Sho Shoken
Encyclopedia
Shō Shōken (1617-1675), also known as Haneji Chōshū (羽地朝秀), was a Ryūkyūan
scholar and served as sessei
, a post often translated as "prime minister," from 1666 to 1673. Shō wrote the first history of the Ryūkyū Kingdom
, "Mirror of Chūzan" (中山世鑑, chūzan seikan), and enacted a number of practical political reforms aimed at improving Ryūkyū's prosperity and dignity in the eyes of China
and Japan
.
(良人, lit. "good person"), one of a class of scholars residing in Kumemura
, just outside the capital of Shuri, who devoted their lives to classical Chinese studies. He inherited the position of jitō (地頭, District Administrator) from his father, Haneji Goten, in 1640, and began compiling the Mirror of Chūzan in 1650, by the orders of the king Shō Shitsu
. According to Haneji shioki (The Directives of Haneji), one of his chief collections of reforms, he was approached in 1666 by a royal messenger, who was sent to offer him the position of sessei (prime minister). Shō refused, demanding that it was inappropriate for such an important appointment to be conveyed by such a lowly messenger. The following day, Inoha Ueekata, a member of the Sanshikan
(三司官, Council of Three), arrived to make the same offer, which he accepted immediately.
Shō Shōken's writings, in particular the Mirror of Chūzan, indicate a favor for the lords of Satsuma
, the Japanese daimyo
to whom all of Ryūkyū was a vassal. It is unclear the extent to which he wrote of them favorably out of fear of reprisal for criticizing them, or out of a genuinely positive view of their customs and politics. Nevertheless, in his writings and in his political behavior, Shō displayed a strong desire for Ryūkyū to emulate Japan more fully. Adopting Japanese customs more outwardly, in terms of language and dress, was made impossible by the need to hide Japanese control or influence in Ryūkyū in order to maintain good relations with China. However, Shō sought to minimize as much as possible any elements of Ryūkyūan custom which could be seen as backwards or undignified in the eyes of Satsuma; he removed the royalty from participation in many traditional rites, and as a result allowed these rites to be much smaller and less extravagant. This also served the important effect of reducing extravagant spending, and allowing Ryūkyū to be more productive and prosperous. In a similar vein, he punished aristocrats and government officials who lived too extravagant a lifestyle; the aristocracy and peasantry both were living beyond their means for much of the early 17th century, a trend which led to widespread poverty.
He worked to sideline the royalty, and the yuta (female priestess
es central to Ryūkyū native religion) not out of a desire for power, or to suppress native religion, but in order to cut down on extravagance and on practices which could be perceived as undignified to the Japanese. Ultimately, for all his philosophical writings, Shō was a pragmatist.
Shō Shōken was also a strong believer in Confucianism
, having studied under Tonami Jochiku, who in turn studied under the master Nanpo Bunshi. Confucianist views on benevolent leadership and overall morality pervade Shō's writings and his policies. However, in fact his views are more in line with the concept called tentō in Okinawan
and tendō (天道, lit. "way of heaven") in Japanese
. His telling of Ryūkyūan history, through recounting a lineage of kings, makes use of this concept extensively; it is very similar and closely related to that of the Mandate of Heaven
in China. Kings who were poor or malevolent rulers were overthrown by those who were backed by the Way of Heaven.
In writing the first history of Ryūkyū, his political goals and/or cultural views are quite evident. He paints Ryūkyū as being a loyal vassal to Satsuma long before the 1609 invasion, which was in fact done primarily out of desire, on the part of the lords of Satsuma
and the Tokugawa shogunate
, for wealth and power. He blames the invasion on Ryūkyūan disloyalty and neglect of their feudal obligations to their benevolent lords (Satsuma), and on a corrupt government official named Tei Dō (Okinawan
: Jana Ueekata) who led the people astray. In this light, he claims that the benevolent lords of Satsuma had no choice but to invade, as a chastisement for Ryūkyū's disloyalty.
One of the most influential leaders and reformers of the Ryūkyū kingdom, Shō Shōken stepped down from his post in 1673 and died two years later.
