Okinawa History/World Heritage Series c – Kings TG and Nishii

King Tamagusuku and King Nishii

During King Tamagusuku`s reign, things turned for the worse in the Ryukyu Kingdom. History recalls that he was a tyrant, often refusing to even meet with the advisors on his court in addition to being abusive to those in his government.

For these reasons, he lost the support of the powerful Anji families in the north and south. This resulted in the breaking up the vast Chuzan (Middle Mountain) kingdom into the Hokuzan (Northern Mountain) Chuzan, as well as Nanzan (Southern Mountain) kingdoms respectively.

Beginning of the Three Mountains Kingdoms

Hokuzan, led by Wakoso, Anji of Nakijin consisted of Nakijin, Kin, Nago Haneji, Kunjan(present Kunigami), Ie Island, and Iyeha Island. The southern mountain kingdom, Nanzan, bowed to the new king, Mizukara, Anji of Ozato. His control spread over Kochinda, Ozato, Gushichan, Kyan, Tomishiro, Sashiki, Tamagusuku, Chinen, Kanegusuku and Mabuni.

Chuzan`s King Tamagusuku retained the loyalty of Naha, Tomari, Goeku (present Okinawa City), Yuntanzan (Yomitan), Katsuren, Gushikawa (both of Uruma City), Shurimihira, Urasoe, and Chatan.

In 1366, at age 41 and his kingdom reduced in size by 2/3, King Tamagusuku passed on. The 5th and last king of the Eiso line was a 10 year old sickly boy. The arrangement became a defacto arrangement of an empress and her puppet; with the puppet being King Nishii and the empress his mother. King Nishii`s uninspired reign came to an end in (Year), when at the relative young age of 22 he died of a chronic illness. The people, being out of King Eiso heirs, went back to the people, searching for a virtual savior, from among there own ranks.

Just as with King Eiso and Shunten before him, once again the current Anji of Urasoe was called on to fill the gap. Hail king Satto.

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