- Japanese: 西塘 (Nishitou)
Nishitô was an early 16th century stonemason from Taketomi Island, who is known chiefly for his having constructed the stone gate (ishimon) of Sonohyan utaki, an important sacred site on the grounds of Shuri Castle, which is today recognized as a World Heritage Site along with a number of other sites on Okinawa.
According to some sources, even as a boy he excelled, and somehow came to the attention of the Ryukyu Kingdom general leading King Shô Shin's armies in suppressing an uprising on Ishigaki Island led by Oyake Akahachi in 1500.
Brought to Okinawa upon the request of the Sanshikan, he is said to have excelled in his studies of both stonemasonry and academic subjects. In service to the royal court, he planned out and oversaw the construction of the northern sections of the castle walls of Shuri castle as well as a stone gate at Bengatake. In 1519, he then oversaw the construction of the stone gate of Sonohyan utaki.
In 1524, he was appointed to serve as chief administrator overseeing the Yaeyama Islands, with the title of Taketomi Shuri ôyako. He ordered and oversaw the construction of a kuramoto administrative building on Taketomi, as well as structures for a number of on (sacred spaces). Nishitô governed from Taketomi for about twenty years before relocating to Ishigaki Island. Following his death, his former residence as administrator on Taketomi was made the site of his tomb; the late Nishitô was also deified and enshrined at his tomb as a guardian deity or spirit for the island.
References
- "Nishitô." Okinawa konpakuto jiten (沖縄コンパクト事典, "Okinawa Compact Encyclopedia"). Ryukyu Shimpo (琉球新報). 1 March 2003. Accessed 17 January 2010.