The Legend of Annan
The history of Okinawan karate is built from a mixture of verifiable transmission from teacher to student, fragmentary early written records, and a strong oral tradition that was only written down decades later. The figure most commonly linked with the kata Chinto, Chinte, Ji’in, and Jitte is usually called Annan, Anan, Ahnan, Chiang Nan, Channan, or similar names. Phonetics plays a significant role: similar-sounding names and oral transmission can easily cause confusion over the exact pronunciation or identity of individuals.
The Earliest Written Reference to Annan
The earliest known written mention of Annan appears in a 1914 Okinawan newspaper article by Gichin Funakoshi. In it, Funakoshi recorded what he had been told by his teacher, Anko Asato. The account describes a Chinese individual said to have been shipwrecked on Okinawa. He came from “Annan in Fuzhou” and transmitted martial methods to Okinawan practitioners before departing.
This reference must be read cautiously. Funakoshi was not reporting a firsthand event; he was recording an oral tradition transmitted across at least one generation. No dates, personal name, or official status were provided, and no supporting documentation was cited. The article records when the story was documented, not when the events themselves occurred.
Geographic Context
Funakoshi’s reference to “Annan in Fuzhou” is significant. Fuzhou, a major port city in Fujian Province, maintained long-standing maritime contact with the Ryukyu Kingdom. Many Chinese families, merchants, and officials moved between Fujian and Okinawa over centuries.
This context makes it plausible that a Chinese individual with martial knowledge could have ended up in Okinawa after a shipwreck. It is also possible that Annan was traveling to mainland Japan when his ship sank, which could explain his desire to leave Okinawa quickly.
Estimated Timeframe
No source provides exact dates for Annan’s presence in Okinawa. Indirect evidence allows for a cautious estimate: the Okinawan teachers later associated with Annan in oral tradition were active in the early to mid-nineteenth century. Based on their ages, Annan’s visit likely occurred around 1855 to 1860.
This period is the most plausible considering the ages of his supposed students. Matsumora would have been 26 and Oyadomari 28, ideal for adult-to-adult instruction, while Gikei Yamasato, born around 1835, would have been a young adult about 20, a reasonable age to begin training. This estimate aligns with known lifespans and teaching activity, though it remains an approximation rather than documented fact.
Status and Role
Annan is not described as an official envoy, military instructor, or government-affiliated teacher. Oral accounts portray him as a sailor, castaway, or traveler, but these cannot be verified. His stay appears brief and teaching limited. He is never described as establishing a school, holding a formal rank, or leaving written records, which aligns with the pattern of informal knowledge exchange rather than structured instruction.
Concluding word
Annan should not be understood as a purely symbolic figure, but neither can he be confirmed through standard historical documentation. The earliest written reference appears in 1914 and records an already established oral tradition. While no exact dates, personal biography, or independent records survive, the consistency of the transmission from teacher to student in multiple chains suggests that Annan was most likely a real individual who spent a short period on Okinawa.
What can be stated with confidence is that Okinawan martial practice developed through sustained contact with Chinese culture, including direct personal exchange. Annan appears to represent one such point of contact, remembered through oral transmission rather than formal records. He should therefore be regarded as a historically plausible figure whose presence influenced Okinawan karate, even though the details of his life remain uncertain.
Thanks for reading
Gert
