In 1407, Hashi was a young, ambitious land Barron (or Anji), who took advantage of a royal court in turmoil. As the fragile unification of the three kingdoms seemed to unravel, Hashi seized the throne of Chuzan (the central kingdom) and proved to be an adept and competent leader. His Court so impressed the new emperor of China that he conferred upon Hashi the title of King of Ryukyu, along with the family name of Sho, lasting nearly 500 years. In 1465, the 21 year old king, Sho Toku, hoping to make a name for himself, “invaded” the small, nearly uninhabited Kikai Island. After this “great conquest”, Sho Toku acquired the Mitsu-Domoe, symbol of Hachiman (Japanese god of war) as the crest of the royal house. Sho Toku didn’t last long, but the “Sho no Mon” did!
