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The scholar-aristocracy of the Ryûkyû Kingdom was divided into four groups of lineages: those of the capital city of [[Shuri]], the port town of [[Naha]], the port town of [[Tomari]], and the Confucian center of [[Kumemura]]. Within each of these towns, there were only a handful of prominent lineages, as defined by Chinese-style surnames. A Chinese-style "given name" (''nanori'') would be attached to the Chinese-style surname, different from one's Ryukyuan-style given name. For example, Nakijin Chôei, mentioned above, went by the Chinese-style name Shô Hôki 向邦輝, and should not be called Shô Chôei or Nakijin Kokki, mixing up the two.<ref>This Wiki may be committing that error for members of the [[Bai family]]. I am hoping to find fuller information on these families/individuals so as to rectify this problem; however, in the meantime, I lack sufficient information on the various names of these individuals to be able to represent them properly.</ref>

The scholar-aristocracy of the Ryûkyû Kingdom was divided into four groups of lineages: those of the capital city of [[Shuri]], the port town of [[Naha]], the port town of [[Tomari]], and the Confucian center of [[Kumemura]]. Within each of these towns, there were only a handful of prominent lineages, as defined by Chinese-style surnames. A Chinese-style "given name" (''nanori'') would be attached to the Chinese-style surname, different from one's Ryukyuan-style given name. For example, Nakijin Chôei, mentioned above, went by the Chinese-style name Shô Hôki 向邦輝, and should not be called Shô Chôei or Nakijin Kokki, mixing up the two.<ref>This Wiki may be committing that error for members of the [[Bai family]]. I am hoping to find fuller information on these families/individuals so as to rectify this problem; however, in the meantime, I lack sufficient information on the various names of these individuals to be able to represent them properly.</ref>

Generally, the Chinese-style name was only used in communications with Chinese offices or individuals, or other similar contexts, and not in interactions with fellow Ryukyuans. However, the people of Kumemura were an exception to this, using their Chinese-style names more regularly.<ref>Ono Masako, Tomita Chinatsu, Kanna Keiko, Taguchi Kei, "Shiryô shôkai Kishi Akimasa bunko Satsuyû kikô," ''Shiryôhenshûshitsu kiyô'' 31 (2006), 239.</ref>

Generally, the Chinese-style name was only used in communications with Chinese offices or individuals, or other similar contexts, and not in interactions with fellow Ryukyuans. However, the people of Kumemura were an exception to this, using their Chinese-style names more regularly.<ref>Ono Masako, Tomita Chinatsu, Kanna Keiko, Taguchi Megumi, "Shiryô shôkai Kishi Akimasa bunko Satsuyû kikô," ''Shiryôhenshûshitsu kiyô'' 31 (2006), 239.</ref>

'''Royal family''': Members of the royal family bore one of two surnames. The surname Shô 尚 (C: ''Shàng'') was used largely only by those of particularly close relation to the royal house, while the surname Shô 向 (same pronunciation, different [[kanji|character]]) was used by those of collateral houses beginning in [[1683]], in order to distinguish them from those closer to the line of succession. Some examples of the former include the kings [[Sho Shin|Shô Shin]] 尚真, [[Sho Nei|Shô Nei]] 尚寧, and [[Sho Tai|Shô Tai]] 尚泰, the Crown Princes [[Prince Sho Ko|Shô Kô]] 尚宏 and [[Sho Ten|Shô Ten]] 尚典, and royal prince [[Sho Shoi|Shô Shôi]] 尚韶威, third son of King Shô Shin. Despite being only a distant relation to the royal house, the prominent official [[Urasoe Choki|Urasoe Chôki]] seems to have also used the royal character 尚 in his Chinese-style name, Shô Genro 尚元魯. Some examples of the latter surname include Nakijin Chôei mentioned above, also known as Shô Hôki 向邦輝; the prominent royal advisor [[Sho Shoken|Shô Shôken]] 向象賢 also known as Haneji Chôshû; and [[Yakabi Choki|Yakabi Chôki]], also known as Shô Zenmo 向全謨.

'''Royal family''': Members of the royal family bore one of two surnames. The surname Shô 尚 (C: ''Shàng'') was used largely only by those of particularly close relation to the royal house, while the surname Shô 向 (same pronunciation, different [[kanji|character]]) was used by those of collateral houses beginning in [[1683]], in order to distinguish them from those closer to the line of succession. Some examples of the former include the kings [[Sho Shin|Shô Shin]] 尚真, [[Sho Nei|Shô Nei]] 尚寧, and [[Sho Tai|Shô Tai]] 尚泰, the Crown Princes [[Prince Sho Ko|Shô Kô]] 尚宏 and [[Sho Ten|Shô Ten]] 尚典, and royal prince [[Sho Shoi|Shô Shôi]] 尚韶威, third son of King Shô Shin. Despite being only a distant relation to the royal house, the prominent official [[Urasoe Choki|Urasoe Chôki]] seems to have also used the royal character 尚 in his Chinese-style name, Shô Genro 尚元魯. Some examples of the latter surname include Nakijin Chôei mentioned above, also known as Shô Hôki 向邦輝; the prominent royal advisor [[Sho Shoken|Shô Shôken]] 向象賢 also known as Haneji Chôshû; and [[Yakabi Choki|Yakabi Chôki]], also known as Shô Zenmo 向全謨.