The Sanshikan (Japanese: 三司官 sanshikwan), or Council of Three, was a government body of the Ryūkyū Kingdom, which originally developed out of a council of regents.
It emerged in 1556, when the young Shō Gen, who was mute, ascended to the throne of Ryūkyū. The council of regents that formed in order to handle this challenge and manage the country on the king's behalf soon grew into an established and powerful government organ. Shō Gen died in 1571, but the Council remained, acting alongside the successive kings in managing the affairs of government. In fact, the Articles Subscribed to by the King's Councillors, which bound the royal government in loyalty and servitude to the Japanese daimyō of Satsuma, explicitly prohibit the king from "entrust[ing] the conduct of public affairs in the islands to any persons other than San-shi-kuan".[1]
Over time, the Sanshikan eclipsed the power and prestige of the sessei, a post which is often translated as "prime minister," and which served as chief royal advisor. Candidates to join the Council of Three had to live in Shuri, the capital, and had to pass tests of both merit and birth; they had to be of proper aristocratic heritage, and to pass tests of knowledge of literature, ethics, and other classical Chinese subjects. These exams were very much akin to those taken by scholar-bureaucrats in China, but were less strict.
The Council, and sessei, worked alongside the heads of various administrative departments who were known as the Council of Fifteen when assembled. The Fifteen advised the higher-ranking officials on policy, and made recommendations to fill vacancies in the administration.
The Sanshikan was dismantled along with the rest of the royal government when Ryūkyū was formally annexed by Meiji Japan in the 1870s. Members of Ryūkyū's aristocratic class were allowed to maintain some of their prestige and privileges, but even members of the Council were only afforded the equivalent of the sixth rank in the Japanese Imperial Court structure.
| Name | In office | Kings |
|---|---|---|
| Yoasutahemaushikakokauchinoōyakumohi Japanese: 世アスタヘマウシカ子カウチノ大ヤクモヒ | ?-? | Shō Shin |
| Yoasutahemiyaheiōyakumohimaikusakako Japanese: 世アスタヘミヤ平大ヤクモヒマイクサカ子 | ?-? | Shō Sei |
| Yoasutahekauchinoōyakumohitarukako Japanese: 世アスタヘカウチノ大ヤクモヒタルカ子 | ?-? | Shō Sei |
