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Mô Teichû was a [[Ryukyu Kingdom|Ryukyuan]] scholar-official who served as the ''[[gieisei]]'' (head of street musicians) in the [[1790]] [[Ryukyuan embassy to Edo]].

Mô Teichû was a [[Ryukyu Kingdom|Ryukyuan]] scholar-official who served as the ''[[gieisei]]'' (head of street musicians) in the [[1790]] [[Ryukyuan embassy to Edo]].

The sixth head of the Yoseyama family, the chief family (''honke'') of the Mô family of [[Kumemura]], Teichû was known for his particularly superb calligraphy. Examples of his calligraphy can be found carved into a stone lantern at Tsushima Shrine near [[Sunomata-shuku]] in [[Gifu]], and on another stone lantern, this one at Komatsu-ji in [[Tomonoura]], at the grave of Yoseyama ''peechin'' [[Sho Dokyo|Shô Dôkyô]], a member of the 1790 mission who died aboardship on the way to [[Edo]]. He also produced works of calligraphy as gifts to the shogun's wife, at her request, and participated in poetry activities alongside Vice Envoy [[Ba Kokki]]<!--馬克義-->, Ryukyuan mission musician [[Tei Eitai]]<!--鄭永泰--> and local literati of [[Okazaki-juku]].<ref name=mino>''Minoji wo aruku Ryûkyû shisetsu'' 美濃路をゆく琉球使節, Bisai Museum of History and Folklore 尾西市歴史民俗資料館, Bisai, Aichi (2004), 9.</ref>

The sixth head of the Yoseyama family, the chief family (''honke'') of the Mô family of [[Kumemura]], Teichû was known for his particularly superb calligraphy. Examples of his calligraphy can be found carved into a stone lantern at [[Sunomata-shuku]] in [[Gifu prefecture]],<ref>Though originally located in the town's Tennô Shrine, the lantern can now be found at Sunomata's Tsushima Shrine. ''Shirarezaru Ryûkyû shisetsu'' 知られざる琉球使節, Fukuyama-shi Tomonoura rekishi minzoku shiryôkan (2006), 56.</ref> and on another stone lantern, this one at Komatsu-ji in [[Tomonoura]], at the grave of Yoseyama ''peechin'' [[Sho Dokyo|Shô Dôkyô]], a member of the 1790 mission who died aboardship on the way to [[Edo]]. He also produced works of calligraphy as gifts to the shogun's wife, at her request, and participated in poetry activities alongside Vice Envoy [[Ba Kokugi]]<!--馬克義-->, Ryukyuan mission musician [[Tei Eitai]]<!--鄭永泰--> and local literati of [[Okazaki-juku]].<ref name=mino>''Minoji wo aruku Ryûkyû shisetsu'' 美濃路をゆく琉球使節, Bisai Museum of History and Folklore 尾西市歴史民俗資料館, Bisai, Aichi (2004), 9.</ref>

Though other members of the mission departed [[Naha]] for [[Kagoshima]] on 1790/6/6, Teichû departed on 7/12. He was thrown off-course, and came ashore at Koshiki Island (just west of Satsuma Sendai), where he procured a smaller boat, and made his way to Kagoshima, arriving at the [[Ryukyu-kan|Ryûkyû-kan]] on 7/23. During the 8th month of that year, he visited [[Kagoshima castle]] and various temples in the city, before departing alongside the rest of the mission on 9/6, bound for Edo.<ref name=mino/>

Though other members of the mission departed [[Naha]] for [[Kagoshima]] on 1790/6/6, Teichû departed on 7/12. He was thrown off-course, and came ashore at Koshiki Island (just west of Satsuma Sendai), where he procured a smaller boat, and made his way to Kagoshima, arriving at the [[Ryukyu-kan|Ryûkyû-kan]] on 7/23. During the 8th month of that year, he visited [[Kagoshima castle]] and various temples in the city, before departing alongside the rest of the mission on 9/6, bound for Edo.<ref name=mino/>

Following their official audiences in Edo, the mission made its way back to Kagoshima, arriving there on [[1791]]/3/17. Their official duties ended on 4/10, but on the sea voyage back to Naha from Kagoshima, the mission encountered numerous difficulties, only finally arriving home on 11/21.<ref name=mino/>

Following their official audiences in Edo, the mission made its way back to Kagoshima, arriving there on [[1791]]/3/17. Their official duties ended on 4/10, but on the sea voyage back to Naha from Kagoshima, the mission encountered numerous difficulties, only finally arriving home on 11/21.<ref name=mino/>

Teichû journeyed to China as well, on four occasions.<ref name=mino/>

Teichû journeyed to China as well, on four occasions.<ref name=mino/> While service as Deputy Envoy on a [[tribute]] mission to Beijing in [[1793]], Teichû encountered the mission of [[George Lord Macartney]], the first official British envoy to China. Teichû and his Lead Envoy, [[Mo Kokuto|Mô Kokutô]], were brought aboard Macartney's vessel on the [[Grand Canal]] near [[Hangzhou]], and the three spoke briefly (through interpreters); the meeting is recounted briefly in Macartney's diary.<ref>Maehira Fusaaki, ''Ryûkyû shisetsu no ikoku taiken'' 琉球使節の異国体験, ''Kokusai kôryû'' 国際交流 59 (1992), 61.; J.L. Cranmer-Byng (ed.), ''An Embassy to China: Being the journal kept by Lord Macartney during his embassy to the Emperor Ch’ien-lung 1793-1794'', Hamden, CT: Archon Books, 1963, 182-183.</ref>

Mô Teichû's name had originally been Sen'yô (or Sen'yû), but the [[kanji|character]] ''sen'' (lit. "proclaim," "announce") was banned within the kingdom, and so he changed his name to Teichû.

Mô Teichû's name had originally been Sen'yô (or Sen'yû), but the [[kanji|character]] ''sen'' (lit. "proclaim," "announce") was banned within the kingdom, and so he changed his name to Teichû.