Chatan Chōki
Chatan Wōji Chōki (北谷 王子 朝騎, 16 September 1703 – 27 March 1739), also known by his Chinese style name Shō Tetsu (尚 徹), was a prince of Ryukyu Kingdom.
Chatan Chōki was the second son of King Shō Eki, and was also a younger brother of King Shō Kei.[1] He became the adopted son of Chatan Chōai because Chōai had no heir. After Chōai died in 1719, he became the second head of a royal family called Ufumura Udun (大村御殿).[2]
Chōki was good at writing Waka and Classical Chinese poetry. According to Zhongshan Chuanxin lu (中山傳信錄), Chinese envoys came to Ryukyu to install Shō Kei as the new king in 1720. Chōki wrote a Chinese poetry to the Deputy Envoy (副使) Xu Baoguang (徐 葆光). Xu also wrote a poetry as response.[3]
Chōki served as sessei from 1722 to 1739.[4] During his term, he supported Sai On's reform, and signed many laws. Like his adopted father, he died without heir.
The name "Prince Chatan" appeared in an Okinawan folktale: Mimi kiri bōzu (耳切り坊主 "a monk whose ears was cut off"). In this foltale, Prince Chatan was good at playing go, he killed Kurogane zasu (黒金座主), a Vajrayana Buddhist monk, and was cursed, all his sons died young.[5]The prototype of "Prince Chatan" is unclear. Some scholars considered him as Chatan Chōki: Sai On supported Confucianism and suppressed Buddhism in his reform; Many Buddhists hated Sai On but dare not to satirize him, so they wove a tale to attack Chatan Chōki, whom was an important supporter of Sai On. But others considered "Prince Chatan" as Chatan Chōai, the adopted father of Chōki. [6]
References
- ↑ 王代記写
- ↑ Rizō, Takeuchi. (1992). Okinawa-ken seishi kakei daijiten (沖縄県姓氏家系大辞典). Tokyo: Kadokawa Shoten.
- ↑ Zhongshan Chuanxin lu, vol.6
- ↑ 中山王府相卿伝職年譜 向祐等著写本
- ↑ 沖縄の民話 - 黒金座主 【那覇市】
- ↑ 琉球における仏教説話の歴史地理学的研究 -耳切り坊主を事例に-
Chatan Chōki | ||
Preceded by Chatan Chōai |
Head of Ufumura Udun | Succeeded by Ufumura Chōei |
Political offices | ||
---|---|---|
Preceded by Tomigusuku Chōkyō |
Sessei of Ryukyu 1722 - 1739 |
Succeeded by Nakijin Chōgi |