List of monarchs of Ryukyu Islands

According to the "Mirror of Chūzan" (中山世鑑, Chūzan Seikan), the founder of the Tenson Dynasty (天孫王朝, Tenson Ōchō) was a descendant of Amamikyu (阿摩美久, the goddess of creation in the Ryukyuan religion). Though the "Mirror of Chūzan" said that the Tenson Dynasty had 25 early rulers, their names are still unknown.

In 1186, the 25th ruler's throne was usurped by Riyū (利勇). Shunten overthrew Riyū the next year, becoming chief of the Ryukyu Islands. He established the Shunten Dynasty.

In 1259, Gihon, who was the last chief of Shunten Dynasty, abdicated his throne. His Sessei Eiso succeeded him.

The Sanzan period is a period of history of the Okinawa Islands that lasted from 1314 until 1429. During these years, the island of Okinawa was politically divided into three principalities or polities:

• Satto Line

(Chūzan, 1355–1406)

Chūzan had paid tribute to Ming court in 1372 and 1404.

• Ōsato Line

(Nanzan, 1337–1429)

Nanzan had paid tribute to Ming court in 1383 and 1388.

• Haniji Line

(Hokuzan, 1322–1416)

Hokuzan had paid tribute to Ming court in 1383.

(Chūzan Kingdom, 1407–1429; Ryukyu Kingdom, 1429–1469)

In 1406, Bunei was overthrown and Shō Shishō became the nominal ruler of Chūzan Kingdom, placed there by his eldest son Shō Hashi as part of a power bid to control Chūzan while giving an appearance to China of proper Confucian respect for one's elders. Hashi then set out to conquer the island, conquering the other aji (tribal lords) of Chuzan and then, in 1416, the northern principality, Hokuzan. In 1421, after the death of his father, Shō Hashi became the ruler of Chuzan and claimed to China that he had unified the island of Okinawa and asked to be recognized as the king (although he had not, in fact, yet conquered the entire island; Nanzan, the southernmost kingdom, remained independent until 1429). Thus, in 1422, the Yongle Emperor recognized Hashi as king, gave Hashi the surname Shō (尚) as the designator for his dynasty, and gave a new name to the country: Ryukyu Kingdom.[3]

(Ryukyu Kingdom (琉球國), 1470–1872; Ryukyu Domain (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'état with no son to succeed. So courtiers elected Shō En as king, and established the Second Shō Dynasty. Ryukyu official history books, such as Chūzan Seifu (中山世譜, lit. Genealogy book of Chūzan) state that Shō En's father, Shō Shoku, was a descendant of Gihon , the third king of the Shunten dynasty. During the reign of his son, Shō Shin, the Ryukyu Kingdom was rich, powerful and prosperous, conquering the Sakishima Islands and centralizing the royal government. It was called "the Great Days of Chūzan", a "golden period" in Ryukyuan history. But the military strength of the Ryukyu Kingdom soon declined after his death, although later kings made gains against the Satsuma Domain of Japan in conquering the Amami Islands.

In 1609, Satsuma Domain invaded the Ryukyu Kingdom, capturing the Amami Islands and landing on Okinawa Island. After taking Nakijin Castle, Urasoe Castle, and Shuri Castle, King Shō Nei was taken as a prisoner to Kagoshima and later to Edo (modern day Tokyo). The king was forced to sign an oath of vassalage to the head of Satsuma Domain. From then on, Ryukyu was a vassal state of Satsuma; the king had to pay tribute to both China and Satsuma. The Ryukyu Kingdom became a Han of Japan in 1872. In 1879, Japan replaced Ryūkyū Domain with Okinawa Prefecture, formally annexing the islands. King Shō Tai was dethroned and given the title of marquis and removed to Tokyo.

• Genealogy of the Shō Dynasties
• Ryukyu Kingdom
• History of Ryukyu Islands

• (in Japanese and Chinese)中山世鑑
• (in Chinese)中山世譜