Crown Ship Dance Record

Surviving documentation of the history of ryūkyū buyō, like that of karate, is scarce, and at present many historians rely on records written by visiting Chinese imperial envoys. An exception to this is the investiture ceremony of King Sho Iku (1813-1847) in 1838, also known as inu no ukanshin because it took place in the year of the dog (inu) in the old calendar. In this case, the program, script, and performers are recorded by Iha Fuyu (1876-1947) in his Ryūkyū gikyoku-shu (Collection of Ryukyuan Drama) of 1929 and the Kanshin odorikata nikki (Crown Ship Dance Record) of 1836-1838. Therefore, we are able to know about the performances in detail.

For example, in Ryūkyū gikyoku-shu, the names of the dancers of Amakawa are recorded, among them one Oroku Satonushi. Just from this, who exactly this was is not clear, but looking at the Kanshin odorikata nikki, it can be seen that he was the eldest son of the Oroku family of Tōnukura in Shuri.

Additional information can be found in Higaonna Kanjun's dictionary of Okinawa and Amami place names (Nantō fūdoki) from 1950. This volume tells us who lived in what area of Shuri. Here it is recorded that the Oroku family of Tōnukura was the head of the Ba clan and lords of Oroku Magiri. In addition, the Oroku genealogical records identify Oroku Satonushi as the 12th head of the Oroku Tunchi, Oroku Uēkata Ryochu (1819 - ?). Ryochu's fourth daughter, Umimuta, became Motobu Choyu's wife. Thus, the dancer of Amakawa in the records was Choyu's father-in-law.