Eiso dynasty

The Eiso dynasty[1] (英祖王統) was the third dynasty in the traditional historiography of Okinawa Island. It was established by Eiso in 1259. Chūzan Seikan, the first official history of the Ryūkyū Kingdom, claimed that Eiso was a descendant of the ancient Tenson dynasty.[2] During Gihon's reign, Okinawa sufferred from several terrible disasters, including storm, flood and famine.[3] Around 1254, Gihon appointed Eiso to be regent (sessei). Seven years later, Gihon abdicated in favor of Eiso, whom established the Eiso dynasty in the same year.[4] Gihon had to hand over his power because he was unable to manage these disasters and that discontent made it necessary to share authority with a representative chosen from the old Tenson chieftains; or a rival from Tenson chieftains forced Gihon to relinquish power.[3] Though commonly called the "kings", the Okinawan rulers at that time should be more accurately identified as paramount chiefs, or overlords among aji during the Gusuku period.

George H. Kerr suggested that the stories of Shunten and Eiso dynasties "reflect the increasing penetration of Japanese influence" among Ryukyu Islands.[5]

The Eiso dynasty had five kings, lasted from 1259 to 1349. When the fourth ruler Tamagusuku ascended the throne in 1314, the Okinawa Island fell into confusion and split into three principalities: Chūzan, Nanzan and Hokuzan.[2] The lord (aji) of Ōzato left for his own castle and declared himself to be King of Nanzan, while the lord of Nakijin declared himself independent of Chūzan and crowned himself as the King of Hokuzan.[6] On the death of the last king Seii in 1349, the last king of Eiso dynasty died. Satto, the Governor of Urasoe, seized the throne for himself and established the Satto dynasty.[7]

List of rulers
Name Kanji Divine name[8] Reign Age at death
Eiso 英祖 Wezo-no-tedako
英祖日子		 1260–1299 70
Taisei 大成 Unknown 1300–1308 9 or 61
Eiji 英慈 Unknown 1309–1313 45
Tamagusuku 玉城 Unknown 1314–1336 40
Seii 西威 Unknown 1337–1354 21

Notes
  1. Richard Pearson (2013). Ancient Ryukyu: An Archaeological Study of Island Communities. University of Hawaii Press. ISBN 9780824865894. The victorious Ryukyu Kingdom compiled the Chūzan seikan as its history in the seventeenth century AD, outlining a succession of three early dynasties (Haneji 1983). These were the Tenson Dynasty, the Eiso Dynasty (AD 1260 to 1349), and the Satto Dynasty (AD 1350 to 1405).
  2. Chūzan Seikan, vol. 2
  3. Kerr. p53.
  4. Chūzan Seikan, vol. 1
  5. Kerr. p58–59.
  6. Kerr. p61.
  7. Shimaziri District Elementary School Social Studies Research (島尻地区小学校社会科研究会, Shimajiri Chiku Shōgakkō Shakaika Kenkyūkai) (2002). Okinawa History Biographical Dictionary (沖縄歴史人名事典, Okinawa rekishi jinmei jiten), p. 85.
  8. 琉球国王の神号と『おもろさうし』 (PDF) (in Japanese).

References
  • Kerr, George H. (October 2000). Okinawa: The History of an Island People (revised ed.). Singapore: Tuttle Publishing. ISBN 978-0-8048-2087-5.


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