| Yoasutahekusukunoōyakumohimaikusa Japanese: 世アスタヘクスクノ大ヤクモヒマイクサ | ?-? | Shō Sei |
| Sanshikan Takushi Daijin Japanese: 三司官沢子大臣 | ?-? | Shō Gen |
| Mō Bunei Takushi Ueekata Seiri Japanese: 毛文英 沢岻 親方 盛里 | ? - 1526 | Shō Shin, Shō Sei |
| Ba Shiryō Kunigami Ueekata Seiin Japanese: 馬思良 国頭 親方 正胤 | ?-1537 | Shō Shin, Shō Sei |
| Yō Taikaku Yamauchi Ueekata Shōshin Japanese: 楊太鶴 山内 親方 昌信 | Shō Sei | |
| Ma Bodo Ōzato Ueekata Seigyō Japanese: 麻勃都 大里 親方 盛行 | ?-1546 | Shō Sei |
| Go Keigen Kunigami Ueekata Sengen Japanese: 呉啓元 国頭 親方 先元 | ?-1549 | Shō Sei |
| Tō Gensai Kochinda Ueekata Seigu Japanese: 東元宰 東風平 親方 政供 | ?-1560 | Shō Sei |
| In Tatsuro Gusushi Ueekata Yōken Japanese: 殷達魯 宜寿次 親方 庸憲 | Shō Sei | |
| Boku Gentoku Ikegusuku Ueekata Shōshi Japanese: 穆源徳 池城 親方 昌氏 | Shō Sei, Shō Gen | |
| Ba Juntoku Kunigami Ueekata Seikaku Japanese: 馬順徳 国頭 親方 正格 | Shō Gen | |
| Hō Tokushin Ganaha Ueekata Jogen Japanese: 封徳新 我那覇 親方 助元 | Shō Sei | |
| Wa Imi Kunigami Ueekata Keimei Japanese: 和為美 国頭 親方 景明 | ?-1559 | Shō Sei, Shō Gen |
| Katsu Kashō Gusukuma Ueekata Shūshin Japanese: 葛可昌 城間 親方 秀信 | ?-1559 | Shō Sei, Shō Gen |
| Mō Ryūgin Aragusuku Ueekata Anki Japanese: 毛龍唫 新城 親方 安基 | Shō Gen | |
| Mō Ren Ikegusuku Ueekata Antō Japanese: 毛廉 池城 親方 安棟 | ?-1579 | Shō Gen, Shō Ei |
| Ō Jushō Kunigami Ueekata Seijun Japanese: 翁寿祥 国頭 親方 盛順 | ?-1580 | Shō Gen, Shō Ei |
| Mō Genryū Kunigami Ueekata Seimai Japanese: 毛元龍 国頭 親方 盛埋 | 1580-? | Shō Ei |
| Kin Kokutei Gushichan Ueekata Nōan Japanese: 金国鼎 具志頭 親方 能安 | ?-1593 | Shō Ei, Shō Nei |
| Mō Ryūbun Tomigusuku Ueekata Seishō Japanese: 毛龍文 豊見城 親方 盛章 | 1583-1604 | Shō Ei, Shō Nei |
| Go Seisai Kunigami Ueekata Senji Japanese: 呉世済 国頭 親方 先次 | ?-1599 | Shō Nei |
| Name | In office | Kings |
|---|---|---|
| Ō Kishō Gusukuma Ueekata Seikyū Japanese: 翁寄松 城間 親方 盛久 | 1601-1605 | Shō Nei |
| Tei Dō Jana Ueekata Rizan Japanese: 鄭迵 謝名 親方 利山 | 1606-1611 | Shō Nei |
| Mō Hōchō Yuntanza Ueekata Seishō Japanese: 毛鳳朝 読谷山 親方 盛韶 | 1611-1623 | Shō Nei, Shō Hō |
| Mō Kijin Nakijin Ueekata Sōnō Japanese: 孟帰仁 今帰仁 親方 宗能 | 1622-1629 | Shō Hō |
| Ba Shōren Katsuren Ueekata Ryōkei Japanese: 馬勝連 勝連 親方 良継 | 1629-1643 | Shō Hō, Shō Ken |
| Ba Kami Ōsato Ueekata Ryōan Japanese: 馬加美 大里 親方 良安 | 1643-1652 | Shō Ken, Shō Shitsu |
| Shō Kokuyō Chatan Ueekata Chōchō Japanese: 向国用 北谷 親方 朝暢 | 1652-1666 | Shō Shitsu |