Ryukyuans
The are the indigenous peoples of the Ryukyu Islands between the islands of Kyūshū and Taiwan. The generally recognized subgroups of Ryukyuans are Amamians, Okinawans, Miyakoans, Yaeyamans, and Yonagunians. Geographically, they live in either Okinawa Prefecture or Kagoshima Prefecture...
scholar and served as sessei
Sessei
was the highest government post of the Ryūkyū Kingdom below the king; the sessei served the function of royal or national advisor. In the Ryukyuan language at the time, the pronunciation was closer to shisshii, and has only changed relatively recently...
, a post often translated as "prime minister," from 1666 to 1673. Shō wrote the first history of the Ryūkyū Kingdom
Ryukyu Kingdom
The Ryūkyū Kingdom was an independent kingdom which ruled most of the Ryukyu Islands from the 15th century to the 19th century. The Kings of Ryūkyū unified Okinawa Island and extended the kingdom to the Amami Islands in modern-day Kagoshima Prefecture, and the Sakishima Islands near Taiwan...
, "Mirror of Chūzan" (中山世鑑, chūzan seikan), and enacted a number of practical political reforms aimed at improving Ryūkyū's prosperity and dignity in the eyes of China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
and Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
.
Background
Like most Ryūkyūan scholars and government officials of the time, Shō Shōken was a yukatchuYukatchu
Yukatchu were the aristocracy of the Ryūkyū Kingdom; the scholar-bureaucrats of classical Chinese studies living in Kumemura, they held the majority of government positions.-History:...
(良人, lit. "good person"), one of a class of scholars residing in Kumemura
Kumemura
Kumemura , located on Okinawa, in the port city of Naha and near the royal capital of Shuri, was a community of scholars, bureaucrats, and diplomats, and a center of culture and learning during the time of the Ryūkyū Kingdom...
, just outside the capital of Shuri, who devoted their lives to classical Chinese studies. He inherited the position of jitō (地頭, District Administrator) from his father, Haneji Goten, in 1640, and began compiling the Mirror of Chūzan in 1650, by the orders of the king Shō Shitsu
Sho Shitsu
' was a king of the Ryūkyū Kingdom who held the throne from 1648 until his death in 1668.The fourth son of King Shō Hō, he was named Prince of Sashiki in 1637, at the age of eight, and was granted Sashiki magiri as his domain...
. According to Haneji shioki (The Directives of Haneji), one of his chief collections of reforms, he was approached in 1666 by a royal messenger, who was sent to offer him the position of sessei (prime minister). Shō refused, demanding that it was inappropriate for such an important appointment to be conveyed by such a lowly messenger. The following day, Inoha Ueekata, a member of the Sanshikan
Sanshikan
The Sanshikan , or Council of Three, was a government body of the Ryūkyū Kingdom, which originally developed out of a council of regents.It emerged in 1556, when the young Shō Gen, who was mute, ascended to the throne of Ryūkyū...
(三司官, Council of Three), arrived to make the same offer, which he accepted immediately.
Shō Shōken's writings, in particular the Mirror of Chūzan, indicate a favor for the lords of Satsuma
Satsuma Province
was an old province of Japan that is now the western half of Kagoshima Prefecture on the island of Kyūshū. Its abbreviation is Sasshū .During the Sengoku Period, Satsuma was a fief of the Shimazu daimyo, who ruled much of southern Kyūshū from their castle at Kagoshima city.In 1871, with the...
, the Japanese daimyo
Daimyo
is a generic term referring to the powerful territorial lords in pre-modern Japan who ruled most of the country from their vast, hereditary land holdings...
to whom all of Ryūkyū was a vassal. It is unclear the extent to which he wrote of them favorably out of fear of reprisal for criticizing them, or out of a genuinely positive view of their customs and politics. Nevertheless, in his writings and in his political behavior, Shō displayed a strong desire for Ryūkyū to emulate Japan more fully. Adopting Japanese customs more outwardly, in terms of language and dress, was made impossible by the need to hide Japanese control or influence in Ryūkyū in order to maintain good relations with China. However, Shō sought to minimize as much as possible any elements of Ryūkyūan custom which could be seen as backwards or undignified in the eyes of Satsuma; he removed the royalty from participation in many traditional rites, and as a result allowed these rites to be much smaller and less extravagant. This also served the important effect of reducing extravagant spending, and allowing Ryūkyū to be more productive and prosperous. In a similar vein, he punished aristocrats and government officials who lived too extravagant a lifestyle; the aristocracy and peasantry both were living beyond their means for much of the early 17th century, a trend which led to widespread poverty.
