Shō Shishō

Shishō, posthumously known as Shō Shishō, was an Okinawan king who ruled the kingdom of Chūzan from 1407 to 1421. The Ryukyuan official histories describe him as the son of Lord Samekawa of Iheya Island. Drawing from evidence from folklore and place names, some scholars have postulated that the family originated near the port of Sashiki in southern Kyushu, Japan. Together with his son Hashi, he was said to have founded Sashiki Castle in Chūzan. Following a diplomatic incident with the Ming dynasty of China in 1406, the official histories describe Hashi leading a coup against the cruel King Bunei of Chūzan and installing his father Shishō as king, founding what would become the First Shō dynasty. Unlike his son, very little is recorded about Shishō in the official histories; he is attested mostly through trade and tribute records with Ming China. Shishō died in 1421 and was succeeded by his son Hashi. He was buried at the tomb of Sashiki yōdore near his castle.