Amawari
Encyclopedia
was a Ryukyuan lord (anji
) of Katsuren Castle (Katsuren gusuku), known for his ambitions for the throne of the Ryūkyū Kingdom
and scheme and attack against Gosamaru
, anji of Nakagusuku
.
magiri
. Toppling the lord of Katsuren gusuku, Amawari seized his domain. Taking advantage of opportunities for maritime trade, he gained a degree of wealth and power, and married Momotofumi Agari, daughter of King Shō Taikyū
, further solidifying his power.
Anxious about Amawari's power, King Shō Taikyū arranged that a new castle be built at Nakagusuku, under the command and supervision of the anji (aristocrat/lord) Gosamaru, between Katsuren and the royal capital of Shuri
. In 1458, Amawari accused Gosamaru of plotting to overthrow the king, and as a result came to lead the royal armies in an attack on Nakagusuku which ended in Gosamaru's death by suicide. Amawari then plotted to overthrow the king himself, but, his plan discovered by his wife and her attendant Oni Ōgusuku, he was attacked and defeated by royal forces led by the latter, and executed. An alternate theory, however, claims that the entire affair was organized by the royal government, in order to remove both Gosamaru and Amawari as powerful rivals and potential threats to the succession.
The tale of Gosamaru's betrayal and destruction by Amawari is among the more famous and popular of local historical legends. A kumiodori dance-play telling of Gosamaru's sons' quest for revenge against Amawari, was once performed as part of the kingdom's formal entertainment of Chinese investiture envoys, and has in more recent times become a popular favorite.
Though he is introduced as a traitor in most history books, Amawari is praised by the peasantry in the omoro, oral traditional songs and poems relating history and legend.
Anji (Ryukyu)
thumb|AjiAn aji, anji, or azu was a ruler of a petty kingdom in the history of the Ryukyu Islands. The word later became a title and rank of nobility in the Ryūkyū Kingdom. It is said to be related to the Japanese aruji , and the pronunciation varied throughout the islands. It ranked next below a...
) of Katsuren Castle (Katsuren gusuku), known for his ambitions for the throne of the Ryūkyū Kingdom
Ryukyu Kingdom
The Ryūkyū Kingdom was an independent kingdom which ruled most of the Ryukyu Islands from the 15th century to the 19th century. The Kings of Ryūkyū unified Okinawa Island and extended the kingdom to the Amami Islands in modern-day Kagoshima Prefecture, and the Sakishima Islands near Taiwan...
and scheme and attack against Gosamaru
Gosamaru
' was a Ryukyuan lord of the gusuku of Zakimi and, later, Nakagusuku. He supported Shō Hashi, first king of the Ryūkyū Kingdom, in his conquest of Hokuzan and unification of Okinawa Island....
, anji of Nakagusuku
Nakagusuku Castle
is a gusuku in the village of Kitanakagusuku, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan. It is currently in ruins. The legendary Ryukyuan commander, Gosamaru, built the fortress in the early 15th century to defend against attacks from the east by Lord Amawari of Katsuren Castle...
.
Life
According to legend, Amawari was born to a peasant family in Yara, in ChatanChatan, Okinawa
is a town located in Nakagami District, Okinawa, Japan.In 2003, the town has an estimated population of 26,377 and the density of 1,936.64 per km². The total area is 13.62 km²...
magiri
Magiri
was a historical type of administrative district in Okinawa, Japan. In concept they were similar to present day Japanese prefectures, but in size they were closer to cities, towns and villages....
. Toppling the lord of Katsuren gusuku, Amawari seized his domain. Taking advantage of opportunities for maritime trade, he gained a degree of wealth and power, and married Momotofumi Agari, daughter of King Shō Taikyū
Shō Taikyū
' was a king of the Ryūkyū Kingdom, the fifth of the line of the first Shō Dynasty. His reign saw the construction of many Buddhist temples, and the casting of the .- Life and reign :...
, further solidifying his power.
Anxious about Amawari's power, King Shō Taikyū arranged that a new castle be built at Nakagusuku, under the command and supervision of the anji (aristocrat/lord) Gosamaru, between Katsuren and the royal capital of Shuri
Shuri
Shuri may refer to:* Shuri, Bhutan* Shuri, Okinawa - former capital of the Ryūkyū Kingdom.* Shuri Kondo...
. In 1458, Amawari accused Gosamaru of plotting to overthrow the king, and as a result came to lead the royal armies in an attack on Nakagusuku which ended in Gosamaru's death by suicide. Amawari then plotted to overthrow the king himself, but, his plan discovered by his wife and her attendant Oni Ōgusuku, he was attacked and defeated by royal forces led by the latter, and executed. An alternate theory, however, claims that the entire affair was organized by the royal government, in order to remove both Gosamaru and Amawari as powerful rivals and potential threats to the succession.
The tale of Gosamaru's betrayal and destruction by Amawari is among the more famous and popular of local historical legends. A kumiodori dance-play telling of Gosamaru's sons' quest for revenge against Amawari, was once performed as part of the kingdom's formal entertainment of Chinese investiture envoys, and has in more recent times become a popular favorite.
Though he is introduced as a traitor in most history books, Amawari is praised by the peasantry in the omoro, oral traditional songs and poems relating history and legend.