The Last King: Shō Tai and the End of Ryukyu's Sovereignty

👶 Accession and Western Pressures

Shō Tai ascended to the throne at the tender age of six, ruling for approximately 31 years. The initial decades of his reign were significantly shaped by the increasing demands from Western powers for trade, formal diplomatic relations, and the right for Westerners to enter and settle in the Ryukyu Islands.^[2] While Westerners had visited Ryukyu for decades, the 1850s marked a critical shift towards formalizing these interactions, driven by external geopolitical pressures.

🤝 The Lew Chew Compact

A notable event was the repeated visits of Commodore Matthew C. Perry, both before and after his historic arrival at Uraga Harbor in 1853. Despite Perry's persistent demands and his forceful entry into Shuri Castle, he was never granted an audience with the young King. Instead, he engaged with the royal regent and high-ranking officials, which ultimately led to the signing of the Lew Chew Compact in 1854.^[4] This agreement, which opened Ryukyu to trade and relations with the United States, mirrored the Convention of Kanagawa signed by the Tokugawa Shogunate in the same year, signaling a new era of foreign engagement for the isolated kingdom.

⚖️ Shifting Alliances and Investiture

Following the Lew Chew Compact, other Western powers soon established trade and relations with Ryukyu. This was initially supported by Shimazu Nariakira, the lord of Satsuma, who perceived these foreign interactions as opportunities to enhance his domain's wealth and influence.^[5] However, Nariakira's sudden death in 1858 brought his half-brother, Shimazu Hisamitsu, to power. Hisamitsu reversed these policies, adopting a radical opposition to foreign influence that would significantly impact Japan in the subsequent decade.^[6][7] In 1864, the customary mission was dispatched to China to seek formal investiture from the Qing Imperial Court, which was granted two years later, formally recognizing Shō Tai's authority as king by the Tongzhi Emperor.^[8][9]

💔 The Ryukyu Disposition

On March 27, 1879, Shō Tai formally abdicated under direct orders from Tokyo, a pivotal event known as the Ryukyu Disposition. This act abolished the Ryukyu Han and established Okinawa Prefecture, with administrative officials appointed directly from the central government in Tokyo.^[13] The former King departed his palace on March 30, though his relocation to Tokyo was delayed by claims of illness and inability to travel. He finally left Okinawa on May 27, arriving in Yokohama on June 8, accompanied by an entourage of 96 courtiers, before proceeding to Tokyo.^[14][15]

💸 Integration into the Kazoku Peerage

Following an audience with Emperor Meiji on June 17, 1879, Shō Tai was integrated into the newly established kazoku peerage, the hereditary aristocracy of Imperial Japan. On May 2, 1885, he was formally granted the title of Marquess (kōshaku).^[16] This title provided him with a hereditary seat in the House of Peers and a substantial stipend from the Japanese government, effectively transforming him from a sovereign monarch into a member of the Japanese nobility. Chinese Viceroy Li Hongzhang protested against the annexation, attempting to reopen the sovereignty question with former U.S. President Ulysses S. Grant and Tokyo officials, but without success.^[17]

💼 Life in Tokyo and Legacy

Despite his new status, many of the traditional formalities and rituals associated with the Ryukyuan King continued to be observed for Shō Tai. He became a prominent figure in Tokyo's elite social circles and ventured into business. Attempts by interests associated with the Shō family to establish a copper mining operation in Okinawa in 1887 proved largely unsuccessful. However, his business managers successfully founded "Maruichi Shōten," an Osaka-based company specializing in the sale and distribution of native Okinawan products across Japan.^[19] Shō Tai returned to Okinawa Prefecture only once in his later life, in 1884, to pay respects to his ancestors at Tamaudun, the royal mausoleum in Shuri.^[2] He passed away in 1901 at the age of 58 and was interred in Tamaudun. His family maintained traditional Ryukyuan mourning rituals for two years before fully adopting the customs, attire, and language of the Japanese kazoku aristocracy.^[20] The descendants of the Shō family continue to assert their claim as the legitimate rulers of Okinawa, highlighting the enduring historical and cultural significance of Shō Tai's lineage.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Royal Lineage

Shō Tai was the son of King Shō Iku and Gentei, Sashiki Aji-ganashi. He continued the Second Shō dynasty, which had ruled the Ryukyu Kingdom for centuries. His primary spouse was Omomatsurugane, also known as Sashiki Aji-ganashi. He also had several concubines, including Matsurugane (Matsukawa Aji), Matsurugane (Hirara Aji), Yamamoto Teu, Kataya Tei, Matsumoto Kō, Tanaka Kō, Kanda Natsu, and Tanaka Hana.

👑 Issue and Descendants

Shō Tai had numerous children, ensuring the continuation of the Shō family line. His most prominent issue included:

• Shō Ten: Crown Prince of Ryukyu, who succeeded him as Marquess.
• Shō In: Prince Ginowan Chōkō.
• Prince Shō Kō.
• Shō Jun: Prince Matsuyama.
• Shō Shū: Prince Tamagusuku Shō Shū.

He also had several daughters, including Princess Tsukayama (Matsurugane), Princess Amuro (Manabetaru), Princess Makishi, Princess Kadekaru, Shō Higari, Shō Toki, Masako (wife of Kanna Kenwa), Yaeko (wife of Tō Issen), Chiyoko, Kimiko, Sayoko, and Suzuko, and Sadako. The descendants of Shō Tai continue to maintain a presence and, as noted, some still press their claim as the legitimate rulers of Okinawa, highlighting the enduring historical and cultural significance of Shō Tai's lineage.

📜 References