Sho Tai

Japanese: 尚泰 - しょう・たい

Year of death: August 19, 1901 (Meiji 34)
Year of birth: 8 July 1843 (3 August 1843)
The last king of the Ryukyu Kingdom. The 19th of the Second Sho Dynasty. In 1848, he succeeded his father, Sho Iku, and ascended to the throne at the age of six, and experienced the upheaval of the kingdom's final days. The new government that was established with the Meiji Restoration (1868) began work on incorporating Ryukyu, but in 1872, it was announced that the Ryukyu Kingdom would become the "Ryukyu Domain" and Sho Tai would become the "King of the Ryukyu Domain." On this premise, the government decided to abolish the domains and establish prefectures, and placed a Ryukyu Disposal Officer within the government. However, the Ryukyu side refused to comply, and China (Qing Dynasty) also strongly protested, citing its suzerainty. The Meiji government decided to forcibly break through, and in the spring of 1879, mobilized the military and police to demand the surrender of Shuri Castle. As Sho Tai left the castle with his retainers, the kingdom system that had lasted for 450 years collapsed, and Okinawa Prefecture was established (Ryukyu Disposal). Sho Tai went to Tokyo by order of the government, was made a marquis, and lived in Tokyo. He died of an illness in Tokyo, but his body was transported to Okinawa, where he was buried in the royal tomb of Tamaudun after a grand funeral in accordance with ancient customs.

(Takara Kurayoshi)

Source: Asahi Japanese Historical Biography: Asahi Shimbun Publications Inc. About Asahi Japanese Historical Biography

Japanese:

没年：明治34.8.19(1901)
生年：尚育9.7.8(1843.8.3)
琉球王国の最後の王。第二尚氏王朝19代に当たる。尚泰1(1848)年,父尚育の跡を受け6歳で王位に上り,王国末期の激動に遭遇する。明治維新(1868)により発足した新政府は琉球を編入すべく事業に着手するが,明治5(1872)年に琉球王国を「琉球藩」に,尚泰を「琉球藩王」とすると通告した。これを前提に廃藩置県を行うこととし,政府内に琉球処分官を置いた。しかし琉球側は言を左右にして従わず,中国(清国)も宗主権を楯に厳重に抗議した。明治政府は強行突破する方針をかため,同12年春,軍隊・警察を動員して首里城の明け渡しを迫った。尚泰が臣下と共に城を出たため,ここに450年間続いた王国体制は崩壊し沖縄県が発足した(琉球処分)。尚泰は政府の命令で上京し,侯爵に列せられて東京に住んだ。東京で病死したが,その亡骸は沖縄に運ばれ,古式に則った盛大な葬儀が行われたのち,王家の墓玉陵に葬られた。<参考文献>金城正篤『琉球処分論』

(高良倉吉)

出典　朝日日本歴史人物事典：（株）朝日新聞出版朝日日本歴史人物事典について　情報

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