As important as the island of Okinawa is to the balance of power between the great nations of the world, you would think that more would be known (or more people would know) of its history and culture. Sadly, what is mostly known, or written about, is limited to a few months from April 1st through the end ofJune, 1945, when it was devastated by the “bloodiest battle of the Pacific” during WWII. Indeed, that was a very significant time in Okinawan history, the effects of which are felt to this day. But, that does not define us nor change our character and culture. Our story is rich, noble and impressive, going back thousands of years. As the Atlanta Okinawa Kenjin Kai, we have a passion to share that story with you, our friends and neighbors in the Southeastern U.S. and beyond.
The oldest skeletal remains found on Okinawa are those referred to as Minatogawa Man, which have been dated back to some 20,000 years BC. These people are believed to be from southern cultures (Southeast Asia, Indonesia and Malysia). While Archeologists and Anthropologists continue to discover the lifestyle and social organization of Okinawa’s prehistoric people, recorded history begins in the 3rd century BC, with the ambitions of China’s “first emperor”, Ch’in Shih Huang Ti (221-210 BC). After unifying all of the separate clans and principalities into a nation under a central authority/“Emperor”, he set out to gain power, wealth and most of all wisdom/knowledge. He sent out mission trips (with 3000 men, women and artisans, plus huge cargos of seeds and supplies) to the fabled “Land of the Happy Immortals”, in the Eastern Seas. These never returned, but we may speculate that some made it to the islands of the “Wa” people and helped them out of the stone age and began their march toward civilization. Succeeding Chinese dynasties continued the search for riches and the secrets to immortality with missions into the distant eastern seas (from northern Japan to the Philippines). By the 7th century AD, the Ryukyu people were transforming from stone-age family/clan groups into small villages, but the Yamato people of mainland Japan were advancing much more quickly, as they had vast resources and a closer connection to influences from China, through the Korean path. These influences were making their way down to the ”Southern Islands” through Honshu and Kyushu. Though we know of no deliberate relations between the Ryukyu island people and either China or Japan at this time, there are accounts of mariners reaching these islands seeking safe harbor from typhoons, pirates or simply resting on long journeys.
Modern Okinawa, and more correctly, Ryukyu history begins around 1156 AD. Prior this this time, the Ryukyu islands were inhabited by small simple villages and feudal estates overseen by local chieftains or “Anji”. Legend says that one of these chieftains became powerful and held sway over the central region of the main island for generations. This became known as the Tenson Dynasty. In Japan, by the 11th century, two very powerful families were contending for supremacy: The Taira in the west and the Minamoto in the east. In 1156, Minamoto attack Taira ( Hogen Rebellion) and lose. A young Minamoto Tametomo was banished to the Izu Ojima, but was blown off course and ended up on Okinawa. He Married the daughter of Ozato, Ofusato, the local Anji of Urasoe, and had a son, Shunten (originally Sonton). Tametomo (whose attempts to bring his family with him failed) went back to Japan, but was intercepted and forced to commit seppuku. In 1180, the respected and admired Shunten was chosen by the popular will of the people to become the Lord (Anji) of Urasoe at age 15. In 1187, after the 24th heir to the Tenson Dynasty is assassinated by his retainer, named Riyu, Shunten (age 22) destroys the rebellious Riyu, to become the Overlord (king) of all Anji and establishes Urasoe Castle. (Note: This is first recorded in the History of Chuzan (Chuzan Seikan) 1650… After the Satsuma occupation of Okinawa in 1609. when Tokugawa (Minamoto line) is Shogun.)
A complete list of all the Kings of Ryukyu can be found by searching Ryukyu Kingdom in Wikipedia.
Below are the impressive accomplishments of the distinguishing and remarkable kings. The ones who lead this small kingdom (poor in resources, but rich in spirit) to become one of the wealthiest societies in Asia for a 150 years:
SHUNTEN: (1187-1237) 1st “King” (new) Tenson line Shunten Dynasty Reign: 51 years Ends the old rule of local Anji and establishes a central seat of power/authority at Urasoe. Brings stability and progress (political, economic and social)
SHUNBAJUNKI: (1238-1248) Son of Shunten Reign: 11 years Continues political reform and builds a castle on the Shuri gusku. Introduces the “art of writing” with the 47 symbols of the Kana. Also, introduces new fashion styles.
GIHON: (1249-1259) Son of Shunbajunki Reign: 10 years and is last of the Tenson line and Shunten Dynasty. Assumes the throne at a time a great natural disasters (Typhoons, drought, famine). He takes responsibility and prepares to abdicate. He names a young lord, Eiso, as Regent and grooms him for six years before giving him the throne and disappearing.
