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Nanzan first came into being in 1314 when [[Tamagusuku]] inherited the role of head chieftain of all of Okinawa from his father [[Eiji]]; He did not have the charisma or leadership qualities to command the loyalty of all the local lords, and so the Lord of Ôzato, one of many powerful local chieftains, fled south from his home in [[Urasoe]], with a number of lesser chieftains loyal to him, and established himself in [[Ozato gusuku|Ôzato gusuku]] near the town of [[Itoman]]. Another powerful chieftain fled north and established the kingdom of Hokuzan, leaving Tamagusuku in control only of the central part of the island, which thus became the kingdom of Chûzan.

Nanzan first came into being in 1314 when [[Tamagusuku]] inherited the role of head chieftain of all of Okinawa from his father [[Eiji]]; He did not have the charisma or leadership qualities to command the loyalty of all the local lords, and so the Lord of Ôzato, one of many powerful local chieftains, fled south from his home in [[Urasoe]], with a number of lesser chieftains loyal to him, and established himself in [[Ozato gusuku|Ôzato gusuku]] near the town of [[Itoman]]. Another powerful chieftain fled north and established the kingdom of Hokuzan, leaving Tamagusuku in control only of the central part of the island, which thus became the kingdom of Chûzan.

Nanzan, like the two kingdoms with which it shared the tiny island of Okinawa, consisted of a miniscule territory, and correspondingly limited resources. Nevertheless, the kingdom survived for roughly a century, benefiting from sea trade, and from the advantageous location of Ôzato castle, situated atop tall bluffs, with an inlet from the sea and its own dedicated dock. Though its ports were not nearly as active as [[Naha]], the chief port of Chûzan, the kingdom enjoyed its share of trade with Southeast Asia, China, and other nearby powers. Chûzan entered a [[tribute|tributary relationship]] with [[Ming Dynasty]] [[China]] in 1372. Nanzan was granted similar commercial status shortly afterwards, along with Hokuzan, but was restricted to sending only one ship per tribute mission. Over roughly the next thirty years, nineteen tribute missions were sent from Nanzan to China; Hokuzan sent nine and Chûzan sent fifty-two. Though these missions were meant to be limited to formal trade between the governments of Okinawa and China, it was not unknown for Nanzan officials, like those from the other two kingdoms, to engage in private trade and smuggling. Around 1381, a Nanzan envoy was severely reprimanded for bringing silver into China with which he intended to purchase porcelains for his own personal material gain. But Nanzan was formally granted royal seals by the Ming in [[1383]], formally recognizing it as a legitimate kingdom (albeit alongside Chûzan, which was granted seals that same year). For reasons that are unclear, Nanzan was granted seals again two years later, at the same time as seals were granted to Hokuzan.<ref>Tomiyama Kazuyuki, ''Ryûkyû ôkoku no gaikô to ôken'', Tokyo: Yoshikawa kôbunkan (2004), 23.</ref>

Nanzan, like the two kingdoms with which it shared the tiny island of Okinawa, consisted of a miniscule territory, and correspondingly limited resources. Nevertheless, the kingdom survived for roughly a century, benefiting from sea trade, and from the advantageous location of Ôzato castle, situated atop tall bluffs, with an inlet from the sea and its own dedicated dock. Though its ports were not nearly as active as [[Naha]], the chief port of Chûzan, the kingdom enjoyed its share of trade with Southeast Asia, China, and other nearby powers. Chûzan entered a [[tribute|tributary relationship]] with [[Ming Dynasty]] [[China]] in 1372. Nanzan was granted similar commercial status shortly afterwards, along with Hokuzan. Initially, amidst a severe [[wako|pirate]] problem, the Ming placed no restrictions on the number of ships the three Ryukyuan kingdoms could send, nor on the size of the ships, and further provided ships to the Ryukyuan kingdoms, designating them official "carriers of [Ming] goods," a series of privileges extended to no other polity.<ref>Akamine, 6.</ref> This lasted only briefly, however, and before long Nanzan was restricted to sending only one ship per tribute mission. Over roughly the next thirty years, nineteen tribute missions were sent from Nanzan to China; Hokuzan sent nine and Chûzan sent fifty-two. Though these missions were meant to be limited to formal trade between the governments of Okinawa and China, it was not unknown for Nanzan officials, like those from the other two kingdoms, to engage in private trade and smuggling. Around 1381, a Nanzan envoy was severely reprimanded for bringing silver into China with which he intended to purchase porcelains for his own personal material gain. But Nanzan was formally granted royal seals by the Ming in [[1383]], formally recognizing it as a legitimate kingdom (albeit alongside Chûzan, which was granted seals that same year). For reasons that are unclear, Nanzan was granted seals again two years later, at the same time as seals were granted to Hokuzan.<ref>Tomiyama Kazuyuki, ''Ryûkyû ôkoku no gaikô to ôken'', Tokyo: Yoshikawa kôbunkan (2004), 23.</ref>

It is believed that, for a time, there may have been two lords vying for control of Nanzan. [[Ofusato]], the first lord of Nanzan, presented himself to the Chinese Imperial Court in 1388, and died while in [[Korea]], ten years later. Theories abound about whether the process of succession in Nanzan was a natural, peaceful one, or whether each successive king achieved his position by rising up again, and killing, his predecessor. As a result, the true lineage is also obscured.

It is believed that, for a time, there may have been two lords vying for control of Nanzan. [[Ofusato]], the first lord of Nanzan, presented himself to the Chinese Imperial Court in 1388, and died while in [[Korea]], ten years later. Theories abound about whether the process of succession in Nanzan was a natural, peaceful one, or whether each successive king achieved his position by rising up again, and killing, his predecessor. As a result, the true lineage is also obscured.