Shunbajunki
舜馬順熙
King of Ryūkyū
Reign1237–1248
PredecessorShunten
SuccessorGihon
Born1185[1]
Died1248 (aged 62–63)[1]
IssueGihon
Divine nameSonomasu (其益) or Sonomasumi (其益美)[2]
FatherShunten

Shunbajunki (舜馬順熙, r. 1237–1248) was a legendary local ruler[3] of Okinawa Island. Shunbajunki was the second ruler of the Shunten dynasty. He succeeded his father Shunten in 1237.[4][5]

Shunbajunki's reign is noted for the construction of Shuri Castle and the introduction of the Japanese kana writing system. The Chinese language and writing system was not to be introduced until roughly a century later; even after that time, government documents continued to be written in kana, as did much poetry.

Shunbajunki died in 1248, and was succeeded by his son Gihon.

Notes

  1. ^ a b "「中山世譜」全文テキストデータベース". 舜馬順煕王 神號、其益。（童名不傳） 宋、淳煕十二年乙巳、降誕。……宋、嘉煕二年戊戌、即位。……宋、淳祐八年戊申薨。在位十一年。壽六十四。
  2. ^ 琉球国王の神号と『おもろさうし』 (PDF) (in Japanese).
  3. ^ Kerr, George. (2000). Okinawa: The History of an Island People, p. 52 , p. 52, at Google Books; although the paramount leaders of Okinawa beginning with Shunten (c. 1166 – c. 1237) are commonly identified as "kings," Kerr observes that "it is misleading to attribute full-fledged 'kingship' to an Okinawan chief in these early centuries... distinctly individual leadership exercised through force of personality or preeminent skill in arms or political shrewdness was only slowly replaced by formal institutions of government — laws and ceremonies — supported and strengthened by a developing respect for the royal office."
  4. ^ Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2002). Japan Encyclopedia, p. 172, p. 172, at Google Books; excerpt, Eisō [with a macron] was "king of the Ryūkyū Islands in the thirteenth century."
  5. ^ Kerr, pp. 50-51., p. 50, at Google Books

References

Preceded byShunten King of Ryūkyū 1237–1248 Succeeded byGihon


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