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Satto is generally believed to have been a king of [[Chuzan|Chûzan]], one of three kingdoms which formerly existed on the island of [[Okinawa]]. His reign was marked by the expansion and development of Chûzan's trade relations with other states, and the beginning of Okinawa's [[tribute|tributary relations]] with [[Ming Dynasty]] [[China]], a relationship which would continue for roughly five hundred years, almost until the fall of the [[Qing Dynasty]].

Satto is generally said to have been a king of [[Chuzan|Chûzan]], one of three kingdoms which formerly existed on the island of [[Okinawa]]. His reign was marked by the expansion and development of Chûzan's trade relations with other states, and the beginning of Okinawa's [[tribute|tributary relations]] with [[Ming Dynasty]] [[China]], a relationship which would continue for roughly five hundred years, almost until the fall of the [[Qing Dynasty]].

Governor of the [[Urasoe|Urasoe district]] which surrounded and included Chûzan's capital, Satto seized the throne for himself upon the death of King [[Seii]] in 1354 or 1355. His own line, or dynasty, however, would not last past his son, [[Bunei]], who would be ousted in 1406.

According to traditional narratives, Satto was governor of the [[Urasoe|Urasoe district]] which surrounded and included Chûzan's capital, and then seized the throne for himself upon the death of King [[Seii]] in 1354 or 1355. His own line, or dynasty, however, would not last past his son, [[Bunei]], who would be ousted in 1406.

Chinese envoys arrived in Chûzan in 1372, requesting admission of Chinese cultural supremacy and that Okinawa send representatives to [[Nanjing]]. Satto complied with these requests without hesitation, as this would grant him formal license to trade with the most powerful nation in the region. He sent his younger brother [[Taiki]] to Nanjing in 1374, as the leader of a mission to formally submit to China, entering into tributary and trade relations. The [[Hongwu Emperor]] entertained the Ryukyuan mission, accepted their gifts, and sent them back with various gifts from China, including a [[Ryukyuan royal seal|royal seal]] which served as a symbol of [[investiture]]. A Chinese official accompanied the returning mission, and represented the Imperial Court in officially confirming Satto as king of Okinawa. Though Okinawa would never come to be conquered or annexed by China, this custom of investiture, of formally confirming the king in the eyes of the Chinese court, would continue as part of tributary relations until the dismantling of the [[Kingdom of Ryukyu|Ryûkyû Kingdom]] five centuries later. There would be at least nine tributary missions to China over the next twenty years, three of them led by Taiki.

Chinese envoys arrived in Chûzan in 1372, requesting admission of Chinese cultural supremacy and that Okinawa send representatives to [[Nanjing]]. Satto complied with these requests without hesitation, as this would grant him formal license to trade with the most powerful nation in the region. He sent his younger brother [[Taiki]] to Nanjing in 1374, as the leader of a mission to formally submit to China, entering into tributary and trade relations. The [[Hongwu Emperor]] entertained the Ryukyuan mission, accepted their gifts, and sent them back with various gifts from China, including a [[Ryukyuan royal seal|royal seal]] which served as a symbol of [[investiture]]. A Chinese official accompanied the returning mission, and represented the Imperial Court in officially confirming Satto as king of Okinawa. Though Okinawa would never come to be conquered or annexed by China, this custom of investiture, of formally confirming the king in the eyes of the Chinese court, would continue as part of tributary relations until the dismantling of the [[Kingdom of Ryukyu|Ryûkyû Kingdom]] five centuries later. There would be at least nine tributary missions to China over the next twenty years, three of them led by Taiki.

==Ambiguity==

==Ambiguity==

Noting considerable ambiguities and contradictions in the few records pertaining to King Satto, some scholars have suggested that Chinese references to "Satto" 察度・査都 or "[[Shosatto|Shôsatto]]" (ostensibly, the king of [[Nanzan]] c. 1380s-90s) might not in fact be references to the personal names of distinct, specific, individuals, but rather to a more generic Ryukyuan noble title, sato 里 or satunushi 里主・里之子. They note that the Korean term sado 使道 also refers to local magistrates or locally powerful families or individuals. If Chinese references to "Satto" or "Shôsatto" do not in fact refer to specific named figures but rather to a myriad of different, overlapping figures ambiguously identified only by their title/rank, ''sato'' or ''satonushi'', then we may have to admit no particular record of actions, identities, or whereabouts can be reliably pinned to any one named individual, but rather could refer to any number of different individuals.<ref>Gregory Smits, ''Maritime Ryukyu'', University of Hawaii Press (2019), 82-83.</ref>

 

Noting considerable ambiguities and contradictions in the few records pertaining to King Satto, some scholars have further suggested that Chinese references to "Satto" 察度・査都 or "[[Shosatto|Shôsatto]]" (ostensibly, the king of [[Nanzan]] c. 1380s-90s) might not in fact refer to a singular individual at all, but rather might refer to a variety of people, identifying them by the Ryukyuan noble title ''sato'' 里 or ''satunushi'' 里主・里之子, or by the Korean term ''sado'' 使道, which similarly refers to local magistrates or locally powerful families or individuals.<ref>Gregory Smits, ''Maritime Ryukyu'', University of Hawaii Press (2019), 82-83.</ref>

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==References==

==References==

*Kerr, George H. (2000). Okinawa: the History of an Island People. (revised ed.) Boston: Tuttle Publishing.

*Kerr, George H. (2000). Okinawa: the History of an Island People. (revised ed.) Boston: Tuttle Publishing.

*Smits, Gregory (1999). "Visions of Ryukyu: Identity and Ideology in Early-Modern Thought and Politics." Honolulu: University of Hawai'i Press.

*Smits, Gregory (1999). "Visions of Ryukyu: Identity and Ideology in Early-Modern Thought and Politics." Honolulu: University of Hawai'i Press.

[[Category:Muromachi Period]]

[[Category:Muromachi Period]]

[[Category:Royalty]]

[[Category:Royalty]]

[[Category:Ryukyu]]

[[Category:Ryukyu]]