Gosamaru
Encyclopedia
was a Ryukyuan lord (anji
) of the gusuku
(castles) 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
.
He was also known as Seishun (盛春), and by the Chinese-style name Mao Guoding (毛国鼎, J: Mō Kokutei).
. In 1416, he led the forces of Yamada gusuku in support of Shō Hashi, king of the Okinawan kingdom of Chūzan
, in his invasion and conquest of the neighboring kingdom of Hokuzan. Hashi would conquer the kingdom of Nanzan
to the south several years later, uniting Okinawa Island, ending the Sanzan Period
, and founding the unified Ryūkyū Kingdom.
In recognition of his support, Gosamaru was made custodian of Hokuzan, and given Nakijin gusuku, which had until then served as the royal seat of Hokuzan. Some time later, Gosamaru left Nakijin for Zakimi, in Yomitan village
, where he built a new gusuku; it is said he mobilized workers from as far away as the Amami Islands
for this project, and that stones were moved by hand from Yamada gusuku to build the new castle.
For many years, Gosamaru served the kingdom loyally, and developed ties with the royal family, his daughter marrying King Shō Taikyū
. Upon the wishes of the royal government, he oversaw the construction of a castle (gusuku) at Nakagusuku (中城), and established himself there, serving to watch over another local lord, Amawari
of Katsuren gusuku, who had grown powerful and wealthy from maritime trade and who had his eye on the throne. In 1458, however, Amawari reported to the royal government that it was Gosamaru who was planning a revolt, and so the kingdom's forces, led by Amawari, assaulted Nakagusuku. It is said that Gosamaru refused to fight back, out of loyalty to the kingdom, and killed himself rather than betray his loyalties and oppose his king. Amawari was executed soon afterwards, his duplicity having been discovered by a note to the king which Gosamaru placed in his mouth, knowing Amawari would bring his head to present to the king. An alternate theory 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 Kumi Odori
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.
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 the gusuku
Gusuku
, or just , is the term used for the distinctive Okinawan form of castles or fortresses. In standard Japanese, the same kanji is pronounced "shiro", but the word is probably cognate with a different Japanese word, "soko" , which means "fortress"...
(castles) of Zakimi and, later, 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...
. He supported Shō Hashi
Sho Hashi
Shō Hashi was the first king of the Ryūkyū Kingdom , uniting the three kingdoms of Chūzan, Hokuzan, and Nanzan by conquest...
, first king 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...
, in his conquest of Hokuzan
Hokuzan
Hokuzan was one of three kingdoms which controlled Okinawa in the 14th century. Okinawa, previously controlled by a number of local chieftains or lords, loosely bound by a paramount chieftain or king of the entire island, split into these three more solidly defined kingdoms within a few years...
and unification of Okinawa Island
Okinawa Island
Okinawa Island is the largest of the Okinawa Islands and the Ryukyu Islands of Japan, and is home to Naha, the capital of Okinawa Prefecture. The island has an area of...
.
He was also known as Seishun (盛春), and by the Chinese-style name Mao Guoding (毛国鼎, J: Mō Kokutei).
Life
Gosamaru was born in Yamada gusuku, in the village of OnnaOnna, Okinawa
is a village located in Kunigami District, Okinawa, Japan.As of 2003, the village has an estimated population of 9,333 and a population density of 183.83 persons per km². The total area is 50.77 km²....
. In 1416, he led the forces of Yamada gusuku in support of Shō Hashi, king of the Okinawan kingdom of Chūzan
Chuzan
Chūzan was one of three kingdoms which controlled Okinawa in the 14th century. Okinawa, previously controlled by a number of local chieftains or lords, loosely bound by a paramount chieftain or king of the entire island, split into these three more solidly defined kingdoms within a few years after...
, in his invasion and conquest of the neighboring kingdom of Hokuzan. Hashi would conquer the kingdom of Nanzan
Nanzan
Nanzan , sometimes called Sannan , was one of three kingdoms which controlled Okinawa in the 14th century. Okinawa, previously controlled by a number of local chieftains or lords, loosely bound by a paramount chieftain or king of the entire island, split into these three more solidly defined...
to the south several years later, uniting Okinawa Island, ending the Sanzan Period
Sanzan period
The is a period of history of the Ryūkyū Kingdom that lasted from 1322 until 1429.The early 13th century saw a growth in the construction of Gusuku by a number of powerful kings leading to the emergence of three kingdoms in the 14th century: , and...
, and founding the unified Ryūkyū Kingdom.
In recognition of his support, Gosamaru was made custodian of Hokuzan, and given Nakijin gusuku, which had until then served as the royal seat of Hokuzan. Some time later, Gosamaru left Nakijin for Zakimi, in Yomitan village
Yomitan, Okinawa
is a village located in Nakagami District, Okinawa, Japan. As of 30 September 2005, the village has an official population of 38,532. The total area is 35.17 km²....
, where he built a new gusuku; it is said he mobilized workers from as far away as the Amami Islands
Amami Islands
The are a group of islands that is part of the Satsunan Islands, which are then part of the Nansei Islands. The islands are part of Kagoshima Prefecture, in the Kyūshū region of Japan...
for this project, and that stones were moved by hand from Yamada gusuku to build the new castle.
For many years, Gosamaru served the kingdom loyally, and developed ties with the royal family, his daughter marrying 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 :...
. Upon the wishes of the royal government, he oversaw the construction of a castle (gusuku) at Nakagusuku (中城), and established himself there, serving to watch over another local lord, Amawari
Amawari
' was a Ryukyuan lord of Katsuren Castle , known for his ambitions for the throne of the Ryūkyū Kingdom and scheme and attack against Gosamaru, anji of Nakagusuku.-Life:...
of Katsuren gusuku, who had grown powerful and wealthy from maritime trade and who had his eye on the throne. In 1458, however, Amawari reported to the royal government that it was Gosamaru who was planning a revolt, and so the kingdom's forces, led by Amawari, assaulted Nakagusuku. It is said that Gosamaru refused to fight back, out of loyalty to the kingdom, and killed himself rather than betray his loyalties and oppose his king. Amawari was executed soon afterwards, his duplicity having been discovered by a note to the king which Gosamaru placed in his mouth, knowing Amawari would bring his head to present to the king. An alternate theory 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 Kumi Odori
Kumi Odori
, meaning "combination dance" or "ensemble dance" in both the Okinawan and Japanese languages, is a form of narrative traditional Ryukyuan dance.Originating in the Okinawan capital of Shuri, Okinawa in 1719, the original purpose of this dance was to provide amusement and diversions, which were...
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.