Sanshikan

The Sanshikan (三司官 sanshikwan), or Council of Three, was a government body of the Ryūkyū Kingdom, which originally developed out of a council of regents.

It emerged in 1556, when the young Shō Gen, who was mute, ascended to the throne of Ryūkyū. The council of regents that formed in order to handle this challenge and manage the country on the king's behalf soon grew into an established and powerful government organ. Shō Gen died in 1571, but the Council remained, acting alongside the successive kings in managing the affairs of government. In fact, the Articles Subscribed to by the King's Councillors, which bound the royal government in loyalty and servitude to the Japanese daimyō of Satsuma, explicitly prohibit the king from "entrust[ing] the conduct of public affairs in the islands to any persons other than San-shi-kuan".^[1]

Over time, the Sanshikan eclipsed the power and prestige of the sessei, a post which is often translated as "prime minister," and which served as chief royal advisor. Candidates to join the Council of Three had to live in Shuri, the capital, and had to pass tests of both merit and birth; they had to be of proper aristocratic heritage, and to pass tests of knowledge of literature, ethics, and other classical Chinese subjects. These exams were very much akin to those taken by scholar-bureaucrats in China, but were less strict.

The Council, and sessei, worked alongside the heads of various administrative departments who were known as the Council of Fifteen when assembled. The Fifteen advised the higher-ranking officials on policy, and made recommendations to fill vacancies in the administration.

The Sanshikan was dismantled along with the rest of the royal government when Ryūkyū was formally annexed by Meiji Japan in the 1870s. Members of Ryūkyū's aristocratic class were allowed to maintain some of their prestige and privileges, but even members of the Council were only afforded the equivalent of the sixth rank in the Japanese Imperial Court structure.

List of Sanshikan

Uncategorized

Name	In office	Kings
Yoasutahemaushikakokauchinoōyakumohi 世アスタヘマウシカ子カウチノ大ヤクモヒ	?-?	Shō Shin
Yoasutahemiyaheiōyakumohimaikusakako 世アスタヘミヤ平大ヤクモヒマイクサカ子	?-?	Shō Sei
Yoasutahekauchinoōyakumohitarukako 世アスタヘカウチノ大ヤクモヒタルカ子	?-?	Shō Sei
Yoasutahekusukunoōyakumohimaikusa 世アスタヘクスクノ大ヤクモヒマイクサ	?-?	Shō Sei
Sanshikan Takushi Daijin 三司官沢子大臣	?-?	Shō Gen
Mō Bunei Takushi Ueekata Seiri 毛文英沢岻親方盛里	? - 1526	Shō Shin, Shō Sei
Ba Shiryō Kunigami Ueekata Seiin 馬思良国頭親方正胤	?-1537	Shō Shin, Shō Sei
Yō Taikaku Yamauchi Ueekata Shōshin 楊太鶴山内親方昌信		Shō Sei
Ma Bodo Ōzato Ueekata Seigyō 麻勃都大里親方盛行	?-1546	Shō Sei
Go Keigen Kunigami Ueekata Sengen 呉啓元国頭親方先元	?-1549	Shō Sei
Tō Gensai Kochinda Ueekata Seigu 東元宰東風平親方政供	?-1560	Shō Sei
In Tatsuro Gusushi Ueekata Yōken 殷達魯宜寿次親方庸憲		Shō Sei
Boku Gentoku Ikegusuku Ueekata Shōshi 穆源徳池城親方昌氏		Shō Sei, Shō Gen
Ba Juntoku Kunigami Ueekata Seikaku 馬順徳国頭親方正格		Shō Gen
Hō Tokushin Ganaha Ueekata Jogen 封徳新我那覇親方助元		Shō Sei
Wa Imi Kunigami Ueekata Keimei 和為美国頭親方景明	?-1559	Shō Sei, Shō Gen
Katsu Kashō Gusukuma Ueekata Shūshin 葛可昌城間親方秀信	?-1559	Shō Sei, Shō Gen
Mō Ryūgin Aragusuku Ueekata Anki 毛龍唫新城親方安基		Shō Gen
Mō Ren Ikegusuku Ueekata Antō 毛廉池城親方安棟	?-1579	Shō Gen, Shō Ei
Ō Jushō Kunigami Ueekata Seijun 翁寿祥国頭親方盛順	?-1580	Shō Gen, Shō Ei
Mō Genryū Kunigami Ueekata Seimai 毛元龍国頭親方盛埋	1580-?	Shō Ei
Kin Kokutei Gushichan Ueekata Nōan 金国鼎具志頭親方能安	?-1593	Shō Ei, Shō Nei
Mō Ryūbun Tomigusuku Ueekata Seishō 毛龍文豊見城親方盛章	1583-1604	Shō Ei, Shō Nei
Go Seisai Kunigami Ueekata Senji 呉世済国頭親方先次	?-1599	Shō Nei

