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Shô Ten was born in [[Shuri]] and was from birth crown prince to the Kingdom of Ryûkyû. He underwent his [[gempuku|coming of age]] ceremony in [[1878]] and was married the same year to [[Sho Shoko|Shô Shôko]], a daughter of the Nodake lineage.<ref>Shôko is often referred to as Nodake ''udun'' or Nodake ''anji ganashi''. Explanatory plaques, Tamaudun.[https://www.flickr.com/photos/toranosuke/15282523017/sizes/k/]</ref>  

Shô Ten was born in [[Shuri]] and was from birth crown prince to the Kingdom of Ryûkyû. He underwent his [[gempuku|coming of age]] ceremony in [[1878]] and was married the same year to [[Sho Shoko|Shô Shôko]], a daughter of the Nodake lineage.<ref>Shôko is often referred to as Nodake ''udun'' or Nodake ''anji ganashi''. Explanatory plaques, Tamaudun.[https://www.flickr.com/photos/toranosuke/15282523017/sizes/k/]</ref>  

In March 1879, his father Shô Tai formally abdicated upon the orders of the [[Meiji government]], which abolished the kingdom, transforming ''[[Ryûkyû han]]'' into [[Okinawa Prefecture]], with officials appointed from [[Tokyo]] to administer the islands<ref>Kerr, George H. ''Okinawa: The History of an Island People''. (revised ed.) Tokyo: Tuttle Publishing, 2003. p428.</ref> The former king was ordered to report to Tokyo, but feigning illness, he temporarily found shelter at Shô Ten’s palace. Shô Ten traveled to Tokyo on April 27, 1879, to partially appease the Meiji government, and to petition to delay the former king’s departure from Okinawa. In the end, however, both Shô Ten and his father were ordered to remain in Tokyo, and not to return to Okinawa.<ref>Hokama Masaaki 外間政明, "Shôke no takaramono ni tsuite" 「尚家の宝物について」, ''RYUKYU'' exhibition catalog, Tokyo National Museum (2022), 439.</ref>

In March 1879, his father Shô Tai formally abdicated upon the orders of the [[Meiji government]], which abolished the kingdom, transforming ''[[Ryûkyû han]]'' into [[Okinawa Prefecture]], with officials appointed from [[Tokyo]] to administer the islands<ref>Kerr, George H. ''Okinawa: The History of an Island People''. (revised ed.) Tokyo: Tuttle Publishing, 2003. p428.</ref> The former king was ordered to report to Tokyo, but feigning illness, he temporarily found shelter at Shô Ten’s palace. Shô Ten traveled to Tokyo on April 27, 1879, to partially appease the Meiji government, and to petition to delay the former king’s departure from Okinawa. In the end, however, both Shô Ten and his father were ordered to remain in Tokyo, and not to return to Okinawa.<ref name=hokama439>Hokama Masaaki 外間政明, "Shôke no takaramono ni tsuite" 「尚家の宝物について」, ''RYUKYU'' exhibition catalog, Tokyo National Museum (2022), 439.</ref>

Following his father's death and his succession as Marquis and head of the Shô family in 1901/8, Shô Ten and his family gave up the trappings of traditional Ryukyuan royal court life, costume, court language, and ritual, and adopted those of the Japanese peerage.

Following his father's death and his succession as Marquis and head of the Shô family in 1901/8, Shô Ten and his family gave up the trappings of traditional Ryukyuan royal court life, costume, court language, and ritual, and adopted those of the Japanese peerage.

As Marquis, Shô Ten held a hereditary seat in the [[House of Peers]] in the [[Diet of Japan|National Diet]]. He was joined in representing Okinawa by a Japanese resident appointed to represent the prefecture's wealthiest taxpayers for the first time in 1918<ref name=Kerr381>Kerr. p381.</ref>.

As Marquis, Shô Ten held a hereditary seat in the [[House of Peers]] in the [[Diet of Japan|National Diet]]. He was joined in representing Okinawa by a Japanese resident appointed to represent the prefecture's wealthiest taxpayers for the first time in 1918<ref name=Kerr381>Kerr. p381.</ref>.

The Marquis died on September 20, 1920 in his mansion in Shuri and was entombed six days later in [[Tamaudun]], the royal mausoleum near [[Shuri Castle]], in accordance with traditional Ryukyuan royal funerary rites. He would be the last member of the Shô family to be honored in such a manner<ref>Kerr. p453. His funeral was not the last ceremony performed in the style of the former royal court, however. A ''[[senkotsu]]'' ceremony was performed in 1934, ceremonially washing his remains. Gallery labels, Tamaudun.[https://www.flickr.com/photos/toranosuke/15282523017/]</ref>.

The Marquis continued to reside in Tokyo for the rest of his life. He returned to Okinawa only three times;<ref name=hokama439/> during the third of those visits, on September 20, 1920, he died in his mansion in Shuri and was entombed six days later in [[Tamaudun]], the royal mausoleum near [[Shuri Castle]], in accordance with traditional Ryukyuan royal funerary rites. He would be the last member of the Shô family to be honored in such a manner<ref>Kerr. p453. His funeral was not the last ceremony performed in the style of the former royal court, however. A ''[[senkotsu]]'' ceremony was performed in 1934, ceremonially washing his remains. Gallery labels, Tamaudun.[https://www.flickr.com/photos/toranosuke/15282523017/]</ref>.

Shô Ten's eldest son [[Sho Sho|Shô Shô]] ([[1888]]-1923) succeeded him as ''kôshaku'' and as a member of the House of Peers. His second son was named [[Sho Kei (b. 1889)|Shô Kei]].<ref>Gallery labels, Naha City Museum of History.</ref> Shô Shô's eldest son in turn, [[Sho Hiroshi|Shô Hiroshi]] (1918-1997), played a prominent role in keeping and sharing the treasures of the Shô family; a large collection of historical documents held today by the [[University of Tokyo]] [[Shiryohensanjo|Shiryôhensanjo]] related to the Shô family and Ryukyuan court are labeled as being from Shô Hiroshi's collection.

Shô Ten's eldest son [[Sho Sho|Shô Shô]] ([[1888]]-1923) succeeded him as ''kôshaku'' and as a member of the House of Peers. His second son was named [[Sho Kei (b. 1889)|Shô Kei]].<ref>Gallery labels, Naha City Museum of History.</ref> Shô Shô's eldest son in turn, [[Sho Hiroshi|Shô Hiroshi]] (1918-1997), played a prominent role in keeping and sharing the treasures of the Shô family; a large collection of historical documents held today by the [[University of Tokyo]] [[Shiryohensanjo|Shiryôhensanjo]] related to the Shô family and Ryukyuan court are labeled as being from Shô Hiroshi's collection.