Chūzan facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Kingdom of Chūzan 中山
1314–1429
Map of the Three Kingdoms (Sanzan) of Okinawa, with Chūzan in purple
Capital	Urasoe
Common languages	Ryukyuan, Chinese
Religion	Ryukyuan religion
Government	Monarchy
King (国王)
• 1314–1336	Tamagusuku
• 1355–1397	Satto
• 1398–1406	Bunei
History
• Established	1314
• Ryukyuan unification	1429
• Japanese invasion	5 April 1609
Preceded by Succeeded by Lordship of Urasoe Ryukyu Kingdom

Chūzan (pronounced Choo-zahn) was one of three kingdoms that ruled the island of Okinawa in the 1300s. Before this, Okinawa had many small leaders. These leaders were loosely connected by one main chieftain or king. But after 1314, the island split into three more organized kingdoms. This period was called the Sanzan period, meaning "Three Mountains."

The Sanzan period lasted about 100 years. It ended when Chūzan's King Shō Hashi conquered the other two kingdoms. He took over Hokuzan in 1419 and Nanzan in 1429. The united island became known as the Ryūkyū Kingdom. However, many official papers still called it "Chūzan" for a long time.

The Start of Chūzan Kingdom

In 1314, a young man named Tamagusuku became king of Okinawa. He was only nineteen years old. Tamagusuku took over from his father, Eiji. But Tamagusuku was not a very strong leader. He struggled to earn the respect of the local lords, called aji.

Because of this, many lords rebelled against him. The lord of Ozato moved south and created the kingdom of Nanzan (Southern Mountain). The lord of Nakijin, who lived in the north, declared himself king of Hokuzan (Northern Mountain). Tamagusuku, based in Urasoe, became the king of Chūzan.

Early Challenges and Changes

Tamagusuku died in 1336. His son, Seii, became king at just ten years old. Seii's rule was short. His mother's actions caused him to lose support from the local lords.

At first, these "kingdoms" were not much different from the smaller groups before them. The kings didn't have much more power. Their governments were not very organized. But over time, this changed. The kings gained more power. Their governments became much more organized. This was especially true by the time the three kingdoms became one united Ryukyu Kingdom.

Chūzan Becomes a Trading Power

Around 1349–1355, Seii was overthrown. A new king named Satto took power. His rule marked a big change for Chūzan. It became a small but important player in trade and politics. Many of the rules and relationships Satto started lasted for hundreds of years.

Satto began trading with other countries. He made friends with states like the Ayutthaya Kingdom in Thailand and the Joseon Dynasty in Korea. This was the start of Okinawa's important role in regional trade.

In 1372, the first visitors from China's Ming dynasty arrived. This began a special relationship called "tributary relations." Chūzan (and later the united Ryukyu Kingdom) would send gifts to China. In return, China's emperor would officially recognize each new Ryukyuan king. China had a huge influence on Okinawa for 500 years. This included its politics, economy, and culture.

A Growing Government and Culture

During Satto's time, the royal government started to become more organized. A group of officials began to rule in the king's name. They slowly replaced the king's direct rule.

A special community called Kumemura was built for Chinese immigrants. The Chinese people living there, and their descendants, became important. They served Chūzan as diplomats, translators, and government officials. Kumemura quickly became a cultural center for Ryukyu. It was like a partner to the political capital at Shuri and the busy port of Naha.

Okinawan scholars also went to China to study. A community for them was set up in Fukien, China. This helped create traditions that continued for centuries.

Stronger Ties and New Ideas

Satto's son, Bunei, became king in 1395. He continued his father's work. Relations with China grew even stronger. New buildings were made to welcome Chinese visitors to Chūzan. Trade was booming. Chūzan also expanded its relationships with other countries.

China accepted gifts from Hokuzan and Nanzan too. But they only officially recognized the King of Chūzan as the main leader of Ryukyu. Chūzan kept its formal ties with Thailand and Korea. It also traded with places like Java and Sumatra.

Chūzan was the only Ryukyuan kingdom to form official ties with Japan's Ashikaga shogunate. This happened in 1403. These political advantages, plus controlling Naha (the busiest port), made Chūzan much stronger than its neighbors.

Chūzan also benefited culturally. Trade brought new ideas. Many countries in the region were experiencing cultural growth. It's believed that Buddhism from Korea and Shintō from Japan first came to Okinawa in a big way during this time. Students and travelers brought back books, statues, and ideas from Korea. King Bunei also promised to help Koreans who were shipwrecked or attacked by Japanese pirates (called wakō).

Organizing the Kingdom

Bunei's rule also saw big improvements in how the royal government was organized. More people could read and write. Government papers, especially about trade and diplomacy, were first collected in 1403. This collection was called the "Treasury of Royal Succession" (Rekidai Hōan). It was updated regularly until 1619.

However, this better organization didn't mean political peace. The kings of Nanzan and Hokuzan, along with the Chinese emperor, all died within a few years (1395–1398). These events caused tension between the three kingdoms. All of them wanted China's favor. Bunei himself didn't get his official recognition from China until 1406. This was ten years after he became king, and less than a year before he died.

The Rise of Shō Hashi

Because of these problems, the local lords (aji) started to gain more power. One aji named Hashi was very ambitious. In 1402, he took over the territory of a neighboring lord. Five years later, he led a rebellion. He overthrew King Bunei. Hashi then made his own father, Shishō, the new King of Chūzan.

Hashi was the real power behind the throne. He led Chūzan's army against the other kingdoms. He conquered Hokuzan in 1419 and Nanzan in 1429. In between these victories, he officially became king after his father. China's court gave him the family name "Shang" (or Shō in Japanese).

This is how the three kingdoms became the united Ryūkyū Kingdom. The name "Chūzan" didn't disappear completely. It was still used to refer to the united kingdom or its king until the late 1800s.

Kings of Chūzan