| Chûzan was one of three kingdoms which controlled [[Okinawa]] in the [[14th century]]. Based at [[Urasoe]], between [[Hokuzan]] to the north and [[Nanzan]] to the south, it was the wealthiest and most powerful of the three kingdoms on the island. 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 after [[1314]]; the [[Sanzan period]] thus began, and would end roughly one hundred years later, when Chûzan's King [[Sho Hashi|Shô Hashi]]<ref>Technically, Hashi's father [[Sho Shisho|Shô Shishô]] was king of Chûzan in 1419, and neither was called "Shô" until that name was granted them by the [[Ming Dynasty|Ming court]] in 1421.</ref> conquered Hokuzan in [[1419]] and Nanzan in [[1429]]. | | Chûzan was one of three kingdoms which controlled [[Okinawa]] in the [[14th century]]. Based at [[Urasoe]], between [[Hokuzan]] to the north and [[Nanzan]] to the south, it was the wealthiest and most powerful of the three kingdoms on the island. 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 after [[1314]]; the [[Sanzan period]] thus began, and would end roughly one hundred years later, when Chûzan's King [[Sho Hashi|Shô Hashi]]<ref>Technically, Hashi's father [[Sho Shisho|Shô Shishô]] was king of Chûzan in 1419, and neither was called "Shô" until that name was granted them by the [[Ming Dynasty|Ming court]] in 1421.</ref> conquered Hokuzan in [[1419]] and Nanzan in [[1429]]. |
− | The united Okinawan state was called the [[Kingdom of Ryukyu|Kingdom of Ryûkyû]], but would continue to be referred to as "Chûzan" in various official documents of the Ryukyuan royal government, and those of many other states in the region, until the kingdom was formally dissolved in [[1872]] and annexed to Japan as Okinawa Prefecture. | + | The united Okinawan state was called the [[Kingdom of Ryukyu|Kingdom of Ryûkyû]], but would continue to be referred to as "Chûzan" in various official documents of the Ryukyuan royal government, and those of many other states in the region, until the kingdom was formally dissolved in [[1879]] and annexed to Japan as Okinawa Prefecture. |