He worked to sideline the royalty, and the yuta (female priestess
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
es central to Ryūkyū native religion) not out of a desire for power, or to suppress native religion, but in order to cut down on extravagance and on practices which could be perceived as undignified to the Japanese. Ultimately, for all his philosophical writings, Shō was a pragmatist.
Shō Shōken was also a strong believer in Confucianism
Confucianism
Confucianism is a Chinese ethical and philosophical system developed from the teachings of the Chinese philosopher Confucius . Confucianism originated as an "ethical-sociopolitical teaching" during the Spring and Autumn Period, but later developed metaphysical and cosmological elements in the Han...
, having studied under Tonami Jochiku, who in turn studied under the master Nanpo Bunshi. Confucianist views on benevolent leadership and overall morality pervade Shō's writings and his policies. However, in fact his views are more in line with the concept called tentō in Okinawan
Okinawan language
Central Okinawan, or simply Okinawan , is a Northern Ryukyuan language spoken primarily in the southern half of the island of Okinawa, as well as in the surrounding islands of Kerama, Kumejima, Tonaki, Aguni, and a number of smaller peripheral islands...
and tendō (天道, lit. "way of heaven") in Japanese
Japanese language
is a language spoken by over 130 million people in Japan and in Japanese emigrant communities. It is a member of the Japonic language family, which has a number of proposed relationships with other languages, none of which has gained wide acceptance among historical linguists .Japanese is an...
. His telling of Ryūkyūan history, through recounting a lineage of kings, makes use of this concept extensively; it is very similar and closely related to that of the Mandate of Heaven
Mandate of Heaven
The Mandate of Heaven is a traditional Chinese philosophical concept concerning the legitimacy of rulers. It is similar to the European concept of the divine right of kings, in that both sought to legitimaze rule from divine approval; however, unlike the divine right of kings, the Mandate of...
in China. Kings who were poor or malevolent rulers were overthrown by those who were backed by the Way of Heaven.
In writing the first history of Ryūkyū, his political goals and/or cultural views are quite evident. He paints Ryūkyū as being a loyal vassal to Satsuma long before the 1609 invasion, which was in fact done primarily out of desire, on the part of the lords of Satsuma
Shimazu family
The were the daimyō of the Satsuma han, which spread over Satsuma, Ōsumi and Hyūga provinces in Japan.The Shimazu were identified as one of the tozama or outsider daimyō clans in contrast with the fudai or insider clans which were hereditary vassals or allies of the Tokugawa clan,The Shimazu were...
and the Tokugawa shogunate
Tokugawa shogunate
The Tokugawa shogunate, also known as the and the , was a feudal regime of Japan established by Tokugawa Ieyasu and ruled by the shoguns of the Tokugawa family. This period is known as the Edo period and gets its name from the capital city, Edo, which is now called Tokyo, after the name was...
, for wealth and power. He blames the invasion on Ryūkyūan disloyalty and neglect of their feudal obligations to their benevolent lords (Satsuma), and on a corrupt government official named Tei Dō (Okinawan
Okinawan language
Central Okinawan, or simply Okinawan , is a Northern Ryukyuan language spoken primarily in the southern half of the island of Okinawa, as well as in the surrounding islands of Kerama, Kumejima, Tonaki, Aguni, and a number of smaller peripheral islands...
: Jana Ueekata) who led the people astray. In this light, he claims that the benevolent lords of Satsuma had no choice but to invade, as a chastisement for Ryūkyū's disloyalty.
One of the most influential leaders and reformers of the Ryūkyū kingdom, Shō Shōken stepped down from his post in 1673 and died two years later.