Stories of the Japanese People 01434 [First Sho Dynasty] Overview of the First Sho Dynasty
The fact that there was a change of dynasty in the Ryukyu Kingdom (divided into the First Sho Dynasty and the Second Sho Dynasty) is hardly covered in high school Japanese history. I think it is a rather important matter, though.
The Ryukyu Kingdom, established in 1429 (the 4th year of Xuande), lasted for about 450 years until 1879 (the 4th year of Guangxu), but its royal lineage is divided into two main parts.
This is because, although all 26 successive kings bore the name "Sho," their lineage changed around 1469 (the 6th year of Chenghua). There is no blood relationship (at least in the male line) between the first seven kings and the subsequent nineteen. Therefore, the first seven are referred to as the "First Sho Dynasty" and the latter nineteen as the "Second Sho Dynasty."
First Sho Dynasty: 1429–1469
Second Sho Dynasty: 1469–1879
In this chapter, we will cover the era of the First Sho Dynasty from 1429 (the 4th year of Xuande) to July 1469 (the 6th year of Chenghua). The successive kings of this era are as follows:
1st: Sho Shisho (reigned 1406–1421) *Before the unification of the three kingdoms
2nd: Sho Hashi (reigned 1422–1439)
3rd: Sho Chu (reigned 1440–1444)
4th: Sho Shitatsu (reigned 1445–1449)
5th: Sho Kinpuku (reigned 1450–1453)
6th: Sho Taikyu (reigned 1454–1460)
7th: Sho Toku (reigned 1461–1469)
After the death of Sho Hashi, a series of very short-lived kings followed. Perhaps it was a sickly family. Perhaps because the kings changed so frequently, politics did not stabilize, and two major wars occurred:
1453: Rebellion of Shiro and Furi
1458: Rebellion of Gosamaru and Amawari
Just when such chaos finally subsided, the 7th king, Sho Toku, launched an expedition to Kikai Island, exhausting the people and losing their support.
After Sho Toku died at the age of 29, his son was deposed, and the senior vassal Kanamaru (later Sho En) received the support of those around him and became king. This is the beginning of the Second Sho Dynasty. In reality, this change of kings was a coup d'état, and it is thought that bloody events took place, but in the official history of the Ryukyu Kingdom, it is stated that it was a peaceful change of government that occurred because the ministers recommended it.
In this chapter, we will decipher the history of the Ryukyu Kingdom from various perspectives, including the descriptions in the official history and legends remaining in the song collection "Omoro Soshi."
When I first heard the name "Omoro Soshi" in high school Japanese history, I thought, "Does it mean 'it looks interesting'?" but in reality, the etymology is said to be "Omoro" = "thought/feeling" + "Soshi" = "book/story".