King Yeongjo

Japanese: 英祖 - えいそ

Year of death: August 5, 40th year of King Yeongjo (August 31, 1299)
Year of birth: Shunten 43 (1229)
A king said to have reigned in the early days of the Ryukyu Kingdom. He was the son of Eso (Iso), whose sphere of influence was Urasoe on the main island of Okinawa, and legend has it that his mother became pregnant after dreaming of the sun. He is said to have reigned for 40 years after ascending to the throne in the first year of King Eijo (1260). In the fifth year of King Eijo (1264), the islands of Kume, Kerama, and Iheya first paid tribute, and in the seventh year of the same year, Amami also paid tribute. While subjugating the surrounding islands in this way, he also ruled well by correcting the boundaries of farmland within the country, equalizing the people's power and increasing production. He is also said to have built Gokurakuji Temple to the west of Urasoe Castle, which contributed to the rise of Buddhism.

(Maehira Fusaaki)

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

Japanese:

没年：英祖40.8.5(1299.8.31)
生年：舜天43(1229)
琉球国の黎明期に君臨したと伝えられる王。沖縄本島の浦添を勢力圏としていた恵祖(伊祖)の子で,母親が太陽の夢を見て懐妊したという伝説がある。英祖1(1260)年に即位して以後,40年間にわたり王の座に君臨したといわれる。英祖5(1264)年,久米,慶良間,伊平屋などの各島からはじめて入貢があり,同7年には奄美からも進貢が行われた。このように周辺の島々を服属させる一方,国内の田野をめぐり耕地の境界を正し民力をひとしくして生産を高めるなど,善政をしいた。また,浦添城の西に極楽寺を建立して仏教の興隆にも寄与したと伝えられる。

(真栄平房昭)

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