Aranpo

• Japanese/Chinese: 亜蘭匏 (Aranpou / Yàlánpáo)

Aranpô was the first "prime minister" (国相) of the Okinawan kingdom of Chûzan, serving under Kings Satto and Bunei in the latter half of the 14th century.

He served as assistant envoy on a tribute mission to China in 1382, and traveled to China again several times between then and 1398. Aranpô was named "prime minister" and was elevated to the Senior Fifth Rank in 1394; this placed him on par with changshi officials in China. Aranpô traveled to China that same year, once again, this time in his official capacity as "prime minister."

References

• Tomiyama Kazuyuki, Ryûkyû ôkoku no gaikô to ôken, Yoshikawa kôbunkan (2004), 48.
• "Aranpô," Okinawa Compact Encyclopedia, Ryukyu Shimpo, 1 March 2003.