EISO: (1260-1299) (A Tenson Desendant) Beginning of new Eiso Dynasty A very capable administrator. After years of famine and epidemic, he restored economic order, reassigned lands and instituted regular taxation (weapons, grain and cloth) (to include other islands, thus bringing them under his control). He also requires grain storage, in community warehouses, to mitigate human and economic chaos after future natural disasters. These reserves gave more strength, power and control to the court and to the Anji under his control. To accommodate this expansion of administration, Eiso builds a government complex at Tomari area. Perhaps his most important legacy is his foreign relations push. In 1266, He sent officials north to Amami Oshima and to Kyushu. To his credit, Ryukyu (Okinawa) was gaining prominence by the fact that, in 1272, the great Kublai Khan ordered Okinawa to submit to his authority and assist in his conquest of Korea and Japan. Eiso declined. Four years later, the Mongol court made more demands that were, also, declined, resulting in a show of force, but were driven off. Buddism is introduced when a priest, Zenkan, is shipwrecked. He builds the Gokuraku-ji temple at Urasoe. (1265-1274) By this, I assume the court is still situated at Urasoe.
TAISEI
EIJI
TAMAGUSUKU: (1314-1336) Beginning of the end of Eiso Dynasty and creation of the Sanzan (three kingdoms) era (1314 – 1429). Inept and in effectual, Tamagusuku lost the respect and loyalty of his principal officers, leading to disputes at Urasoe and eventually to open rebellion. The Lord of Ozato retires to his castle near Itoman and establishes the kingdom of Nanzan (south). The Lord of Nakajin Castle broke away to declare himself the king of Hokuzan (north). What was left to Tamagusuku became the kingdom of Chuzann (central), at Urasoe castle. Not so much kings, but overlords of their territories. The loss of revenue from these areas further weakened the court of Chuzan.
SEII
SATTO: (1355-1397) Beginning of new Dynasty and direction. As Tamagusuku’s authority diminished, an ambitious and visionary man, named Satto, rose to govern the Urasoe district, gaining the admiration and support of the people. Thus, when Tamagusuku died in 1349, Satto named himself master of Uarasoe and was an effective leader. In 1368, Hung Wu Ti becomes Emperor of China and establishes the Ming Dynasty. He sends envoys to all surrounding “barbarian countries” to submit to Peking’s authority and, in 1372, sends envoys to Okinawa. Since Chuzan’s very survival and eventual prosperity depended on seaborne trade, Satto saw huge gains in a relationship with “the largest, most powerful country in the Far East” and sent his brother to Peking to establish a tributary relationship. In turn, Satto was given seals and documents of investiture as the King of Chuzan. This was a turning point in Ryukyu’s political, cultural and economic evolution that would last for 500 years. As Chuzan became prosperous and civilized (through growing relationship with China), The kings of Nanzan and Hokuzan sent envoys to Peking and were recognized as well. With the success of its trade with China, Satto also open trade with Korea in 1389 and later Japan (through Kagoshima). A permanent settlement was established at the entry port of Fukien and, in 1393 at the request of the king, a small village of Chinese immigrant administrators and expert craftsmen settles near Tomari Port. Known as Kume Villiage, they were very well received by the Okinawans, whose knowledge of shipbuilding and the “civilizing arts” of administrative organization was greatly improved. They also taught the Chinese written language and even assumed some lower official offices in the Shuri court. Soon, very prominsing Okinawan students were being sent to Peking for education and returned to take high positions, and high prestige, in the royal administration. With the frequent trade and tributary missions between Shuri and China, Miyako and Yaeyama came into prominence, within the Ryukyu kingdom, as useful way-stations for travel to China and the expanded trade with Southeast Asia. Satto brought Chuzan into the Modern age of court administration, fashion, prosperity and prominence. Set the kingdom (eventually to include all of the islands) in a direction that would see it become one of the wealthiest countries in East Asia.
BUNEI: (1398-1406) Son of Satto. End of short Satto Dynasty. Continues his father’s commercial and educational ties with China. He builds a grand headquarters at Naha for Chinese diplomatic and commercial missions, along with a trading center for foreign merchants. In 1367, a Japanese priest builds a the impressive Gokoku-ji temple at Nominoe. In 1403, only Chuzan establishes formal relations with the Ashikaga Shoguns at Kyoto. There are 7 missions between 1403 -1448, which the shogunate sees as tribute and chose 1415 to be the year that Shuri submitted to Kyoto. Establishes relations with the new Dynasty in Korea (1392) as they are beginning a new era of “brilliant achievement”, and further developes Buddism on Okinawa. Shinto was introduced around this time and appealed greatly to the masses, as it required less intellectual energy and aligned closely with established spiritual practices. The Rekidai Hoan (Treasury of Royal Succession) was issued in 1403 and faithfully maintained until 1619.
