Shō Toku

Shō Toku (尚 徳) was the son of Shō Taikyū and last king of his dynasty. He came to power as a young man in a kingdom whose treasury had been depleted. He engaged in efforts to conquer islands and took the symbol of Hachiman as his banner to emphasize his martial spirit. In 1466, he led an invasion on Kikai Island, which strained the Ryūkyūan treasury with little benefit. He either died young or was possibly killed by forces within the kingdom as details are somewhat unclear. As is common for rulers who preside over the end of a dynasty moralists portrayed him as cruel, violent, and lacking in virtue.