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Shô Toku was the seventh king of [[Kingdom of Ryukyu|Ryûkyû]], and the last of the First Shô Dynasty. According to traditional accounts, he was the third son of King [[Sho Taikyu|Shô Taikyû]], who he succeeded in [[1461]].

Shô Toku was the seventh king of [[Kingdom of Ryukyu|Ryûkyû]], and the last of the First Shô Dynasty. According to traditional accounts, he was the third son of King [[Sho Taikyu|Shô Taikyû]], who he succeeded in [[1461]].

The reign of Shô Toku is known primarily for the king's military adventures, chiefly the conquest in [[1466]] of [[Kikaigashima]], a nearby island which served no economic, political, or strategic purpose. This campaign saw the adoption of the ''mitsu-domoe'' banner of [[Hachiman]], commonly used by ''[[wako|wakô]]'' at the time, as the royal crest. This and a number of other historical or legendary incidents, including Shô Toku's establishment of the [[Azato Hachiman-gu|Hachiman Shrine]] in the village of Asato (today part of [[Naha]] City), have led a number of historians to suggest that Shô Toku was himself a ''wakô'' lord.<ref>Gregory Smits, ''Maritime Ryukyu'', University of Hawaii Press (2019), 118.</ref>

The reign of Shô Toku is known primarily for the king's military adventures, chiefly the conquest in [[1466]] of [[Kikaigashima]], a nearby island which served no economic, political, or strategic purpose. This campaign saw the adoption of the ''[[hidari gomon|mitsu-domoe]]'' banner of [[Hachiman]], commonly used by ''[[wako|wakô]]'' at the time, as the royal crest. This and a number of other historical or legendary incidents, including Shô Toku's establishment of the [[Azato Hachiman-gu|Hachiman Shrine]] in the village of Asato (today part of [[Naha]] City), have led a number of historians to suggest that Shô Toku was himself a ''wakô'' lord.<ref>Gregory Smits, ''Maritime Ryukyu'', University of Hawaii Press (2019), 118.</ref> Toku made various attempts to shore up his legitimacy, especially through the construction of a Buddhist temple, [[Jintoku-ji]], and the acquisition of a collection of the complete Buddhist canon, the [[Tripitaka]], from Korea.<ref>Smits, ''Maritime Ryukyu'', 130-131.</ref>

The kingdom's coffers being already depleted by his father's campaigns of temple building, lavish entertainments, and ritual and ceremony, this would come to be seen in later generations as an extravagance, and an unnecessary drain on resources.

The kingdom's coffers being already depleted by his father's campaigns of temple building, lavish entertainments, and ritual and ceremony, this would come to be seen in later generations as an extravagance, and an unnecessary drain on resources.

Shô Toku died in 1469, with no obvious successor. He was succeeded by the royal treasurer, Kanamaru, who after being chosen by a council of the top court elders took the throne as King [[Sho En|Shô En]], marking the beginning of the Second Shô Dynasty. Histories such as the ''[[Chuzan Seikan|Chûzan Seikan]]'' and other accounts created under the latter dynasty describe Shô Toku as an unvirtuous ruler, lacking the [[Mandate of Heaven]], a man filled with violence and cruelty. Other tales tell of his infatuation with a priestess of [[Kudaka Island]], and that his dalliance with her provided the opportunity for Kanamaru's rebellion. It is these same sources, written by officials in service to Shô En's descendants, which also emphasize Shô En's virtue and legitimacy.

Shô Toku died in 1469, with no obvious successor. He was succeeded by the royal treasurer, Kanamaru, who after being chosen by a council of the top court elders took the throne as King [[Sho En|Shô En]], marking the beginning of the Second Shô Dynasty. Histories such as the ''[[Chuzan Seikan|Chûzan Seikan]]'' and other accounts created under the latter dynasty describe Shô Toku as an evil and depraved ruler, lacking the [[Mandate of Heaven]], a man filled with violence and cruelty. Other tales tell of his infatuation with a priestess of [[Kudaka Island]], and that his dalliance with her provided the opportunity for Kanamaru's rebellion. It is these same sources, written by officials in service to Shô En's descendants, which also emphasize Shô En's virtue and legitimacy. According to some of these sources, Toku's line was considered so tainted by his wickedness that officials sought out his 7-8 year old heir, who had been in hiding at Madanmui gusuku<ref>also known as Madanmui utaki 真玉森御嶽 and Kunda gusuku, a sacred space within the Kyô-no-uchi at [[Shuri castle]]. Their bodies were then buried there, within the Kyô-no-uchi - that is, within the castle complex, just outside the innermost enclosures. Smits, ''Maritime Ryukyu'', 122-124.</ref> along with his mother (the queen), wet nurse, and others, and slaughtered them all, asking a supposedly "greatly surprised" Kanamaru if he would take the throne instead.<ref>Smits, ''Maritime Ryukyu'', 122-123.</ref>

==References==

==References==

*Kerr, George. ''Okinawa: The History of an Island People''. Revised Edition. Boston: Tuttle Publishing, 2000. pp100-101.

*Kerr, George. ''Okinawa: The History of an Island People''. Revised Edition. Boston: Tuttle Publishing, 2000. pp100-101.

*Smits, Gregory. ''Visions of Ryukyu''. Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press, 1999. p60.

*Smits, Gregory. ''Visions of Ryukyu''. Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press, 1999. p60.

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