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*''Born: ??''
*''Died: ??, Fukien Province, China''
*''Other Names:'' 向徳宏 ''(J: Shô Tokukô; C: Xiang Dehong)''
*''Japanese/Okinawan'': 幸地親方朝常 ''(Kouchi ueekata Choujou)''
Kôchi ''ueekata'' Chôjô was a [[Kingdom of Ryukyu|Ryukyuan]] aristocrat known for leading a movement to petition the government of [[Qing Dynasty]] China to rescue the Kingdom of Ryûkyû from annexation by [[Meiji Japan]], following the 1879 announcement by the [[government of Meiji Japan]] to do so.
It was typical at this time for Ryukyuan aristocrats to have [[Okinawan name|multiple names]]. Chôjô held the title of ''[[ueekata]]'' of the domain of Kôchi, and was thus known as "Kôchi ueekata". He was also known as Shô Tokukô, or Xiang Dehong in the Chinese pronunciation, a name he would have used in China and in Chinese documents and communications<ref>"''Kōchi Chōjō to ha''" (幸地朝常とは, "Kōchi Chōjō is..."). [http://kotobank.jp/word/%E5%B9%B8%E5%9C%B0%E6%9C%9D%E5%B8%B8 Kotobank.jp]. Accessed 17 September 2009.</ref>.
==Life==
Details of his early life are unknown. In 1876, however, Chôjô left for China from Unten Harbor on the [[Motobu Peninsula]], in the north of [[Okinawa Island]], claiming he was simply crossing over to nearby [[Iejima]]<ref name=jinmei>"Kōchi Chōjō." ''Okinawa rekishi jinmei jiten'' (沖縄歴史人名事典, "Encyclopedia of People of Okinawan History"). Naha: Okinawa Bunka-sha, 1996. p 28.</ref>. Arriving in China, he adopted Chinese (Manchu) hairstyle and dress and, with the [[Ryukyu-kan|Ryûkyû-kan]] in Fuzhou as his base, he began traveling to various parts, seeking to gather support for his cause, namely that of convincing the Qing government to aid Ryûkyû in remaining independent from Japan<ref name=jinmei/>.
Chôjô gathered other Ryukyuans who, like himself, had fled for China, including [[Rin Seiko|Rin Seikô]]<!--林世功--> and [[Sai Taitei]]<!--蔡大鼎--><ref>"Kōchi Chōjō." ''Okinawa konpakuto jiten'' (沖縄コンパクト事典, "Okinawa Compact Encyclopedia"). [http://ryukyushimpo.jp/news/storyid-41324-storytopic-121.html Ryukyu Shimpo]. 1 March 2003. Accessed 17 September 2009.</ref>. Together, they submitted numerous petitions to the Qing officials asking for help on behalf of the kingdom. Though there was little, if any, positive response, for a long time, Chôjô and others refused to give up<ref name=jinmei/>.
He died in Fukien Province<ref name=jinmei/>.
==References==
<references/>
[[Category:Ryukyu]]
[[Category:Nobility]]
[[Category:Meiji Period]]
*''Died: ??, Fukien Province, China''
*''Other Names:'' 向徳宏 ''(J: Shô Tokukô; C: Xiang Dehong)''
*''Japanese/Okinawan'': 幸地親方朝常 ''(Kouchi ueekata Choujou)''
Kôchi ''ueekata'' Chôjô was a [[Kingdom of Ryukyu|Ryukyuan]] aristocrat known for leading a movement to petition the government of [[Qing Dynasty]] China to rescue the Kingdom of Ryûkyû from annexation by [[Meiji Japan]], following the 1879 announcement by the [[government of Meiji Japan]] to do so.
It was typical at this time for Ryukyuan aristocrats to have [[Okinawan name|multiple names]]. Chôjô held the title of ''[[ueekata]]'' of the domain of Kôchi, and was thus known as "Kôchi ueekata". He was also known as Shô Tokukô, or Xiang Dehong in the Chinese pronunciation, a name he would have used in China and in Chinese documents and communications<ref>"''Kōchi Chōjō to ha''" (幸地朝常とは, "Kōchi Chōjō is..."). [http://kotobank.jp/word/%E5%B9%B8%E5%9C%B0%E6%9C%9D%E5%B8%B8 Kotobank.jp]. Accessed 17 September 2009.</ref>.
==Life==
Details of his early life are unknown. In 1876, however, Chôjô left for China from Unten Harbor on the [[Motobu Peninsula]], in the north of [[Okinawa Island]], claiming he was simply crossing over to nearby [[Iejima]]<ref name=jinmei>"Kōchi Chōjō." ''Okinawa rekishi jinmei jiten'' (沖縄歴史人名事典, "Encyclopedia of People of Okinawan History"). Naha: Okinawa Bunka-sha, 1996. p 28.</ref>. Arriving in China, he adopted Chinese (Manchu) hairstyle and dress and, with the [[Ryukyu-kan|Ryûkyû-kan]] in Fuzhou as his base, he began traveling to various parts, seeking to gather support for his cause, namely that of convincing the Qing government to aid Ryûkyû in remaining independent from Japan<ref name=jinmei/>.
Chôjô gathered other Ryukyuans who, like himself, had fled for China, including [[Rin Seiko|Rin Seikô]]<!--林世功--> and [[Sai Taitei]]<!--蔡大鼎--><ref>"Kōchi Chōjō." ''Okinawa konpakuto jiten'' (沖縄コンパクト事典, "Okinawa Compact Encyclopedia"). [http://ryukyushimpo.jp/news/storyid-41324-storytopic-121.html Ryukyu Shimpo]. 1 March 2003. Accessed 17 September 2009.</ref>. Together, they submitted numerous petitions to the Qing officials asking for help on behalf of the kingdom. Though there was little, if any, positive response, for a long time, Chôjô and others refused to give up<ref name=jinmei/>.
He died in Fukien Province<ref name=jinmei/>.
==References==
<references/>
[[Category:Ryukyu]]
[[Category:Nobility]]
[[Category:Meiji Period]]
