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Gusukuma was born to an aristocratic family in [[Shuri]]. His father Gusukuma Seishin<!--城間清信--> was a musician, who had led the musical performers on the [[1627]] [[Ryukyuan embassy to Edo]]<ref name=higa>Higa Chôken 比嘉朝健。”Kanô Yasunobu to Ryûkyû no gajin Jiryô" 狩野安信と琉球の画人自了。 ''Tôei (Jun-Nihonga Zasshi)'' 搭影(純日本画雑誌)、 Vol. 9-8 (Oct 1933). pp41-45.</ref>; but Seihô was a deaf mute<ref name=arts>"[http://www.wonder-okinawa.jp/013/E/art/dynasty/art10.html Hakutaku no zu]." Arts of Okinawa. Okinawa Prefectural Government. 2003. Accessed 6 October 2009.</ref> and he focused his energies in a different direction, teaching himself to paint<ref name=jinmei>"Ji Ryô." ''Okinawa rekishi jinmei jiten'' (沖縄歴史人名事典, "Encyclopedia of People of Okinawan History"). Naha: Okinawa Bunka-sha, 1996. p 44.</ref>. He sought out Chinese paintings, and was heavily influenced by them<ref name=kotobank/>.

Gusukuma was born to an aristocratic family in [[Shuri]]. His father Gusukuma Seishin<!--城間清信--> was a musician, who had led the musical performers on the [[1627]] [[Ryukyuan embassy to Edo]]<ref name=higa>Higa Chôken 比嘉朝健。”Kanô Yasunobu to Ryûkyû no gajin Jiryô" 狩野安信と琉球の画人自了。 ''Tôei (Jun-Nihonga Zasshi)'' 搭影(純日本画雑誌)、 Vol. 9-8 (Oct 1933). pp41-45.</ref>; but Seihô was a deaf mute<ref name=arts>"[http://www.wonder-okinawa.jp/013/E/art/dynasty/art10.html Hakutaku no zu]." Arts of Okinawa. Okinawa Prefectural Government. 2003. Accessed 6 October 2009.</ref> and he focused his energies in a different direction, teaching himself to paint<ref name=jinmei>"Ji Ryô." ''Okinawa rekishi jinmei jiten'' (沖縄歴史人名事典, "Encyclopedia of People of Okinawan History"). Naha: Okinawa Bunka-sha, 1996. p 44.</ref>. He sought out Chinese paintings, and was heavily influenced by them<ref name=kotobank/>.

Hearing of the young painter, King [[Sho Ho|Shô Hô]] called him to his court, and bestowed upon him the name Ji Ryô. It is said that the [[Chinese investiture envoys]]<!--incl. 杜山策, pinyin unknown--> who witnessed his painting compared him to some of the top painters in China, and that [[Kano Yasunobu|Kanô Yasunobu]], court painter for the [[Tokugawa shogunate]], similarly praised the artist when one of Gusukuma's works was brought to [[Edo]] by the [[1634]] Ryukyuan embassy<ref name=jinmei/><ref name=arts/>.

Hearing of the young painter, King [[Sho Ho|Shô Hô]] called him to his court, and bestowed upon him the name Ji Ryô. It is said that the [[Chinese investiture envoys]], including [[Du Sance]], who witnessed his painting compared him to some of the top painters in China, and that [[Kano Yasunobu|Kanô Yasunobu]], court painter for the [[Tokugawa shogunate]], similarly praised the artist when one of Gusukuma's works was brought to [[Edo]] by the [[1634]] Ryukyuan embassy<ref name=jinmei/><ref name=arts/>.

He was raised and educated at court, though it is unknown under whom he studied painting. He may have learned from a Chinese painter in service to the court, and likely studied painting manuals and the like. Though known chiefly for his paintings, he produced calligraphy and sculpture as well.<ref name=higa/>

He was raised and educated at court, though it is unknown under whom he studied painting. He may have learned from a Chinese painter in service to the court, and likely studied painting manuals and the like. Though known chiefly for his paintings, he produced calligraphy and sculpture as well.<ref name=higa/>