SHO SHISHO (1407-1421) Father of SHO HASHI. Installed as a figurehead king by his son (see below).
SHO HASHI: (1422-1429) (1429-1439) 1st King of the SHO Dynasty. Satto dies in 1395, followed shortly by the Lord of Nanzan. Then the Lord of Hokuzan in 1398, as does the Emperor Hung Wu. There is chaos on both sides of the East China Sea, with succession disputes and old rivalries heating up among the minor Anji, as they drop allegiances to the now-gone Lords of the three kingdoms. Bunei’s power is slipping as he tries to hold order. In the confusion, a charismatic young Anji, named Hashi, rises in popularity as very capable administrator. In 1402, he leads a small rebellion against the lord of Azato, near Bunei’s castle at Urasoe. Then, in 1407, he leads a wider rebellion, driving Bunei from Urasoe and declares himself as King of Chuzan. This mirrors the new, and impressive, Chinese Emperor’s path to power, as Hung Wu’s heir (Hui Ti) was driven from Peking by his uncle, Yung Lo. Hashi, to please and gain rapid acceptance by the new Emperor, brilliantly puts his father Shi Sho on the throne and reorganized court administration on Chinese pattern. This allowed Hashi freedom to exercise authority and strength to effect change and order. First, he enlaged and embellished the castle at Shuri, moving the seat of Chuzan government there. Then he expanded the boundaries of Naha to accommodate growing trade, now open to all nationalities of the Eastern Seas, as Ryukyu sea merchants had expanded south to the East Indies, Sumatra, Siam, Patani, Malacca and Java. Hashi’s father dies in 1421, making him the legitimate heir to the throne of Chuzan. With the other two kingdoms in disarray, in 1422, Hashi overruns Nakajin castle and appoints his brother as Warden of Hokuzan. Within a few years, he takes advantage of bitter succession disputes in the south and swiftly seizes control of Nanzan. Thus, in 1429, The Ryukyu kingdom is unified and “Chuzan” came to mean all of Okinawa. By this time, however, there wasn’t much left, with the already meager resources of the island used up to support three kingdoms. The standard of living for the Anji was not much better that that of the peasant or fisherman. It took amazing administrative skill and charismatic leadership to pool community resources, human and natural, rebuild. This is what makes Uchinanchu unique, for they already possessed the virtues of Yui Maru, mutual aid and obligation (i.e. cooperation) that applied to all ranks of society. Everyone knew that if the Shuri prospered, they would all benefit. A year after Shi Sho dies and Hashi becomes king, Yung Lo dies and his heir, Hung His, becomes Emperor. This requires four separate missions of condolence and investiture, each requiring very complicated and tedious ritual. This so impressed the new Emperor and court officials that they raised the rank of ambassador to Chuzan and bestowed on Hashi the family name of SHO and conferred the title of Liu Ch’iu Wang (King of Ryukyu). To underscore all of their esteem for Shuri, they sent a great lacquered tablet inscribed with the characters for Chuzan. Hashi had a beautiful gate (Shuri no Mon) erected at the approach to Shuri castle and, in 1428, had the tablet placed on it for all to see. He also, had cast the Bridge of nations bell, to be hung in the audience chamber of the castle. “Ships are the means of communications with all nations; The country is full of rare products and precious treasures”. For the next 200 years, Ryukyu would take its place alongside the city-states of Europe and the Middle East, as far as success in maritime trade and transshipment. In 1439, a permanent trading depot was established at Ch’uang Chou, Fukien Province, which would last until 1875. Under Hashi, Shuri and the Anji who aligned with it prospered and culture and fashion became more refined. The crafts of Ryukyu artists became finer in quality and style. Cloth from the fibers of the banana plant (Basa) were woven to become Bingata and prized for being better suited to warm climates than linen. Lacquerware was also in demand. Hashi died in 1439, leaving many sons/heirs, which had disastrous consequenses.
SHO CHU
SHO SHITATSU
SHO KINPUKU
SHO TAIKYU
SHO TOKU
SHO EN (Kanemaro Uchima) (1470-1476) Beginning of 2nd SHO Dynasty. After the follies of Sho Taikyu and Sho Toku, the royal treasurer, Kanemaro, resigned and retired to his country estate. A rebellion rose and Sho Toku was killed. Because of Kanemaro’s popularity, intellect and integrity, he assumed the throne, taking the name Sho En, and ranked in success with Sho Hashi and Satto. His character has quite different than his predecessors, in that coming from a hunble farm family on Iheya island and losing his parents early, he had a strong sense of family. Therefore, as king, he instituted the office of the Noro priestess, with his sister as the first Kikoe-Ogimi (chief priestess of the royal house). She had rank and prestige close to that of the king and was a close advisor in the spiritual. As with any administration, there came to be levels of Noro positions. When Sho En died in 1477, his brother Sen’i, usurped the throne from his 13 yr old son. It was the Noro sister who convinced him that she received a “divine message” that he should abdicate. So he did after 6 months.
