Sho Ko (尚灝)

• Born: 1787/5/29
• Died: 1834/5/29
• Japanese/Chinese: 尚灝 (Shou Kou / Shàng Hào)

King Shô Kô was king of the Ryûkyû Kingdom from 1804 until his death in 1834.

Shô Kô was the fourth son of Shô Tetsu, who was in turn the eldest son of King Shô Boku. His elder brother Shô On ruled briefly, from 1795 until his death in 1802. Shô On's three-year-old son then took the throne as King Shô Sei, but died a year after his enthronement, in early 1804. The succession then passed to Shô Kô, who took the throne in 1804.

In 1827, he fell ill and requested from Satsuma han permission to abdicate in favor of his son. He received permission the following year, but retained the title of "king" until his death in 1834, while his son handled the business of the king but technically held the title of sessei until acceding to the throne in 1835 as King Shô Iku. As a result of this unprecedented situation, the Ryukyuan embassy to Edo in association with Shô Iku's accession was held early, in 1832, and the fukushi (deputy envoy) on that mission, Takushi ueekata Ando presented gifts and formal regards from the retired Shô Kô to Shogun Tokugawa Ienari, in thanks for granting permission that he retire.

Preceded by: Shô Sei

King of Ryûkyû 1804-1834

Succeeded by: Shô Iku

References

• Miyagi Eishô 宮城栄昌, Ryûkyû shisha no Edo nobori 琉球使者の江戸上り, Tokyo: Daiichi Shobô (1982), 46.