Changes

It emerged in [[1556]], when the young [[Sho Gen|Shô Gen]], who was mute, ascended to the throne of Ryûkyû. The council of regents that formed in order to handle this challenge and manage the country on the king's behalf soon grew into an established and powerful government organ. Shô Gen died in 1571, but the Council remained, acting alongside the successive kings in managing the affairs of government. In fact, the "Articles Subscribed to by the King's Councillors", which bound the royal government in loyalty and servitude to the Japanese ''[[daimyo|daimyô]]'' of [[Satsuma han]], explicitly prohibited the king from "entrust<nowiki>[ing]</nowiki> the conduct of public affairs in the islands to any persons other than San-shi-kuan"<ref>Kerr p163.</ref>

It emerged in [[1556]], when the young [[Sho Gen|Shô Gen]], who was mute, ascended to the throne of Ryûkyû. The council of regents that formed in order to handle this challenge and manage the country on the king's behalf soon grew into an established and powerful government organ. Shô Gen died in 1571, but the Council remained, acting alongside the successive kings in managing the affairs of government. In fact, the "Articles Subscribed to by the King's Councillors", which bound the royal government in loyalty and servitude to the Japanese ''[[daimyo|daimyô]]'' of [[Satsuma han]], explicitly prohibited the king from "entrust<nowiki>[ing]</nowiki> the conduct of public affairs in the islands to any persons other than San-shi-kuan"<ref>Kerr p163.</ref>

Over time, the Sanshikan eclipsed the power and prestige of the ''[[sessei]]'', a post which is often translated as "prime minister," and which served as chief royal advisor. Candidates to join the Council of Three had to live in [[Shuri]], the capital, and had to pass tests of both merit and birth; they had to be of proper aristocratic heritage, and to pass tests of knowledge of literature, ethics, and other classical Chinese subjects. These exams were very much akin to those taken by scholar-bureaucrats in China, but were less strict.

Over time, the Sanshikan eclipsed the power and prestige of the ''[[sessei]]'', a post which is often translated as "prime minister," and which served as chief royal advisor. Candidates to join the Council of Three were chosen from among the ''ueekata''; in addition to possessing high levels of [[Neo-Confucianism|Confucian]] expertise, and cultural skill at poetry, calligraphy, and so forth (which were seen to be reflective of one's moral character), experience in traveling to China and Japan was also seen as an important qualification, as members of the Sanshikan had to advise the king on matters of foreign relations. This was the highest position someone from the [[scholar-aristocracy of Ryukyu|scholar-aristocracy]] could achieve.<ref>Miyagi Eishô 宮城栄昌, ''Ryûkyû shisha no Edo nobori'' 琉球使者の江戸上り, Tokyo: Daiichi Shobô (1982), 47.</ref>

The Council, and ''sessei'', worked alongside the heads of various administrative departments who were known as the [[Council of Fifteen]] when assembled. The Fifteen advised the higher-ranking officials on policy, and made recommendations to fill vacancies in the administration.

The Council, and ''sessei'', worked alongside the heads of various administrative departments who were known as the [[Council of Fifteen]] when assembled. The Fifteen advised the higher-ranking officials on policy, and made recommendations to fill vacancies in the administration.