Nanzan facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Kingdom of Nanzan 南山
1314–1429
Map of the Three Kingdoms (Sanzan) of Okinawa, with Nanzan in green.
Capital	Nanzan Castle
Common languages	Okinawan
Religion	Ryukyuan religion
Government	Monarchy
King (国王)
• 1337–1396	Ofusato
• 1388–1402	Oueishi
• 1403–1413	Ououso
History
• Established	1314
• Ryukyu unification	1429
• Japanese invasion	5 April 1609
Succeeded by Ryūkyū Kingdom

Nanzan (南山), also called Sannan (山南) in the past, was one of three small kingdoms on Okinawa Island. It was located in the southern part of the island during the 14th century. These kingdoms were independent political groups.

Historians sometimes call Nanzan a tiny country, a kingdom, or a principality. However, the rulers of Nanzan were not truly "kings." They were more like powerful local lords. These lords had their own loyal followers and lands.

Before this time, Okinawa was controlled by many local leaders. They were loosely connected by one main chieftain or king. But around 1314, the island split into three more defined kingdoms. This period is known as the Sanzan period, meaning "Three Mountains." It lasted for about 100 years. The period ended when King Shō Hashi of Chūzan conquered Hokuzan in 1419 and Nanzan in 1429.

After Okinawa was united, Nanzan became a "fu" (府), which means a prefecture. However, it no longer had any real administrative power within the new Ryukyu Kingdom.

History of Nanzan

The Three Kingdoms Period: "King of Sannan"

Nanzan began in 1314. At that time, Tamagusuku became the main chieftain of Okinawa. He inherited this role from his father, Eiji. But Tamagusuku was not a strong leader. He could not keep the loyalty of all the local lords.

Because of this, a powerful local chieftain, the Lord of Ōzato, left Tamagusuku. He moved south from his home in Urasoe. Many smaller chieftains who were loyal to him followed. They set up their base in Ōzato gusuku, near the town of Itoman. This became the kingdom of Nanzan. Another powerful chieftain went north and created the kingdom of Hokuzan. Tamagusuku was left with only the central part of the island, which became the kingdom of Chūzan.

Nanzan was a very small territory. It had limited resources, just like the other two kingdoms on Okinawa. Despite its size, Nanzan lasted for about a century. It benefited from sea trade. Its location at Ōzato Castle was also helpful. The castle was on tall cliffs, with an inlet from the sea and its own dock.

Nanzan's ports were not as busy as Naha, which was Chūzan's main port. Still, Nanzan traded with Southeast Asia, China, and other nearby places. Chūzan started a special trade relationship with Ming Dynasty China in 1372. Nanzan and Hokuzan soon got similar trade status. However, Nanzan was only allowed to send one ship per trade mission.

Over the next 30 years, Nanzan sent 19 trade missions to China. Hokuzan sent nine, and Chūzan sent 52. These missions were meant for formal trade between governments. But officials from Nanzan, like those from the other kingdoms, sometimes did private trading and smuggling. Around 1381, a Nanzan envoy was scolded. He had brought silver into China to buy porcelain for himself.

Leaders and Unification

It is thought that for a while, two lords might have been fighting for control of Nanzan. Ofusato, the first lord of Nanzan, visited the Chinese Imperial Court in 1388. He died in Korea ten years later. Historians are unsure if the next leaders took power peacefully or by force. Because of this, the true line of rulers is not completely clear.

In the 1390s, the kings of all three kingdoms died within a few years. This led to arguments over who would rule next across Okinawa. Similar events happened in Nanking when the Hongwu Emperor died in 1398. When Ofusato, the Lord of Nanzan, died in 1398, his brother Yafuso took power. Yafuso then asked China to officially recognize him as king.

Before this, China had only recognized one ruler on Okinawa. But now, all three kingdoms sent envoys. They competed for China's favor, which would bring prestige, wealth, and power. China did not respond for 11 years. In 1406, Bunei, King of Chūzan, was officially recognized by China. Taromai, king of Nanzan, received this honor in 1415. But arguments within his royal court stopped Nanzan from becoming more powerful.

Taromai died in the late 1420s. More disagreements about who would rule next further weakened Nanzan. Shō Hashi, the lord of Chūzan, saw this as an opportunity. He had already conquered Hokuzan ten years earlier. Now, he took control of Nanzan. This united the island of Okinawa into the Ryūkyū Kingdom. This event marked the end of Nanzan as an independent kingdom.

Nanzan After Unification

During the Ryukyu Kingdom period, Nanzan became one of three "fu" (fu (府, meaning "prefectures")). These were just names and had no real administrative power. By the end of the 17th century, the area once known as Sannan included 15 magiri (間切) (districts). These districts were Mawashi, Haebaru, Kochinda, Ōzato, Sashiki, Chinen, Tamagusuku, Mabuni, Gushichan, Kyan, Makabe, Takamine, Kanegusuku, Oroku, and Tomigusuku.

During King Shō Kei's rule, the name "Sannan" (山南) was officially changed to "Nanzan" (南山).

Rulers of Nanzan