| Mō Kokutō Gushichan Ueekata Antō Japanese: 毛国棟 具志頭 親方 安統 | 1666-1675 | Shō Shitsu, Shō Tei |
| Shō Mizai Goeku Ueekata Chōsei Japanese: 向美材 越来 親方 朝誠 | 1675-1683 | Shō Tei |
| Ō Jigi Inamine Ueekata Seihō Japanese: 翁自儀 稲嶺 親方 盛方 | 1683-1696 | Shō Tei |
| Shō Seishun Nakada Ueekata Chōjū Japanese: 向世俊 仲田 親方 朝重 | 1696-1702 | Shō Tei |
| Mō Kiryū Shikina Ueekata Seimei Japanese: 毛起龍 識名 親方 盛命 | 1702-1712 | Shō Tei, Shō Eki |
| Ō Jidō Ishadō Ueekata Seifu Japanese: 翁自道 伊舎堂 親方 盛富 | 1712-1721 | Shō Kei |
| Shō Ryūyoku Ufugusuku Ueekata Chōshō Japanese: 向龍翼 大城 親方 朝章 | 1722-1723 | Shō Kei |
| Mō Shōshō Mabuni Ueekata Ansei Japanese: 毛承詔 摩文仁 親方 安政 | 1723-1725 | Shō Kei |
| Mō Heijin Misato Ueekata Anman Japanese: 毛秉仁 美里 親方 安満 | 1725-1735 | Shō Kei |
| Shō Joshū Shikina Ueekata Chōei Japanese: 向汝楫 識名 親方 朝栄 | 1735-1745 | Shō Kei |
| Shō Tokukō Ginowan Ueekata Chōga Japanese: 向得功 宜野湾 親方 朝雅 | 1745-1750 | Shō Kei |
| Mō Kyōken Zakimi Ueekata Seishū Japanese: 毛恭倹 座喜味 親方 盛秀 | 1750-1752 | Shō Kei |
| Ba Genretsu Yonabaru Ueekata Ryōchō Japanese: 馬元烈 与那原 親方 良暢 | 1752-1754 | Shō Boku |
| Ba Sentetsu Miyahira Ueekata Ryōtei Japanese: 馬宣哲 宮平 親方 良廷 | 1755-1782 | Shō Boku |
| Shō Tenteki Ie Ueekata Chōkei Japanese: 向天廸 伊江 親方 朝慶 | 1782-1801 | Shō Boku, Shō On |
| Shō Bunryū Kyan Ueekata Chōchō Japanese: 向文龍 喜屋武 親方 朝昶 | 1801-1805 | Shō On, Shō Sei, Shō Kō |
| Ba Isai Yonabaru Ueekata Ryōō Japanese: 馬異才 与那原 親方 良応 | 1805-1820 | Shō Kō |
| Ō Kōretsu Ishadō Ueekata Seigen Japanese: 翁宏烈 伊舎堂 親方 盛元 | 1821-1828 | Shō Kō |
| Ba Tokubō Yonabaru Ueekata Ryōkō Japanese: 馬徳懋 与那原 親方 良綱 | 1828-1848 | Shō Kō, Shō Iku, Shō Tai |
| Mō Zōkō Ikegusuku Ueekata Anyū Japanese: 毛増光 池城 親方 安邑 | 1848-1862 | Shō Tai |
| Shō Yūkō Giwan Ueekata Chōho Japanese: 向有恒 宜湾 親方 朝保 | 1862-1875 | Shō Tai |
| Mō Hōrai Tomikawa Ueekata Seikei Japanese: 毛鳳来 富川 親方 盛奎 | 1875-1879 | Shō Tai |
| Name | In office | Kings |
|---|---|---|
| Shō Ritan Urasoe Ueekata Chōshi Japanese: 向里端 浦添 親方 朝師 | ?-1611 | Shō Nei |
| Mō Hōgi Ikegusuku Ueekata Anrai Japanese: 毛鳳儀 池城 親方 安頼 | 1611-1624 | Shō Nei, Shō Hō |
| Kin Ōshō Gushichan Ueekata Anshi Japanese: 金応照 具志頭 親方 安之 | 1624-1627 | Shō Hō |
| Mō Taiun Tomigusuku Ueekata Seiryō Japanese: 毛泰運 豊見城 親方 盛良 | 1627-1642 | Shō Hō, Shō Ken |
| Shō Kokuki Kunigami Ueekata Chōki Japanese: 向国噐 国頭 親方 朝季 | 1643-1654 | Shō Ken, Shō Shitsu |
