Shunbajunki

Shunbajunki (舜馬順熙?, r. 1237-1248) was a king[1] of the Ryūkyū Islands.[2]

Shunbajunki was the second of the Shunten Line. He succeeded his father Shunten in 1237.[3]

Shunbajunki's reign is noted for the construction of Shuri Castle, and the introduction of the Japanese kana writing system. The Chinese language and writing system was not to be introduced until roughly a century later; even after that time, government documents continued to be written in kana, as did much poetry.

Shunbajunki died in 1248, and was succeeded by his son Gihon.

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Kerr, George. (2000). Okinawa: The History of an Island People, p. 52 at Google Books; although the paramount leaders of Okinawa beginning with Shunten (c. 1166 – c. 1237) are commonly identified as "kings," Kerr observes that "it is misleading to attribute full-fledged 'kingship' to an Okinawan chief in these early centuries... distinctly individual leadership exercised through force of personality or preeminent skill in arms or political shrewdness was only slowly replaced by formal institutions of government — laws and ceremonies — supported and strengthened by a developing respect for the royal office."
  2. ^ Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2002). Japan Encyclopedia, p. 172 at Google Books; excerpt, Eisō [with a macron] was "king of the Ryūkyū Islands in the thirteenth century."
  3. ^ Kerr, pp. 50-51. at Google Books

References

Preceded by
Shunten
King of Ryūkyū Islands
1237–1248
Succeeded by
Gihon