Copyright © 2026 Kotomora. All Rights Reserved.

Words Kanji Guides About

進貢船 (しんこうせん) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

進しん貢こう船せん

Meanings

1

noun

tribute ship; Ryukyuan diplomatic vessel to China

historical term

Historical term for ships used by the Ryūkyū Kingdom to transport envoys bearing tribute to China during the Ming and Qing periods.

進しん貢こう船せんは琉りゅう球きゅう王おう国こくから中ちゅう国ごくへ使し節せつを運はこんだ。
The tribute ships carried envoys from the Ryūkyū Kingdom to China.

Kanji

進advance, proceed, progress
貢tribute, support, finance
船ship, boat

Etymology

Compound of 進貢 (shinkō, 'tribute offering') + 船 (sen, 'ship'). The exact historical derivation is uncertain; the term is conventionally associated with Ryūkyū's tributary missions to China.