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Shō Gen

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Shō Gen
尚元 shoo gwan
King Shō Gen in a painting by Shō Genko in 1796.
King of Ryūkyū
Reign1556–1572
PredecessorShō Sei
SuccessorShō Ei
BornKanichiyo (金千代)
(1528-03-25)March 25, 1528
DiedMay 12, 1572(1572-05-12) (aged 44)
Burial
SpouseMawashi Kikoe-ōkimi-kanashi
ConcubineKume-Gushikawa Aji-shirare
Mēagari no Aji
Mafē Aji
IssueShō Kōhaku, Prince Kume-Gushikawa Chōtsū
Shō Ei, Prince Aoriyae
Shō Kyū, Prince Kin Chōkō
Princess Shuri-ōkimi Ajiganashi
Names
Shō Gen (尚元)
Divine nameTedahajime-ajisohe (日始按司添 tiidahajimi ajishii)[1]
HouseSecond Shō dynasty
FatherShō Sei
MotherUmimajingani Aji-ganashi

Shō Gen (, 1528–1572) was king of the Ryukyu Kingdom from 1556 to 1572.[2] He was called "Gen, the mute."[3] The king required considerable support from the Sanshikan (Council of Three), the chief council of royal advisors. His reign marked the beginning of the council's demonstration of significantly greater effectiveness and efficiency than previously.

Shō Gen received his official investiture from the Ming Court in 1562, and received emissaries from the Shimazu clan of the Japanese province of Satsuma in 1570 and 1572. The Shimazu wished to establish some control over the Ryukyus, making them either a tributary or a vassal state. The kingdom resisted the Shimazu overtures, and a small punitive mission launched by the Shimazu created a small skirmish on the island of Amami Ōshima in 1571, although the Ryukyuans defeated them.

He was the second son of King Shō Sei, who he succeeded, and was succeeded in turn by his second son, Shō Ei.

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ 琉球国王の神号と『おもろさうし』 (PDF) (in Japanese).
  2. ^ Suganuma, Unryu. (2000). Sovereign Rights and Territorial Space in Sino-Japanese Relations, p. 46. at Google Books
  3. ^ Kerr, George H. (2000). Okinawa: The History of an Island People, p. 123., p. 123, at Google Books

References

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Regnal titles
Preceded by King of Ryūkyū
1556-1572
Succeeded by