Sho Iku

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  • Born: 1813/7/24
  • Died: 1847/9/17
  • Japanese/Chinese: (Shou Iku / Shàng Yù)

Shô Iku was the second-to-last king of the Ryûkyû Kingdom, reigning from 1835 until his death in 1847.

The eldest son of King Shô Kô, he was named sessei and regent in 1828, taking over de facto rule of the kingdom due to his father's failing health. Shô Iku was then formally named king in 1835.[1]

The mission sent to Edo in gratitude for shogunal recognition of his accession was, interestingly, sent several years before Shô Iku actually took the throne. Originally planned for 1830, this mission was delayed by various practical factors until 1832. Incidentally, this 1832 mission would turn out to be one of the most popular, and most documented, of all Ryukyuan embassies to Edo; of all the Ryukyu-related materials published in Edo period Japan, roughly one-quarter were published in 1832 alone.

His queen was named Gentei.

Shô Iku died unexpectedly in 1847, at the age of 35. His eldest son Shô Shun having predeceased him, Shô Iku's second son then took the throne as King Shô Tai; Shô Tai would rule through the abolition of the kingdom by Japanese authorities. Shô Iku's third son was named Shô Hitsu.

Preceded by:
Shô Kô
King of Ryûkyû
Succeeded by:
Shô Tai


  • Honjin ni tomatta daimyô tachi 本陣に泊まった大名たち, Toyohashi, Aichi: Futagawa-juku honjin shiryôkan (1996), 85.
  1. Miyagi Eishô 宮城栄昌, Ryûkyû shisha no Edo nobori 琉球使者の江戸上り, Tokyo: Daiichi Shobô (1982), 16.
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