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Hokuzan first came into being in 1314 when [[Tamagusuku]] inherited the role of head chieftain of all of Okinawa from his father [[Eiji]]; He did not have the charisma or leadership qualities to command the loyalty of all the local lords, and so the Lord of Nakijin, one of many powerful local chieftains, fled north with a number of lesser chieftains loyal to him, and established himself in Nakijin gusuku. Another powerful chieftain fled south and established the kingdom of Nanzan, leaving Tamagusuku in control only of the central part of the island, which thus became the kingdom of Chûzan.

Hokuzan first came into being in 1314 when [[Tamagusuku]] inherited the role of head chieftain of all of Okinawa from his father [[Eiji]]; He did not have the charisma or leadership qualities to command the loyalty of all the local lords, and so the Lord of Nakijin, one of many powerful local chieftains, fled north with a number of lesser chieftains loyal to him, and established himself in Nakijin gusuku. Another powerful chieftain fled south and established the kingdom of Nanzan, leaving Tamagusuku in control only of the central part of the island, which thus became the kingdom of Chûzan.

Though Hokuzan was the largest of the three kingdoms, it was also the poorest and the most sparsely populated. Much of its land was wild, and its few farming or fishing villages were more primitive than those of the other two kingdoms. Nakijin Castle (城 ''gusuku'') stood on an outcropping of the Motobu Peninsula, with drops of varying steepness on every side; the ruins which remain today indicate the development of a community of fair size around it, including residences for the king's vassals, and three shrines (拝所 ''[[uganju]]'') to the [[Ryukyuan religion|native religion]] within the castle walls.

Though Hokuzan was the largest of the three kingdoms, it was also the poorest and the most sparsely populated. Much of its land was wild, and its few farming or fishing villages were more primitive than those of the other two kingdoms. Nakijin Castle (城 ''gusuku'') stood on an outcropping of the Motobu Peninsula, with drops of varying steepness on every side; the ruins which remain today indicate the development of a community of fair size around it, including residences for the king's vassals, and three shrines (拝所 ''[[utaki|uganju]]'') to the [[Ryukyuan religion|native religion]] within the castle walls.

In addition to its deficiencies in agriculture and fishing, Hokuzan suffered from the disadvantage, relative to Chûzan, of holding no port to equal [[Naha]] (Okinawan: ''Naafa''). A small [[junk]] trade used the inlet below the castle's promontory as a dock. Nevertheless, the northern kingdom engaged in its share of trade with many of the other states in the region, including [[Java]], [[Sumatra]], and the Siamese kingdom of [[Ayutthaya]]. Chûzan entered a [[tribute|tributary relationship]] with [[Ming Dynasty]] [[China]] in 1372, and Hokuzan and Nanzan were granted similar commercial status shortly afterwards. Initially, amidst a severe [[wako|pirate]] problem, the Ming placed no restrictions on the number of ships the three Ryukyuan kingdoms could send, nor on the size of the ships, and further provided ships to the Ryukyuan kingdoms, designating them official "carriers of [Ming] goods," a series of privileges extended to no other polity. This lasted only briefly, however.<ref>Akamine, 6.</ref> Over roughly the next thirty years, only nine tribute missions were sent from Hokuzan to China; Nanzan sent nineteen and Chûzan sent fifty-two. Hokuzan also did not send any students to China, as Chûzan did.

In addition to its deficiencies in agriculture and fishing, Hokuzan suffered from the disadvantage, relative to Chûzan, of holding no port to equal [[Naha]] (Okinawan: ''Naafa''). A small [[junk]] trade used the inlet below the castle's promontory as a dock. Nevertheless, the northern kingdom engaged in its share of trade with many of the other states in the region, including [[Java]], [[Sumatra]], and the Siamese kingdom of [[Ayutthaya]]. Chûzan entered a [[tribute|tributary relationship]] with [[Ming Dynasty]] [[China]] in 1372, and Hokuzan and Nanzan were granted similar commercial status shortly afterwards. Initially, amidst a severe [[wako|pirate]] problem, the Ming placed no restrictions on the number of ships the three Ryukyuan kingdoms could send, nor on the size of the ships, and further provided ships to the Ryukyuan kingdoms, designating them official "carriers of [Ming] goods," a series of privileges extended to no other polity. This lasted only briefly, however.<ref>Akamine, 6.</ref> Over roughly the next thirty years, only nine tribute missions were sent from Hokuzan to China; Nanzan sent nineteen and Chûzan sent fifty-two. Hokuzan also did not send any students to China, as Chûzan did.

Roughly twenty years later, in the 1390s, the kings of all three kingdoms died within a few years, and succession disputes erupted across the island; similar events occurred in [[Nanjing]] at the same time, with the death of the [[Hongwu Emperor]] in 1398. Previously, China had only ever recognized one head of state on Okinawa, but now all three kingdoms sent envoys and vied for the prestige, wealth, and power that would come with China's favor; no response came from China for eleven years. In 1406, [[Bunei]], King of Chûzan, was formally invested by representatives of the Ming Court in his position; the kings of Hokuzan would never enjoy this privilege.

Roughly twenty years later, in the 1390s, the kings of all three kingdoms died within a few years, and succession disputes erupted across the island; similar events occurred in [[Nanjing]] at the same time, with the death of the [[Hongwu Emperor]] in 1398. Previously, China had only ever recognized one head of state on Okinawa, but now all three kingdoms sent envoys and vied for the prestige, wealth, and power that would come with China's favor; no response came from China for eleven years. In 1406, [[Bunei]], King of Chûzan, was formally invested by representatives of the Ming Court in his position; the kings of Hokuzan would never enjoy this privilege.

Despite its economic and political advantages, Hokuzan posed a not insignificant threat to Chûzan, militarily, since its establishment. In the 1410s, however, disputes among the vassals of Hokuzan's king weakened the kingdom, and in 1416, Chûzan found an opportunity to strike after three of those vassals (''[[anji]]'') defected. Following a fierce defense, Nakijin castle fell, and the king and his closest vassals committed suicide. Shô Hashi, king of Chûzan, appointed his son [[Sho Chu|Shô Chû]] [[Hokuzan kanshu|Warden of Hokuzan]] in 1422, a post which would remain for many years, holding little overall power, but serving to maintain order in the north on behalf of Chûzan's court at [[Shuri]].

Despite its economic and political advantages, Hokuzan posed a not insignificant threat to Chûzan, militarily, since its establishment. In the 1410s, however, disputes among the vassals of Hokuzan's king weakened the kingdom, and in 1416, Chûzan found an opportunity to strike after three of those vassals (''[[anji]]'') defected. Following a fierce defense, Nakijin castle fell, and the king and his closest vassals committed suicide. Shô Hashi, king of Chûzan, appointed his son (or brother) [[Sho Chu|Shô Chû]] [[Hokuzan kanshu|Warden of Hokuzan]] in 1422, a post which would remain for many years, holding little overall power, but serving to maintain order in the north on behalf of Chûzan's court at [[Shuri]].

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