SHO SHIN: (1477-1526) 14 Yrs Old. “The Great Days of Chuzan” 50 Year reign of the “Pax Ryukyus” He came to the throne in time of calm in the kingdom, while the rest of Asia imploded in Dynastic wars in China, feudal wars in Japan and Muslims invasions of Southern Asia. Okinawa prospered in a cooperative peace and prosperity (and even a renaissance of administration and arts), while pirates attacked the coasts and inland of China. Okinawa grew in wealth and prominence as only its merchants were welcome in every port. As Gihon had bad luck, Sho Shin was blessed and capitalized on it to further his authority and power. His reign was commemorated by a monument of his “11 Distinctions”. The most significant acts of his reign were: requiring the highest ranking Anji to move from their territorial estates and take up residence at Shuri, keeping an eye on them (two centuries before Tokugawa did the same); and collecting all weapons to be stored at the castle (a century before Hideyoshi’s “sword edict”). Thus, he began to incrementally lessen the power, authority and (most importantly) the independence of the Anji. Eventually, they lost their lands and Sho Shin placed his own trusted men to oversee these districts. Finally, any rivalries were removed as the Anji families were encouraged to intermarry. Power and wealth allowed for higher pursuits: the production of luxury goods, praised in other countries; court customs and pageantry took on more complex and detailed ritual, requiring the palace and surrounding temples, to be enlarged and embellished; two “dragon pillars” were place in front of the Seiden (great audience hall). All of this in Chinese pattern. A tablet dedicated to the souls of all previous kings placed in front of Sogen-ji temple. Finally, in 1501, at mausoleum was built on the palace grounds to hold the remains of 18 royal families of the 2nd Sho Dynasty. Being a “socialist” king, he made the Kana alphabet the written medium of the masses. His reign had been so long and busy that, when he died in 1526, it was difficult to find the documents describing the rituals of succession. Ryukyu was at its peak of prosperity, freedom, independence and indifference to its looming neighbors. They truly were “Happy Immortals”
SHO SEI
SHO GEN
SHO EI: (1573-1586) Last king of a truly independent Ryukyu Kingdom (Okinawa)
SHO NEI: (1587-1620) Takes the throne just as Hideyoshi Toyotomi demands that Shuri do its part in a planned invasion of Korea and China. Recall that in 1415, the Ashikaga Shogun at Kyoto declared that Ryukyu had submitted to Kyoto’s authority. But Kyoto had very little authority as feudal lords began to challenge it and break away. This caused a loss of much needed revenue. Meanwhile, the Shimazu clan of Satsuma has been getting rich and has become dependent on the goods that come through its port on their way to Kyoto. They both need the trade that Ryukyu can bring. Since direct trade with China was restricted to “tributary states” and Japan not being one, Okinawan access is crucial. And since the “12 Southern Islands” are Satsuma territory, Shimazu became the agents for this endeavor. First, in 1471, Ashikaga Yoshimasa sent ships to be a part of the Okinawan tribute missions. Then, Shimazu men were sent to directly supervise and direct the whole operation, which Sho En allowed under threat. China realized what was happening and mandated that only Ryukyu ships were permitted entry. Thus, by 1560, All relations between China and Japan ended, so Japan sent ships to Okinawa with immigrants and missionary priests acting as agents for Japan’s interest. By 1572, Japanese culture and language began to influence the Okinawans, who sent students to Kyoto to study and return. By this time, Sino-Japanese quarrels grow and the feudal wars in Japan are heating up and Peaceful Okinawans want no part. In 1588, Hideyoshi unites Japan, but dies before he can invade China. This brings succession chaos, ending in the Battle of Sekigaghara in 1600. Tokugawa is the victor and becomes overall shogun. When Satsuma demands that Shuri pay respect to the Shogun and submit to the new order, Sho Nei declines, not understanding Japan’s long-held view of them. The new lord of Satsuma, Shimazu Ishisa, requests permission to chastise the Okinawans for their disrespect, which is granted in 1606. In February of 1609, Commander Kabayama Hisataka moves to invade Okinawa with 100 ships and 3000 trained and experienced warriors. After much blood shed, Sho Nei exclaims, ”Nuchidu takara” (Life is a treasure) and surrenders. He is taken to Kyoto for ransom. After signing an Oath and 15 article Ordinance, he is allowed to return. He is so disgraced that he will not permit himself to be buried with the kings at Shuri, but instead is at the Urasoe Yodori (Yudori).
**** To Be Continued ******