Hananchi
Encyclopedia
was the third and last king of the Okinawan kingdom of Hokuzan
.
He became king in 1397, upon the death of his father. He sent missions to Korea announcing his succession, and to China seeking investiture
and recognition as ruler of all of Okinawa. He was the most active of all kings of Hokuzan in diplomacy and trade with China, sending 14 tribute
missions.
Hananchi is said to have had great military prowess, but to have relied too much on his personal strength and skill, to the detriment of his relationship with his retainers. When his home castle of Nakijin gusuku came under attack from the armies of Shō Hashi
in 1416, the attackers were kept at bay for a time, as the castle itself was quite strong. However, Hananchi was betrayed by a retainer, Motobu Taihara, who opened the gates and allowed Shō Hashi's forces in. Defeated, Hananchi committed suicide.
Hokuzan
Hokuzan was one of three kingdoms which controlled Okinawa in the 14th century. Okinawa, previously controlled by a number of local chieftains or lords, loosely bound by a paramount chieftain or king of the entire island, split into these three more solidly defined kingdoms within a few years...
.
He became king in 1397, upon the death of his father. He sent missions to Korea announcing his succession, and to China seeking investiture
Investiture
Investiture, from the Latin is a rather general term for the formal installation of an incumbent...
and recognition as ruler of all of Okinawa. He was the most active of all kings of Hokuzan in diplomacy and trade with China, sending 14 tribute
Tribute
A tribute is wealth, often in kind, that one party gives to another as a sign of respect or, as was often the case in historical contexts, of submission or allegiance. Various ancient states, which could be called suzerains, exacted tribute from areas they had conquered or threatened to conquer...
missions.
Hananchi is said to have had great military prowess, but to have relied too much on his personal strength and skill, to the detriment of his relationship with his retainers. When his home castle of Nakijin gusuku came under attack from the armies of Shō Hashi
Sho Hashi
Shō Hashi was the first king of the Ryūkyū Kingdom , uniting the three kingdoms of Chūzan, Hokuzan, and Nanzan by conquest...
in 1416, the attackers were kept at bay for a time, as the castle itself was quite strong. However, Hananchi was betrayed by a retainer, Motobu Taihara, who opened the gates and allowed Shō Hashi's forces in. Defeated, Hananchi committed suicide.