View source for Yonabaru Ryoku

*''Born: [[1718]]''
*''Died: [[1797]]''
*''Other Names'': [[馬]] 国器 ''(Ba Kokki / Mǎ Guóqì)''
*''Japanese'': [[与那原]] 良矩 ''(Yonabaru Ryouku)''

Yonabaru Ryôku was a [[Ryukyu Kingdom|Ryukyuan]] scholar-official who served as a member of the [[Sanshikan]] for 28 years, from [[1769]] until [[1796]]. He is also considered one of the [[sanjurokkasen|36 greatest poets]] of Ryûkyû.

Ryôku was a member of a branch of the Uruku ''dunchi'' Ba family started by [[Urasoe Ryosen|Ba Urasoe ''ueekata'' Ryôsen]]<!--馬良詮-->. This branch held the position of ''[[jito (Ryukyu)|sô-jitô]]'' of [[Ozato gusuku|Ôzato]] ''[[magiri]]'', and included nine other members of the Sanshikan, including [[Yonabaru Ryokyo|Yonabaru Ryôkyô]] and [[Ba Kensai|Yonabaru Ryôketsu]].

Ryôku led a [[tribute]] mission to Beijing in [[1762]] and traveled to [[Kagoshima]] in [[1765]] to report the success of that mission. He was appointed to the Sanshikan in 1769 and served in that position until his retirement in 1796.

Known for his virtue and for his numerous ''[[ryuka|ryûka]]'' poems, towards the end of his life he came to be known as ''kunshi ueekata'', or, roughly, "the gentleman official." He was also known for his talent in writing Japanese-language prose.

Yonabaru Ryôku died in [[1797]] at the age of 80.

{{stub}}