| Ba Hōki Kanegusuku Ueekata Ryōsei Japanese: 馬逢熙 兼城 親方 良正 | 1654-1665 | Shō Shitsu |
| Mō Taiei Inoha Ueekata Seiki Japanese: 毛泰永 伊野波 親方 盛紀 | 1665-1688 | Shō Shitsu, Shō Tei |
| Mō Kokuzui Sadoyama Ueekata Anji Japanese: 毛国瑞 佐渡山 親方 安治 | 1688-1693 | Shō Tei |
| Ba Teishun Yonabaru Ueekata Ryōgi Japanese: 馬廷駿 与那原 親方 良義 | 1693-1694 | Shō Tei |
| Mō Kokusei Inoha Ueekata Seihei Japanese: 毛克盛 伊野波 親方 盛平 | 1694-1699 | Shō Tei |
| Ba Teiki Kōchi Ueekata Ryōshō Japanese: 馬廷噐 幸地 親方 良象 | 1700-1710 | Shō Tei, Shō Eki |
| Shō Genryō Tajima Ueekata Chōyū Japanese: 向元良 田島 親方 朝由 | 1710-1716 | Shō Eki, Shō Kei |
| Mō Ōhō Katsuren Ueekata Seiyū Japanese: 毛応鳳 勝連 親方 盛祐 | 1716-1719 | Shō Kei |
| Shō Wasei Ie Ueekata Chōjo Japanese: 向和声 伊江 親方 朝叙 | 1720-1745 | Shō Kei |
| Shō Kentoku Fukuyama Ueekata Chōken Japanese: 向倹徳 譜久山 親方 朝見 | 1745-1755 | Shō Kei, Shō Boku |
| Mō Bunwa Urasoe Ueekata Anzō Japanese: 毛文和 浦添 親方 安蔵 | 1755-1759 | Shō Boku |
| Mō Genyoku Ikegusuku Ueekata Anmei Japanese: 毛元翼 池城 親方 安命 | 1760-1769 | Shō Boku |
| Ba Kokuki Yonabaru Ueekata Ryōku Japanese: 馬国噐 与那原 親方 良矩 | 1769-1796 | Shō Boku, Shō On |
| Ba Kokugi Kōchi Ueekata Ryōtoku Japanese: 馬克義 幸地 親方 良篤 | 1796-1798 | Shō On |
| Mō Kokutō Takehara Ueekata Anshitsu Japanese: 毛国棟 嵩原 親方 安執 | 1798-1811 | Shō On, Shō Sei, Shō Kō |
| Ba Ōshō Oroku Ueekata Ryōwa Japanese: 馬応昌 小禄 親方 良和 | 1811-1818 | Shō Kō |
| Ō Teitō Tamagusuku Ueekata Seirin Japanese: 翁廷棟 玉城 親方 盛林 | 1818-1823 | Shō Kō |
| Mō Teijō Ikegusuku Ueekata Ankon Japanese: 毛廷勷 池城 親方 安昆 | 1823-1829 | Shō Kō |
| Shō Teikai Ginowan Ueekata Chōkon Japanese: 向廷楷 宜野湾 親方 朝昆 | 1829-1835 | Shō Kō |
| Mō Ishin Kochinda Ueekata Ando Japanese: 毛惟新 東風平 親方 安度 | 1836-1839 | Shō Iku |
| Ba Inchū Oroku Ueekata Ryōkyō Japanese: 馬允中 小禄 親方 良恭 | 1839-1847 | Shō Iku |
| Mō Kōtoku Zakimi Ueekata Seifu Japanese: 毛恒徳 座喜味 親方 盛普 | 1847-1858 | Shō Tai |
| Shō Jorei Fukuyama Ueekata Chōten Japanese: 向汝礪 譜久山 親方 朝典 | 1858-1871 | Shō Tai |
| Shō Rinshi Kawahira Ueekata Chōhan Japanese: 向麟趾 川平 親方 朝範 | 1871-1873 | Shō Tai |
| Mō Yūhi Ikegusuku Ueekata Anki Japanese: 毛有斐 池城 親方 安規 | 1873-1877 | Shō Tai |
| Ba Kensai Yonabaru Ueekata Ryōketsu Japanese: 馬兼才 与那原 親方 良傑 | 1877-1879 | Shō Tai |
| Name | In office | Kings |
|---|---|---|
| Mō Ryūgin Aragusuku Ueekata Anki Japanese: 毛龍唫 新城 親方 安基 | ?-? | Shō Gen |
| Ba Ryōsen Urasoe Ueekata Ryōken Japanese: 馬良詮 浦添 親方 良憲 | ?-1566 | Shō Gen |