Chūkaban (丑日番)

Name	In office	Kings
Ō Kishō Gusukuma Ueekata Seikyū 翁寄松城間親方盛久	1601-1605	Shō Nei
Tei Dō Jana Ueekata Rizan 鄭迵謝名親方利山	1606-1611	Shō Nei
Mō Hōchō Yuntanza Ueekata Seishō 毛鳳朝読谷山親方盛韶	1611-1623	Shō Nei, Shō Hō
Mō Kijin Nakijin Ueekata Sōnō 孟帰仁今帰仁親方宗能	1622-1629	Shō Hō
Ba Shōren Katsuren Ueekata Ryōkei 馬勝連勝連親方良継	1629-1643	Shō Hō, Shō Ken
Ba Kami Ōsato Ueekata Ryōan 馬加美大里親方良安	1643-1652	Shō Ken, Shō Shitsu
Shō Kokuyō Chatan Ueekata Chōchō 向国用北谷親方朝暢	1652-1666	Shō Shitsu
Mō Kokutō Gushichan Ueekata Antō 毛国棟具志頭親方安統	1666-1675	Shō Shitsu, Shō Tei
Shō Mizai Goeku Ueekata Chōsei 向美材越来親方朝誠	1675-1683	Shō Tei
Ō Jigi Inamine Ueekata Seihō 翁自儀稲嶺親方盛方	1683-1696	Shō Tei
Shō Seishun Nakada Ueekata Chōjū 向世俊仲田親方朝重	1696-1702	Shō Tei
Mō Kiryū Shikina Ueekata Seimei 毛起龍識名親方盛命	1702-1712	Shō Tei, Shō Eki
Ō Jidō Ishadō Ueekata Seifu 翁自道伊舎堂親方盛富	1712-1721	Shō Kei
Shō Ryūyoku Ufugusuku Ueekata Chōshō 向龍翼大城親方朝章	1722-1723	Shō Kei
Mō Shōshō Mabuni Ueekata Ansei 毛承詔摩文仁親方安政	1723-1725	Shō Kei
Mō Heijin Misato Ueekata Anman 毛秉仁美里親方安満	1725-1735	Shō Kei
Shō Joshū Shikina Ueekata Chōei 向汝楫識名親方朝栄	1735-1745	Shō Kei
Shō Tokukō Ginowan Ueekata Chōga 向得功宜野湾親方朝雅	1745-1750	Shō Kei
Mō Kyōken Zakimi Ueekata Seishū 毛恭倹座喜味親方盛秀	1750-1752	Shō Kei
Ba Genretsu Yonabaru Ueekata Ryōchō 馬元烈与那原親方良暢	1752-1754	Shō Boku
Ba Sentetsu Miyahira Ueekata Ryōtei 馬宣哲宮平親方良廷	1755-1782	Shō Boku
Shō Tenteki Ie Ueekata Chōkei 向天廸伊江親方朝慶	1782-1801	Shō Boku, Shō On
Shō Bunryū Kyan Ueekata Chōchō 向文龍喜屋武親方朝昶	1801-1805	Shō On, Shō Sei, Shō Kō
Ba Isai Yonabaru Ueekata Ryōō 馬異才与那原親方良応	1805-1820	Shō Kō
Ō Kōretsu Ishadō Ueekata Seigen 翁宏烈伊舎堂親方盛元	1821-1828	Shō Kō
Ba Tokubō Yonabaru Ueekata Ryōkō 馬徳懋与那原親方良綱	1828-1848	Shō Kō, Shō Iku, Shō Tai
Mō Zōkō Ikegusuku Ueekata Anyū 毛増光池城親方安邑	1848-1862	Shō Tai
Shō Yūkō Giwan Ueekata Chōho 向有恒宜湾親方朝保	1862-1875	Shō Tai
Mō Hōrai Tomikawa Ueekata Seikei 毛鳳来富川親方盛奎	1875-1879	Shō Tai

