House of Motobu
The House of Motobu is a princely house of the Ryūkyū Kingdom founded by Shō Kōshin Motobu Wōji Chōhei,,, sixth son of the tenth king of the second Shō dynasty, Shō Shitsu. It is a cadet branch of the Shō Clan.,,,
Until annexion of the Ryūkyū Kingdom by Japan, the head of the House of Motobu had the function of lord administrator of Motobu magiri.
The fifth head of the house, Shō Kokuchin Motobu Aji Chōkyū, is a famous poet.
The eighth head of the house, Shō Keiho Motobu Aji Chōshō served as royal deputy during the french-ryūkyūan convention negociations in 1855.,
After the annexion of the kingdom by Japan, the tenth head of the house Chōyū Motobu and his younger brother Chōki Motobu developped the karate schools of Mutubu-udundī and Motobu kenpō.,
History
The house was founded by Shō Kōshin Chōhei Prince of Motobu.,,Motobu magiri (initially named « Inoha magiri » was created in 1666 in order to be given as fief to Shō Kōshin, then aged 11..
The heads of the Motobu Udun house, since its creation and until the annexion of the kingdom by Japan, had the function of lord administrator of Motobu magiri, and often occupied important functions in the royal administration of Shuri, sometimes being granted the title of prince, that is generally only given to the king’s sons. It was a predominant family in the ryūkyūan political sphere, known for its implication in international relations, arts and martial arts.
House heads and notorious members of the House of Motobu
Fourteen house heads have succeeded one another during eleven generations.- 1st generation : Shō Kōshin Motobu Wōji Chōhei
- 2nd generation : Shō Ritai Motobu Aji Chōkan
- 3rd generation : Shō Bunshi Motobu Aji Chōchi
- 3rd generation : Shō Bunshi Motobu Wōji Chōryū
- 4th generation : Shō Enhitsu Motobu Aji Chōkō
- 5th generation : Shō Kokuchin Motobu Aji Chōkyū
- 6th generation : Shō Taiyū Motobu Wōji Chōei
- 7th generation : Inoha Aji Chōtoku
- 8th generation : Shō Keiho Motobu Aji Chōshō
- 9th generation : Motobu Aji Chōshin
- 10th generation : Chōyū Motobu
- 11th generation :
- 11th generation : Chōmō Motobu
- 11th generation : Chōsei Motobu
Shō Kōshin, Chōhei Prince of Motobu
According to the Chronicles of the Royal Generations, he was born on the 19th day of the 5th lunar month of year 12 of the Shunzhi era and died on the 27th day of the 8th month of year 26 of the Kangxi era.
His mother was the daughter of Shimabukuro pēchin Seiji. The founding ancestor of the Shō Clan is Wakamatsu Nakagusuku.
Chōhei took the name of prince of Motobu in 1666 when given Motobu magiri as his personal fief.,,
He married the daughter of Adaniya uēkata Seibō, the Princess of Urasaki.,,
He was buried in the Motobu-udun-baka tomb in Ganeko, that then became the family tomb of the House of Motobu.
His eldest son, Chōkan, succeeded him as the head of the House of Motobu, while his younger son, Chōtaku was adopted by Urasoe Aji and became the head of the House of Urasoe.
Shō Bunshi, Chōryū Prince of Motobu
Shō Bunshi Motobu Wōji Chōryū, the fourth head of the House of Motobu was appointed in 1716 as magistrate of the house of tea, the ministry in charge of arts and tea ceremonies, in order to take care of the organisation of the ceremonies for the seventh anniversary of the death of king Shō Tei. For this event, he collaborated with the famous magistrate of dances, Tamagusuku Chōkun. Chōkun’s son, Chōki, who would also become magistrate of dances in 1756, had been Chōryū’s tutor and had taught him the art of dance. This art would become predominant in the activities of the House of Motobu.Chōryū also took part in embassies to Satsuma in 1723 and 1738.
He was one of the general supervisors during the redaction of the Kyūyō between 1743 and 1745.
His many activities at the service of the kingdom granted him the rank of prince, a title generally only given to the king’s children.
Shō Kokuchin, Chōkyū ''Aji'' of Motobu
Shō Kukochin Motobu Aji Chōkyū, sixth head of the House of Motobu, is one of the masters of ryūkyūan poetry. He is, with I Seikō Sokei pēchin Chūgi, one of the "two jewels of ryūkyūan poetry" and is also among the.,His poetry is very pure and scholarly, essentially dealing with love feelings. He is depicted as a very formal man, always wearing his official attire and arriving several hours early to poetry meetings in order to read poetry books before the start of the gathering.
His skillful use of the particle dainsu in his poems granted him the nickname of "Dainsu Aji".
He is the author of the Song of the ama-kā spring, that is used in the traditional play Ama-kā.
As Chōryū, in addition to his artistic activities, Chōkyū took part in an embassy to Satsuma in 1773.
His wife, Mainugani, was the grand-daughter of the 18th century karate master Gushikawa uēkata Umigami.
Shō Taiyū, Chōei Prince of Motobu
Shō Taiyū Motobu Wōji Chōei, seventh head of the House of Motobu, distinguished himself by his participation in embassies to Satsuma in 1804, 1809 and 1814, during which he partook of tasks related to the official relations with the Shimazu clan, made official visits to several temples and sanctuaries and attended poetry meetings.His implication in the politics of the kingdom and the international relations with Japan granted him the rank of prince.
Shō Keiho, Chōshō ''Aji'' of Motobu
Shō Keiho Motobu Aji Chōshō, ninth head of the House of Motobu, is celebrated as a martial arts master. He served three different kings, Shō Kō, Shō Iku and Shō Tai, for whom he was "teacher of martial arts".,In 1855, he serves as royal deputy during the french-ryūkyūan convention negociations.,, It is said he was chosen to represent the king because his physical appearance and his poise gave him a royal aura.,
He also took part in an embassy to Satsuma in 1859.
Chōyū Motobu
, eleventh head of the House of Motobu, is famous as the creator of the karate branch that will later be known under the name of Mutubu-udundī.,He was also a master in the arts of dance and poetry. Before the fell of the Ryūkyū Kingdom, he used the title of Aji of Inoha, which was the title used by the eldest sons of the heads of the House of Motobu before they suceeded to their fathers.
After the fall of the kingdom, the position of head of the House of Motobu merged with the position of head of the Mutubu-udundī school of karate. Chōyū transmitted the title to his karate disciple, to whom he gave the mission to go and teach the Mutubu-udundī secrets to his son Chōmō who lived in Wakayama in Japan.