Profiles of Giants of the Ryukyuan Music Performing Arts ②

Tansui Uekata (1623 – 1683)

Born in Shuri, at age 15 he became an envoy to Satsuma’s court. While he was in Kagoshima, he excelled at the studies of singing, dancing, and the art of tea. These same attributes were promoted for employment in the government of Ryukyu by the policies of Haneji Choshu. He is credited with being the father of Ryukyuan Classical Music. He compiled old worship songs, festival tunes as well as agricultural working songs as well as original pieces. He was fired because of fraternization with a political enemy of Haneji Choshu. It was during this period of extreme poverty that he became a monk and delved deeper into uta-sanshin. He in turn brought out the subtle beauty of what came to be known as Ryukyu classical music.

After Haneji Choshu passed on, Tansui Uekata was summoned back to Shuri. He was hired as King Sho Tei`s Royal Chief Tea Master. His uta-sanshin legacy became known as Tansui Ryu(style). His major students included Tamagusuku Chokun, the father of Kumi Udui, Shinzato Choujuu, and Takushi Ryoutaku. The first written copy of Tansui Ryu was not transcribed however until beginning of the Meiji era, by Nago Ryoho.