Sai Ninchô was a Ryukyuan scholar-aristocrat who served as instructor to the musicians attached to the 1764 Ryukyuan embassies to Edo, along with Ryô Kokuen, Tei Ten'yû, and Ryô Teiken. He also served as instructor in music and dance for members of a mission to Kagoshima in 1772, alongside his younger brother Sai Ninhô, as well as Tei Ten'yû. Sai previously studied in Fuzhou for a time, in 1756.
He was a son of Sai Kôso, who had served as music instructor for two Edo missions, in 1748 and 1752; two of Ninchô's younger brothers served in similar positions, in 1772, and in 1795.
References
- Liao Zhenpei 廖真珮, "Ryûkyû kyûtei ni okeru Chûgoku kei ongaku no ensô to denshô" 琉球宮廷における中国系音楽の演奏と伝承, in Uzagaku no fukugen ni mukete 御座楽の復元に向けて, Naha, Okinawa: Uzagaku fukugen ensô kenkyûkai 御座楽復元演奏研究会 (2007), 111-112, citing Naha shishi 那覇市史, vol 6 上, Naha City Office (1980), p330.
- Itaya Tôru 板谷徹, “Kafu ni mirareru geinô shiryô 2: Edo nobori” 家譜に見られる芸能史料, Musa ムーサ 9 (2008), 168.