Kochi Chojo

• Born: ??
• Died: ??, Fukien Province, China
• Other Names: 向徳宏 (J: Shô Tokukô; C: Xiang Dehong)
• Japanese/Okinawan: 幸地親方朝常 (Kouchi ueekata Choujou)

Kôchi ueekata Chôjô was a Ryukyuan aristocrat known for leading a movement to petition the government of Qing Dynasty China to rescue the Kingdom of Ryûkyû from annexation by Meiji Japan, following the 1879 announcement by the government of Meiji Japan to do so.

It was typical at this time for Ryukyuan aristocrats to have multiple names. Chôjô held the title of ueekata of the domain of Kôchi, and was thus known as "Kôchi ueekata". He was also known as Shô Tokukô, or Xiang Dehong in the Chinese pronunciation, a name he would have used in China and in Chinese documents and communications.

Life

Details of his early life are unknown. In 1876, however, Chôjô left for China from Unten Harbor on the Motobu Peninsula, in the north of Okinawa Island, claiming he was simply crossing over to nearby Iejima. Arriving in China, he adopted Chinese (Manchu) hairstyle and dress and, with the Ryûkyû-kan in Fuzhou as his base, he began traveling to various parts, seeking to gather support for his cause, namely that of convincing the Qing government to aid Ryûkyû in remaining independent from Japan.

Chôjô gathered other Ryukyuans who, like himself, had fled for China, including Rin Seikô and Sai Taitei. Together, they submitted numerous petitions to the Qing officials asking for help on behalf of the kingdom. Though there was little, if any, positive response, for a long time, Chôjô and others refused to give up.

He died in Fukien Province.