Tokashiki Sanra
- Japanese: 渡嘉敷三良 (Tokashiki Sanra)
Tokashiki Sanra was a potter and artisan of roof tiles originally from China and active in Ryûkyû in the late 16th century.
Though his Chinese name is not known, he is believed to have come to Ryûkyû from China in the late 16th century, taking on the Ryukyuan name Tokashiki Sanra. He married a Ryukyuan woman and made his home in the village of Kokuba (today part of Naha City). It is said that he and his descendants played a key role in spreading the techniques of making roof tiles throughout the kingdom.
His fourth generation descendant, Ashimine peechin, produced roof tiles for the Seiden (main audience hall) of Shuri castle, and for various shrines and temples.
Sanra's tomb, believed to have been built sometime before 1604 in the Ryukyuan or Southern Chinese finchaa style, can be found in Midori-ga-oka Park, near Miebashi Station in Naha.
References
- Plaque at Miebashi Station.
- Plaque at tomb of Tokashiki Sanra, in Midori-ga-oka Park.
