The list of monarchs of the Ryūkyū Islands extends from King Shunten in the 12th century through the last king in the 19th century.
Contents |
According to "Mirror of Chūzan" (中山世鑑, chūzan seikan), the founder of the Tenson Dynasty was a son of Amamikyo(アマミキヨ, the god of heaven and earth in Ryukyuan legend). Though "Mirror of Chūzan" said Tenson Dynasty had 25 early kings, names of the kings are still unknown. The 26th member of the Tenson family to be king was Shunten.
In 1186, the 25th king's throne was usurped by Riyū(利勇). Shunten soon put down the rebellion and came to power, becoming king of the Ryūkyū Islands. He established the Shunten Dynasty or Shunten lineage.
Name | Hanzi/Kanji | Mikoto | Reign | Age at death |
Shunten | 舜天 | Mikotoatsushi 尊敦 |
1187–1237 | 71 |
Shunbajunki | 舜馬順熙/舜馬順熈 | Kiekimi 其益美 |
1238-1248 | 63 |
Gihon | 義本 | None | 1249–1259 | ? |
In 1259, Gihon, who was the last king of Shunten Dynasty, abdicated his throne. His prime minister Eisō succeeded him.
Name | Hanzi | Mikoto | Reign | Age at death |
Eisō | 英祖 | Ezo no tedako 英祖日子 |
1260–1299 | 70 |
Taisei | 大成 | Unknown | 1300–1308 | 9 or 61 |
Eiji | 英慈 | Unknown | 1309–1313 | 45 |
Tamagusuku | 玉城 | Unknown | 1314–1336 | 40 |
Seii | 西威 | Unknown | 1337–1354 | 21 |
The Sanzan Period is a period of history of the Ryūkyū Kingdom that lasted from 1322 until 1429. During these years, the island of Okinawa was politically divided into three kingdoms.
(Chūzan Kingdom,1355-1406)
Chūzan Kingdom had paid tribute to Ming court in 1372 and 1404.
Name | Hanzi | Mikoto | Reign | Age at death |
Satto | 察度 | Ufu mamono 大真物 |
1355–1397 | 74 |
Bunei | 武寧 | Naga no mamono 中之真物 |
1398–1406 | 50 |
(Nanzan Kingdom,1337-1429)
Nanzan Kingdom had paid tribute to Ming court in 1383 and 1388.
Name | Hanzi/Kanji | Mikoto | Reign | Age at death |
Ofusato | 承察度 | None | 1337-1396 | ? |
Oueishi | 汪英紫 | None | 1388-1402 | ? |
Ououso | 汪應祖/汪応祖 | None | 1403-1413 | ? |
Tafuchi | 達勃期 | None | 1413-1414 | ? |
Taromai | 他魯每 | None | 1415-1429 | ? |
(Hokuzan Kingdom,1322-1416)
Hokuzan Kingdom had paid tribute to Ming court in 1383.
Name | Hanzi | Mikoto | Reign | Age at death |
Haniji | 怕尼芝 | None | 1322-1395 | ? |
Min | 珉 | None | 1396-1400 | ? |
Hananchi | 攀安知 | None | 1401-1416 | ? |
(Chūzan Kingdom,1407-1429;
Ryūkyū Kingdom,1429-1469)
In 1406, Bunei was overthrown, Shō Shishō became the new king of Chūzan Kingdom. In 1422, Shō Shishō's eldest son Shō Hashi unified the Okinawa Island. In the next year, Hongwu Emperor give a new name to the country: Ryūkyū Kingdom.
Name | Hanzi/Kanji | Mikoto | Reign | Age at death |
Shō Shishō | 尚思紹 | Kimishi mamono 君志真物 |
1407–1421 | 67 |
Shō Hashi | 尚巴志 | Sejitaka mamono 勢治高真物 |
1422-1439 | 67 |
Shō Chū | 尚忠 | Unknown | 1440–1442 | 54 |
Shō Shitatsu | 尚思達 | Kimiteda 君日 |
1443–1449 | 41 |
Shō Kinpuku | 尚金福 | Kimishi 君志 |
1450–1453 | 55 |
Shō Taikyū | 尚泰久 | Nanojiyomoi 那之志與茂伊 also called "ōyononushi" 大世主 |
1454–1460 | 45 |
Shō Toku | 尚德/尚徳 | Hachiman aji 八幡按司 also called "Sekōkimi" 世高王 |
1461–1469 | 29 |
(Ryūkyū Kingdom,1470-1872;
Ryūkyū-han(琉球藩) of Japan,1872-1879)
In 1469, Shō Toku, the last king of The First Shō Dynasty, was killed in a coup d'etat with no son to succeed. So courtiers elected Shō En as king, and established The Second Shō Dynasty.
During King Shō Shin period, Ryūkyū Kingdom was rich, powerful and properous. It was called a "golden period" in Ryukyuan history. But the military strength of Ryukyu Kingdom soon declined after his death. In 1609, Satsuma Domain captured Shuri Castle, King Shō Nei was taken as a prisoner to the Satsuma Domain and later to Edo (modern day Tokyo). From then on, Ryukyu became a vassal kingdom of Satsuma, the king had to pay tribute to both China and Satsuma.
Ryukyu Kingdom became a Han of Japan in 1872.
In 1879, Japan replaces the Ryūkyū han with Okinawa Prefecture, formally annexing the islands. King Shō Tai is given the title of marquis and removed to Tokyo.
Name | Hanzi/Kanji | Mikoto | Reign | Age at death |
Shō En | 尚圓/尚円 | Kanamaru aji suetsugi no ōnishi 金丸按司添末續之王仁子 or "Kanamaru ajisohi" 金丸按司添 |
1470–1476 | 61 |
Shō Sen'i | 尚宣威 | Iri no yononushi 西之世主 |
1477 | 48 |
Shō Shin | 尚真 | Okiyakamowe 於義也嘉茂慧 |
1477–1526 | 61 |
Shō Sei | 尚清 | Tenzoku no ajisohi 天續之按司添 |
1527–1555 | 59 |
Shō Gen | 尚元 | Tedaji ajisohi 日始按司添 |
1556–1572 | 44 |
Shō Ei | 尚永 | Ezoniyasohi ajisohi 英祖仁耶添按司添 also called "Tedayutamisaokimi" 日豐操王 |
1573–1586 | 30 |
Shō Nei | 尚寧 | Megama ajisohi 日賀末按司添 |
1587–1620 | 56 |
Shō Hō | 尚豐/尚豊 | Tenkiyama ajisohi 天喜也末按司添 |
1621–1640 | 50 |
Shō Ken | 尚賢 | 1641–1647 | 23 | |
Shō Shitsu | 尚質 | 1648–1668 | 39 | |
Shō Tei | 尚貞 | 1669–1709 | 64 | |
Shō Eki | 尚益 | 1710–1712 | 34 | |
Shō Kei | 尚敬 | 1713–1751 | 52 | |
Shō Boku | 尚穆 | 1752–1795 | 55 | |
Shō On | 尚溫/尚温 | 1796–1802 | 18 | |
Shō Sei | 尚成 | 1803 | 3 | |
Shō Kō | 尚灝 | 1804–1828 | 47 | |
Shō Iku | 尚育 | 1829–1847 | 34 | |
Shō Tai | 尚泰 | 1848-1879 | 58 |