Shō Ken
9th king of the Ryukyu Kingdom
About Shō Ken
Lived 1625 – 1647 (aged 22).
was the 9th king of the Ryukyu Kingdom, who ruled from 1641 to 1647.
Life Shō Ken was the third son of Shō Hō. He had two elder brothers named Shō Kyō (尚恭) and Shō Bun (尚文), but both of them died before their father. So Shō Ken became the heir apparent of the kingdom, and was given Kume and Nakagusuku magiri as his domain. After Shō Hō's death, Shō Ken was installed as the king.
Many of the Sakishima Beacons were built during his reign.
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Important facts
Family & relationships
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Shō Ken's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Shō Ken?
9th king of the Ryukyu Kingdom
When was Shō Ken born?
Shō Ken was born on 15 October 1625.
When did Shō Ken die?
Shō Ken died on 19 October 1647.
What nationality was Shō Ken?
Shō Ken's recorded nationality: Ryukyu Kingdom.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Shō Ken. https://biography.guide/sho-ken/
MLA: "Shō Ken." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/sho-ken/.
Chicago: "Shō Ken." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/sho-ken/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
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