Tamagusuku

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Map of Okinawa Island, showing the three kingdoms formed as the result of rebellions against Tamagusuku's rule.

Tamagusuku (玉城)(1296?-1336?) was a "king" of the Okinawan kingdom of Chūzan from roughly 1314-1336. His reign is primarily remembered for his lack of leadership skills and failures in governance.

The third son of Eiji (r. 1309-1313), he was the fourth ruler of the lineage of Eiso (r. 1260-1299). His failure to institute reforms or innovations in governance is generally claimed as one of the causes of the fall of the lineage (dynasty), which ended with Tamagusuku's successor Seii.

Succeeding his father Eiji as paramount chief of Okinawa's territorial lords at the age of nineteen, Tamagusuku lacked the charisma and leadership skills to command respect and loyalty from those lords (the anji). A number of these lords rebelled, and the island of Okinawa came to be divided into three kingdoms. The Lord of Ozato fled south from Tamagusuku's capital at Urasoe and, along with his followers, formed the kingdom of Nanzan (南山, Southern Mountain), while the Lord of Nakijin, based some distance to the north, declared himself king of Hokuzan (北山, Northern Mountain). Thus, Tamagusuku, remaining in Urasoe, became king of Chūzan.

[edit] References

• Kerr, George H. (2000). Okinawa: the History of an Island People. (revised ed.) Boston: Tuttle Publishing. pp59-62.