| Ba Seiei Nago Ueekata Ryōin Japanese: 馬世栄 名護 親方 良員 | 1566-1592 | Shō Gen, Shō Ei, Shō Nei |
| Ba Ryōhitsu Nago Ueekata Ryōhō Japanese: 馬良弼 名護 親方 良豊 | 1592-1614 | Shō Nei |
| Mō Keiso Tomigusuku Ueekata Seizoku Japanese: 毛継祖 豊見城 親方 盛続 | 1614-1622 | Shō Nei, Shō Hō |
| Shō Kakurei Kunigami Ueekata Chōchi Japanese: 向鶴齢 国頭 親方 朝致 | 1622-1635 | Shō Hō |
| Shō Kakusen Urasoe Ueekata Chōri Japanese: 向鶴躚 浦添 親方 朝利 | 1636-1638 | Shō Hō |
| Shō Hōgen Ginowan Ueekata Seisei Japanese: 章邦彦 宜野湾 親方 正成 | 1641-1652 | Shō Ken |
| Shō Seibun Mabuni Ueekata Chōi Japanese: 向成文 摩文仁 親方 朝維 | 1654-1670 | Shō Ken, Shō Shitsu, Shō Tei |
| Mō Kokuchin Ikegusuku Ueekata Anken Japanese: 毛国珍 池城 親方 安憲 | 1670-1690 | Shō Tei |
| Mō Kenryū Takehara Ueekata An'i Japanese: 毛見龍 嵩原 親方 安依 | 1690-1697 | Shō Tei |
| Mō Tensō Ikegusuku Ueekata An'i Japanese: 毛天相 池城 親方 安倚 | 1699-1710 | Shō Tei, Shō Eki |
| Ba Kenzu Nago Ueekata Ryōi Japanese: 馬獻図 名護 親方 良意 | 1710-1728 | Shō Eki, Shō Kei |
| Sai On Gushichan Ueekata Bunjaku Japanese: 蔡温 具志頭 親方 文若 | 1728-1752 | Shō Kei |
| Shō Ketsu Kochinda Ueekata Chōei Japanese: 向傑 東風平 親方 朝衛 | 1752-1765 | Shō Boku |
| Shō Hōten Wakugawa Ueekata Chōkyō Japanese: 向邦鼎 湧川 親方 朝喬 | 1765-1778 | Shō Boku |
| Shō Kōki Fukuyama Ueekata Chōki Japanese: 向宏基 譜久山 親方 朝紀 | 1778-1798 | Shō Boku, Shō On |
| Ba Bunzui Yonabaru Ueekata Ryōtō Japanese: 馬文瑞 与那原 親方 良頭 | 1798-1803 | Shō On, Shō Sei |
| Mō Kōkoku Sadoyama Ueekata Anshun Japanese: 毛光国 佐渡山 親方 安春 | 1803-1815 | Shō Kō |
| Shō Shōkun Ie Ueekata Chōan Japanese: 向承訓 伊江 親方 朝安 | 1815-1826 | Shō Kō |
| Mō Shikkō Zakimi Ueekata Seichin Japanese: 毛執功 座喜味 親方 盛珍 | 1826-1836 | Shō Kō |
| Shō Kan Kanegusuku Ueekata Chōten Japanese: 向寛 兼城 親方 朝典 | 1836-1839 | Shō Iku |
| Shō Ryōhitsu Kuniyoshi Ueekata Chōshō Japanese: 向良弼 国吉 親方 朝章 | 1840-1851 | Shō Iku, Shō Tai |
| Shō Kōkun Sakuma Ueekata Seimō Japanese: 章鴻勲 佐久真 親方 正孟 | 1852-1854 | Shō Tai |
| Shō Tōseki Kōchi Ueekata Chōken Japanese: 向統績 幸地 親方 朝憲 | 1854-1857 | Shō Tai |
| Ba Kokushō Oroku Ueekata Ryōchū Japanese: 馬克承 小禄 親方 良忠 | 1857-1859 | Shō Tai |
| Ba Chōtō Yonabaru Ueekata Ryōkyō Japanese: 馬朝棟 与那原 親方 良恭 | 1859-1871 | Shō Tai |
| Mō Inryō Kamegawa Ueekata Seibu Japanese: 毛允良 亀川 親方 盛武 | 1871-1872 | Shō Tai |
| Shō Kyoken Urasoe Ueekata Chōshō Japanese: 向居謙 浦添 親方 朝昭 | 1872-1879 | Shō Tai |