Shikaban (巳日番)

Name	In office	Kings
Shō Ritan Urasoe Ueekata Chōshi 向里端浦添親方朝師	?-1611	Shō Nei
Mō Hōgi Ikegusuku Ueekata Anrai 毛鳳儀池城親方安頼	1611-1624	Shō Nei, Shō Hō
Kin Ōshō Gushichan Ueekata Anshi 金応照具志頭親方安之	1624-1627	Shō Hō
Mō Taiun Tomigusuku Ueekata Seiryō 毛泰運豊見城親方盛良	1627-1642	Shō Hō, Shō Ken
Shō Kokuki Kunigami Ueekata Chōki 向国噐国頭親方朝季	1643-1654	Shō Ken, Shō Shitsu
Ba Hōki Kanegusuku Ueekata Ryōsei 馬逢熙兼城親方良正	1654-1665	Shō Shitsu
Mō Taiei Inoha Ueekata Seiki 毛泰永伊野波親方盛紀	1665-1688	Shō Shitsu, Shō Tei
Mō Kokuzui Sadoyama Ueekata Anji 毛国瑞佐渡山親方安治	1688-1693	Shō Tei
Ba Teishun Yonabaru Ueekata Ryōgi 馬廷駿与那原親方良義	1693-1694	Shō Tei
Mō Kokusei Inoha Ueekata Seihei 毛克盛伊野波親方盛平	1694-1699	Shō Tei
Ba Teiki Kōchi Ueekata Ryōshō 馬廷噐幸地親方良象	1700-1710	Shō Tei, Shō Eki
Shō Genryō Tajima Ueekata Chōyū 向元良田島親方朝由	1710-1716	Shō Eki, Shō Kei
Mō Ōhō Katsuren Ueekata Seiyū 毛応鳳勝連親方盛祐	1716-1719	Shō Kei
Shō Wasei Ie Ueekata Chōjo 向和声伊江親方朝叙	1720-1745	Shō Kei
Shō Kentoku Fukuyama Ueekata Chōken 向倹徳譜久山親方朝見	1745-1755	Shō Kei, Shō Boku
Mō Bunwa Urasoe Ueekata Anzō 毛文和浦添親方安蔵	1755-1759	Shō Boku
Mō Genyoku Ikegusuku Ueekata Anmei 毛元翼池城親方安命	1760-1769	Shō Boku
Ba Kokuki Yonabaru Ueekata Ryōku 馬国噐与那原親方良矩	1769-1796	Shō Boku, Shō On
Ba Kokugi Kōchi Ueekata Ryōtoku 馬克義幸地親方良篤	1796-1798	Shō On
Mō Kokutō Takehara Ueekata Anshitsu 毛国棟嵩原親方安執	1798-1811	Shō On, Shō Sei, Shō Kō
Ba Ōshō Oroku Ueekata Ryōwa 馬応昌小禄親方良和	1811-1818	Shō Kō
Ō Teitō Tamagusuku Ueekata Seirin 翁廷棟玉城親方盛林	1818-1823	Shō Kō
Mō Teijō Ikegusuku Ueekata Ankon 毛廷勷池城親方安昆	1823-1829	Shō Kō
Shō Teikai Ginowan Ueekata Chōkon 向廷楷宜野湾親方朝昆	1829-1835	Shō Kō
Mō Ishin Kochinda Ueekata Ando 毛惟新東風平親方安度	1836-1839	Shō Iku
Ba Inchū Oroku Ueekata Ryōkyō 馬允中小禄親方良恭	1839-1847	Shō Iku
Mō Kōtoku Zakimi Ueekata Seifu 毛恒徳座喜味親方盛普	1847-1858	Shō Tai
Shō Jorei Fukuyama Ueekata Chōten 向汝礪譜久山親方朝典	1858-1871	Shō Tai
Shō Rinshi Kawahira Ueekata Chōhan 向麟趾川平親方朝範	1871-1873	Shō Tai
Mō Yūhi Ikegusuku Ueekata Anki 毛有斐池城親方安規	1873-1877	Shō Tai
Ba Kensai Yonabaru Ueekata Ryōketsu 馬兼才与那原親方良傑	1877-1879	Shō Tai

Yūkaban (酉日番)

