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Shô Hô was king of the [[Ryukyu Kingdom|Ryûkyû Kingdom]] from [[1621]] to [[1640]], succeeding [[Sho Nei|Shô Nei]], during whose reign forces from [[Satsuma han]] [[invasion of Ryukyu|invaded Ryûkyû]]. The "dual [[tribute]]" system, in which the kingdom was subordinate to both China and Satsuma (Japan), a situation into which Shô Nei was unwillingly forced, became more formalized under Shô Hô.

Shô Hô was king of the [[Ryukyu Kingdom|Ryûkyû Kingdom]] from [[1621]] to [[1640]], succeeding [[Sho Nei|Shô Nei]], during whose reign forces from [[Satsuma han]] [[invasion of Ryukyu|invaded Ryûkyû]]. The "dual [[tribute]]" system, in which the kingdom was subordinate to both China and Satsuma (Japan), a situation into which Shô Nei was unwillingly forced, became more formalized under Shô Hô.

As a young man, Shô Hô, then known as Prince Sashiki Chôshô, was captured by Satsuma forces during the invasion, on 1609/4/3<ref>''Miyakonojô to Ryûkyû ôkoku'' 都城と琉球王国, Miyakonojô Shimazu Residence (2012), 24.</ref>, and then spent a number of years as a political hostage in [[Kagoshima]], beginning in [[1614]]. His son, [[Sho Kyo|Shô Kyô]], was named Crown Prince in [[1616]], but as he was only nine years old at the time of Shô Nei's death in [[1620]] - and particularly as Ryûkyû's domestic and foreign affairs were still unsettled in the aftermath of the [[1609]] invasion - many officials, including [[Sanshikan]] member [[Yuntanzan Seisho|Yuntanzan Seishô]]<!--読谷山親方盛韶、毛鳳朝-->, feared the instability that having such a young king might cause.<ref name=tomi67>>Tomiyama Kazuyuki, ''Ryûkyû ôkoku no gaikô to ôken'', Yoshikawa kôbunkan (2004), 67-68.</ref> Shô Kyô's father, Prince Sashiki Chôshôm thus took the throne in 1621, taking the name King Shô Hô. He later studied Confucian classics, ''[[kanbun]]'', and the like under [[Tomari Jochiku]], alongside [[Sho Shoken|Shô Shôken]], who would later go on to be a top-ranking and particularly influential court official & royal advisor.

As a young man, Shô Hô, then known as Prince Sashiki Chôshô, was captured by Satsuma forces during the invasion, on 1609/4/3<ref>''Miyakonojô to Ryûkyû ôkoku'' 都城と琉球王国, Miyakonojô Shimazu Residence (2012), 24.</ref>, and then spent a number of years as a political hostage in [[Kagoshima]], beginning in [[1614]]. His son, [[Sho Kyo|Shô Kyô]], was named Crown Prince in [[1616]], but as he was only nine years old at the time of Shô Nei's death in [[1620]] - and particularly as Ryûkyû's domestic and foreign affairs were still unsettled in the aftermath of the [[1609]] invasion - many officials, including [[Sanshikan]] member [[Yuntanzan Seisho|Yuntanzan Seishô]]<!--読谷山親方盛韶、毛鳳朝-->, feared the instability that having such a young king might cause.<ref name=tomi67>Tomiyama Kazuyuki, ''Ryûkyû ôkoku no gaikô to ôken'', Yoshikawa kôbunkan (2004), 67-68.</ref> Shô Kyô's father, Prince Sashiki Chôshôm thus took the throne in 1621, taking the name King Shô Hô. He later studied Confucian classics, ''[[kanbun]]'', and the like under [[Tomari Jochiku]], alongside [[Sho Shoken|Shô Shôken]], who would later go on to be a top-ranking and particularly influential court official & royal advisor.

As king, Shô Hô had to work to effect the restoration of the system of [[Chinese investiture envoys]], which was severed due to the invasions. Beijing required that not only the king but a majority of his court nobles be in support of an investiture mission being dispatched. Initially, a large faction at court opposed this move as continued trade with China would be just what Satsuma wanted to exploit Ryûkyû for; Shô Hô was successful, however, in the end, in negotiating with that faction and securing the reestablishment of [[tribute]]/investiture relations, which was a concession to Satsuma, but which also served to maintain the prestige of Ryûkyû and its monarchy, and to avoid raising the ire of Satsuma once again, which could have had disastrous results for the kingdom's sovereignty. After requesting investiture from Beijing in 1621, [[1625]], [[1626]], and [[1627]], Shô Hô finally received investiture in [[1633]].<ref name=tomi67/> This was to be the last investiture mission sent by the [[Ming Dynasty]].

As king, Shô Hô had to work to effect the restoration of the system of [[Chinese investiture envoys]], which was severed due to the invasions. Beijing required that not only the king but a majority of his court nobles be in support of an investiture mission being dispatched. Initially, a large faction at court opposed this move as continued trade with China would be just what Satsuma wanted to exploit Ryûkyû for; Shô Hô was successful, however, in the end, in negotiating with that faction and securing the reestablishment of [[tribute]]/investiture relations, which was a concession to Satsuma, but which also served to maintain the prestige of Ryûkyû and its monarchy, and to avoid raising the ire of Satsuma once again, which could have had disastrous results for the kingdom's sovereignty. After requesting investiture from Beijing in 1621, [[1625]], [[1626]], and [[1627]], Shô Hô finally received investiture in [[1633]].<ref name=tomi67/> This was to be the last investiture mission sent by the [[Ming Dynasty]].