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*''Born: ??''
*''Born: ??''
*''Died: ??, Fukien Province, China''
*''Died: ??, Fukien Province, China''
*''Other Names:'' 向徳宏 ''(J: Shô Tokukô; C: Xiang Dehong)''
*''Other Names:'' [[向]]徳宏 ''(J: Shô Tokukô; C: Xiang Dehong)''
*''Japanese/Okinawan'': 幸地親方朝常 ''(Kouchi ueekata Choujou)''
*''Japanese/Okinawan'': 幸地親方朝常 ''(Kouchi ueekata Choujou)''
==Life==
==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]]<ref name=jinmei>"Kōchi Chōjō." ''Okinawa rekishi jinmei jiten'' (沖縄歴史人名事典, "Encyclopedia of People of Okinawan History"). Naha: Okinawa Bunka-sha, 1996. p 28.</ref>. Arriving in China, he adopted Chinese (Manchu) hairstyle and dress and, with the [[Ryukyu-kan|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<ref name=jinmei/>.
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]]<ref name=jinmei>"Kōchi Chōjō." ''Okinawa rekishi jinmei jiten'' (沖縄歴史人名事典, "Encyclopedia of People of Okinawan History"). Naha: Okinawa Bunka-sha, 1996. p 28.</ref>. Arriving in China, he adopted Chinese (Manchu) hairstyle and dress<ref>Though the Manchu queue and certain other elements of fashion were mandatory in China since shortly after the establishment of the Qing Dynasty in 1644, over 200 years earlier, Ryûkyû had specifically requested and been granted permission to be excused from these requirements.</ref> and, with the [[Ryukyu-kan|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<ref name=jinmei/>.
Chôjô gathered other Ryukyuans who, like himself, had fled for China, including [[Rin Seiko|Rin Seikô]]<!--林世功--> and [[Sai Taitei]]<!--蔡大鼎--><ref>"Kōchi Chōjō." ''Okinawa konpakuto jiten'' (沖縄コンパクト事典, "Okinawa Compact Encyclopedia"). [http://ryukyushimpo.jp/news/storyid-41324-storytopic-121.html Ryukyu Shimpo]. 1 March 2003. Accessed 17 September 2009.</ref>. 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<ref name=jinmei/>.
Chôjô gathered other Ryukyuans who, like himself, had fled for China, including [[Rin Seiko|Rin Seikô]]<!--林世功--> and [[Sai Taitei]]<!--蔡大鼎--><ref>"Kōchi Chōjō." ''Okinawa konpakuto jiten'' (沖縄コンパクト事典, "Okinawa Compact Encyclopedia"). [http://ryukyushimpo.jp/news/storyid-41324-storytopic-121.html Ryukyu Shimpo]. 1 March 2003. Accessed 17 September 2009.</ref>. 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<ref name=jinmei/>.
Following Tokyo's unilateral abolition of the Kingdom of Ryûkyû and establishment of [[Okinawa prefecture]] in 1879, Chinese officials considered somehow restoring the kingdom with Kôchi Chôjô as the new monarch; [[Sho Tai|Shô Tai]], now in Tokyo, was inaccessible for this purpose. Recognizing Chôjô's influence and/or status, if not the possibility of this particular plan, Japanese officials in Tianjin demanded that Chôjô and his associates be turned over to them. Viceroy [[Li Honzhang]], the chief Chinese official handling the [[Taiwan Incident of 1871|Ryukyu dispute]], refused, and in fact ordered additional protection and financial assistance be given to Chôjô and his associates<ref>Kerr, George. Okinawa: The History of an Island People. Revised Edition. Boston: Tuttle Publishing, 2000. p387.</ref>.
The idea of installing Kôchi Chôjô as king of Ryûkyû was formally suggested by the Chinese representatives in the official Sino-Japanese negotiations on the matter on 1880/8/15, but was ultimately rejected<ref>Kerr. p390.</ref>.
Kôchi Chôjô died in Fukien Province<ref name=jinmei/>.
==References==
==References==
