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Shô Shishô was the first king of the first [[Sho dynasty|Shô dynasty]] of [[Kingdom of Ryukyu|Ryûkyû]].
Shô Shishô was the first king of the first [[Sho dynasty|Shô dynasty]] of [[Kingdom of Ryukyu|Ryûkyû]].
Originally from [[Iheya Island]], he was a son of the lord of Samegawa. Shishô's son [[Sho Hashi|Shô Hashi]], ''[[anji]]'' of [[Sashiki]] ''[[magiri]]'', overthrew [[Bunei]] of [[Chuzan|Chûzan]] in [[1406]] and appointed Shô Shishô king, while he himself served essentially as regent and ''de facto'' ruler for the duration of his father's reign. Shô Shishô received formal [[investiture]] from the Chinese in [[1408]]<ref>Kerr, George. ''Okinawa: The History of an Island People''. Revised Edition. Boston: Tuttle Publishing, 2000. p184.</ref>, and held the throne until his death in 1421.
Originally from [[Iheya Island]], he was a son of the lord of Samegawa. Shishô's son [[Sho Hashi|Shô Hashi]], ''[[anji]]'' of [[Sashiki gusuku|Sashiki]] ''[[magiri]]'', overthrew [[Bunei]] of [[Chuzan|Chûzan]] in [[1406]] and appointed Shô Shishô king, while he himself served essentially as regent and ''de facto'' ruler for the duration of his father's reign. Shô Shishô received formal [[investiture]] from the Chinese in [[1408]]<ref>Kerr, George. ''Okinawa: The History of an Island People''. Revised Edition. Boston: Tuttle Publishing, 2000. p184.</ref>, and held the throne until his death in 1421.
As king, he worked to incorporate officials of Chinese origin more fully into the Chûzan/Ryûkyû court. By granting them posts and titles which derived from himself, and not solely from the [[Ming Dynasty|Ming]] Court, he strengthened their reliance on - and thus loyalty to - the Ryukyuan court.<ref>Tomiyama Kazuyuki, ''Ryûkyû ôkoku no gaikô to ôken'', Yoshikawa kôbunkan (2004), 48.</ref>
As king, he worked to incorporate officials of Chinese origin more fully into the Chûzan/Ryûkyû court. By granting them posts and titles which derived from himself, and not solely from the [[Ming Dynasty|Ming]] Court, he strengthened their reliance on - and thus loyalty to - the Ryukyuan court.<ref>Tomiyama Kazuyuki, ''Ryûkyû ôkoku no gaikô to ôken'', Yoshikawa kôbunkan (2004), 48.</ref>
Though generally considered the first king of the first Shô dynasty, Shô Shishô is only referred to as "king" (国王, J: ''kokuô'', C: ''guowang'') in some historical sources, and not in others. The historical understanding of his position or status is thus known to have been ambiguous.
Though generally considered the first king of the first Shô dynasty, Shô Shishô is only referred to as "king" (国王, J: ''kokuô'', C: ''guowang'') in some historical sources, and not in others. The historical understanding of his position or status is thus known to have been ambiguous.
Shô Shishô is buried near Sashiki ''gusuku'', at a site called [[Sashiki yodore|Sashiki yôdore]] which is today located within the Japan Self-Defense Forces' Chinen Air Base. Shishô is the only king buried there; Hashi and his successors are buried elsewhere, at a site in modern-day [[Yomitan]] Village.<ref>Gregory Smits, ''Maritime Ryukyu'', University of Hawaii Press (2019), 117.</ref>
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