Gihon (Ryukyu)

nihongo|Gihon|義本|(c. 1206 - c. 1260) was a "king" [Though all chief leaders of Okinawa beginning with Shunten (c. 1166-c. 1237) are commonly referred to by the title of "King", historian George Kerr points out that "it is misleading to attribute full-fledged 'kingship' to an Okinawan chief in these early centuries... distinctly individual leadership exercised through force of personality or preeminent skill in arms or political shrewdness was only slowly replaced by formal institutions of government - laws and ceremonies - supported and strengthened by a developing respect for the royal office" (Kerr, 52).] of Okinawa, the third and last of the Tenson Line. He succeeded his father Shunbajunki at the age of 44, in 1248.

Gihon's reign was marked by terrible disasters, including famine, epidemics, and devastating typhoons. Around 1254, he appointed a young lord by the name of Eiso to be Regent ("Sessei"), and to aid in managing these disasters. When Gihon stepped down in 1259 or 1260 and "withdrew into the forest alone" [Kerr, p51.] , Eiso succeeded him as "king" and began a new royal lineage. The precise location, date, and circumstances of Gihon's death are unknown, though it is safe to assume he died shortly after his abdication. Local legends allege that he was last seen at Hedo-misaki, the northernmost point on Okinawa Island.

References & Notes

*Kerr, George H. (2000). "". (revised ed.) Boston: Tuttle Publishing. p51.
*Shinzato, Keiji , et al. "Okinawa-ken no rekishi " (History of Okinawa Prefecture). Tokyo: Yamakawa Publishing, 1996. p38.