispatched to Edo upon the change of the Ryukyuan king.
江戸時代、琉球から謝恩使と慶賀使が訪れた。
During the Edo period, gratitude missions and congratulatory missions visited from Ryukyu.
Compound of 謝恩 (gratitude) and 使 (envoy, mission). The term is specific to Ryukyuan diplomatic history.