| Perhaps the most famous of the so-called "rival chiefs" who battled at this time was [[Oyake Akahachi]], who rose to power on [[Ishigaki Island]] and then, while extending his power into neighboring islands and even setting his sights on the Miyakos, simultaneously declared "rebellion" against the kingdom, by refusing to pay taxes or [[tribute]]. This famously ended in King [[Sho Shin|Shô Shin]] sending a force of some 3,000 warriors to put an end to Akahachi's rebellion.<ref>"Oyake Akahachi." ''Okinawa rekishi jinmei jiten'' (沖縄歴史人名事典, "Encyclopedia of People of Okinawan History"). Naha: Okinawa Bunka-sha, 1996. p18.; Shinzato Keiji et al. ''Okinawa-ken no rekishi'' (History of Okinawa Prefecture). Tokyo: Yamakawa Publishing, 1996. p57.</ref> | | Perhaps the most famous of the so-called "rival chiefs" who battled at this time was [[Oyake Akahachi]], who rose to power on [[Ishigaki Island]] and then, while extending his power into neighboring islands and even setting his sights on the Miyakos, simultaneously declared "rebellion" against the kingdom, by refusing to pay taxes or [[tribute]]. This famously ended in King [[Sho Shin|Shô Shin]] sending a force of some 3,000 warriors to put an end to Akahachi's rebellion.<ref>"Oyake Akahachi." ''Okinawa rekishi jinmei jiten'' (沖縄歴史人名事典, "Encyclopedia of People of Okinawan History"). Naha: Okinawa Bunka-sha, 1996. p18.; Shinzato Keiji et al. ''Okinawa-ken no rekishi'' (History of Okinawa Prefecture). Tokyo: Yamakawa Publishing, 1996. p57.</ref> |
− | However, Akahachi only achieved such a position of power at the end of a series of other conflicts, in which he defeated figures such as [[Naata Ufushu]], [[Taira Kubo]]<!--平久保-->, and [[Nakama Mitsukeima Eigyoku]]<!--仲間満慶山英極-->. And, his conflict with the [[Shuri]] court (i.e. the Okinawa-based Kingdom) was not solely fought against forces from Okinawa; local elites such as [[Nakasone Toyomiya]] also opposed Akahachi, and in fact, Nakasone, the chief leader on [[Miyako Island]], used the conflict with Akahachi to seize [[Yonaguni Island]] and several other neighboring islands, and to seize power on Ishigaki itself, being named "chief" of the Miyako Islands by the Shuri government in the aftermath of the conflict.<ref>"[http://kotobank.jp/word/%E4%BB%B2%E5%AE%97%E6%A0%B9%E8%B1%8A%E8%A6%8B%E8%A6%AA Nakasone Toyomiya]." Kotobank.jp. (Originally from Takara, Kurayoshi. "Nakasone Toyomiya." ''Asahi Nippon Rekishi Jinbutsu Jiten'', Asahi Shimbun Publishers.) Accessed 11 July 2009.; "Nakasone Tuyumya." ''Okinawa konpakuto jiten'' (沖縄コンパクト事典, "Okinawa Compact Encyclopedia"). [http://ryukyushimpo.jp/news/storyid-42371-storytopic-121.html Ryukyu Shimpo] (琉球新報). 1 March 2003. Accessed 11 July 2009.; "Nakasone Tuyumiya Genga." ''Okinawa rekishi jinmei jiten'' (沖縄歴史人名事典, "Encyclopedia of People of Okinawan History"). Naha: Okinawa Bunka-sha, 1996. p54.</ref> | + | However, Akahachi only achieved such a position of power at the end of a series of other conflicts, in which he defeated figures such as [[Naata Ufushu]], [[Taira Kubo]]<!--平久保-->, and [[Nakama Mitsukeima Eigyoku]]<!--仲間満慶山英極-->. According to some legends, these three figures, along with Akahachi and others such as [[Miusuku Shishikadun]], existed in mutual peace and stability for some time, and may even have been friends, only breaking out into conflict later. The precise circumstances leading to the outbreak of fighting, and especially leading up to conflict with the [[Ryukyu Kingdom|Ryûkyû Kingdom]], remain unclear. According to some accounts, [[Nakasone Tuyumya]] of Miyako Island initiated the conflict by demanding that Akahachi submit to Shuri's authority, leading him to seek alliances with Miusuku Shishikadun on Hateruma and Nakama Mitsukeima of [[Kabira]], both of whom refused and ended up being killed, leading to Akahachi ended up in conflict with Naata Ufushu over control of Ishigaki, and Nakasone calling upon Shuri to send troops to pacify (defeat) all involved. |
| + | Official histories written by the Shuri court relate that Nakasone then used the conflict with Akahachi to seize [[Yonaguni Island]] and several other neighboring islands, and to seize power on Ishigaki itself, being named "chief" of the Miyako Islands by the Shuri government in the aftermath of the conflict.<ref>"[http://kotobank.jp/word/%E4%BB%B2%E5%AE%97%E6%A0%B9%E8%B1%8A%E8%A6%8B%E8%A6%AA Nakasone Toyomiya]." Kotobank.jp. (Originally from Takara, Kurayoshi. "Nakasone Toyomiya." ''Asahi Nippon Rekishi Jinbutsu Jiten'', Asahi Shimbun Publishers.) Accessed 11 July 2009.; "Nakasone Tuyumya." ''Okinawa konpakuto jiten'' (沖縄コンパクト事典, "Okinawa Compact Encyclopedia"). [http://ryukyushimpo.jp/news/storyid-42371-storytopic-121.html Ryukyu Shimpo] (琉球新報). 1 March 2003. Accessed 11 July 2009.; "Nakasone Tuyumiya Genga." ''Okinawa rekishi jinmei jiten'' (沖縄歴史人名事典, "Encyclopedia of People of Okinawan History"). Naha: Okinawa Bunka-sha, 1996. p54.</ref> However, much of this stems from only local legends, or from heavily biased Shuri court histories, and very little can be verified by additional sources. [[Gregory Smits]] suggests that while neither local legend nor official kingdom histories say so, most of these individuals (if they even existed at all under such names) were likely ''[[wako|wakô]]'' leaders, vying for power not as local indigenous chieftains emerging out of the indigenous peoples of independent islands, but rather as maritime individuals from elsewhere seeking to stake out spheres of influence for themselves.<ref>Smits, ''Maritime Ryukyu'', 57-58.</ref> |