Name	In office	Kings
Mō Ryūgin Aragusuku Ueekata Anki 毛龍唫新城親方安基	?-?	Shō Gen
Ba Ryōsen Urasoe Ueekata Ryōken 馬良詮浦添親方良憲	?-1566	Shō Gen
Ba Seiei Nago Ueekata Ryōin 馬世栄名護親方良員	1566-1592	Shō Gen, Shō Ei, Shō Nei
Ba Ryōhitsu Nago Ueekata Ryōhō 馬良弼名護親方良豊	1592-1614	Shō Nei
Mō Keiso Tomigusuku Ueekata Seizoku 毛継祖豊見城親方盛続	1614-1622	Shō Nei, Shō Hō
Shō Kakurei Kunigami Ueekata Chōchi 向鶴齢国頭親方朝致	1622-1635	Shō Hō
Shō Kakusen Urasoe Ueekata Chōri 向鶴躚浦添親方朝利	1636-1638	Shō Hō
Shō Hōgen Ginowan Ueekata Seisei 章邦彦宜野湾親方正成	1641-1652	Shō Ken
Shō Seibun Mabuni Ueekata Chōi 向成文摩文仁親方朝維	1654-1670	Shō Ken, Shō Shitsu, Shō Tei
Mō Kokuchin Ikegusuku Ueekata Anken 毛国珍池城親方安憲	1670-1690	Shō Tei
Mō Kenryū Takehara Ueekata An'i 毛見龍嵩原親方安依	1690-1697	Shō Tei
Mō Tensō Ikegusuku Ueekata An'i 毛天相池城親方安倚	1699-1710	Shō Tei, Shō Eki
Ba Kenzu Nago Ueekata Ryōi 馬獻図名護親方良意	1710-1728	Shō Eki, Shō Kei
Sai On Gushichan Ueekata Bunjaku 蔡温具志頭親方文若	1728-1752	Shō Kei
Shō Ketsu Kochinda Ueekata Chōei 向傑東風平親方朝衛	1752-1765	Shō Boku
Shō Hōten Wakugawa Ueekata Chōkyō 向邦鼎湧川親方朝喬	1765-1778	Shō Boku
Shō Kōki Fukuyama Ueekata Chōki 向宏基譜久山親方朝紀	1778-1798	Shō Boku, Shō On
Ba Bunzui Yonabaru Ueekata Ryōtō 馬文瑞与那原親方良頭	1798-1803	Shō On, Shō Sei
Mō Kōkoku Sadoyama Ueekata Anshun 毛光国佐渡山親方安春	1803-1815	Shō Kō
Shō Shōkun Ie Ueekata Chōan 向承訓伊江親方朝安	1815-1826	Shō Kō
Mō Shikkō Zakimi Ueekata Seichin 毛執功座喜味親方盛珍	1826-1836	Shō Kō
Shō Kan Kanegusuku Ueekata Chōten 向寛兼城親方朝典	1836-1839	Shō Iku
Shō Ryōhitsu Kuniyoshi Ueekata Chōshō 向良弼国吉親方朝章	1840-1851	Shō Iku, Shō Tai
Shō Kōkun Sakuma Ueekata Seimō 章鴻勲佐久真親方正孟	1852-1854	Shō Tai
Shō Tōseki Kōchi Ueekata Chōken 向統績幸地親方朝憲	1854-1857	Shō Tai
Ba Kokushō Oroku Ueekata Ryōchū 馬克承小禄親方良忠	1857-1859	Shō Tai
Ba Chōtō Yonabaru Ueekata Ryōkyō 馬朝棟与那原親方良恭	1859-1871	Shō Tai
Mō Inryō Kamegawa Ueekata Seibu 毛允良亀川親方盛武	1871-1872	Shō Tai
Shō Kyoken Urasoe Ueekata Chōshō 向居謙浦添親方朝昭	1872-1879	Shō Tai

Notes

^ Kerr p163.

References

Kerr, George H. (2000). Okinawa: the History of an Island People. (revised ed.) Boston: Tuttle Publishing.
Smits, Gregory (1999). "Visions of Ryukyu: Identity and Ideology in Early-Modern Thought and Politics." Honolulu: University of Hawai'i Press.

External links

(in Japanese)中山王府相卿伝職年譜　向祐等著写本

[1] Kerr p163.

[1]