【Designated by the City：Historical Records】Records Related to Shoei-Uji and the Motomura Family

In Miyako, those with the ancestral background whose names start with the character 朝, are called the Shoei-uji Clan, drawn from the last name Sho originating from the main island of Okinawa. There are several ancestral lines, but today, there are only two familial lineages that have clear birthplaces of origin. One of them holds the household name of Tarama, descendants of Choei, who was the child born between Urasoe-Uekata Choshi and計志真良 of the Untabaru-uji Clan in Tarama. The other has the household name of前比屋 whose ancestors can be traced back to Chochu, a child born between北谷里之子朝乗 (who later became Uchima-Uekata) and a farmer from Sugama village, 比良寿.
Choei became the head of Shimoji in 1647 and Chochu, the head of Hirara in 1729. The Motomura family of the Shoei-uji Clan is of the前比屋 lineage, whose ancestor was Chofuku, the third son of Chogi, the son of Chochu. Their household name is Upuntara. Chofuku held important posts in his career, such as the Nikadori Yohito, Nishinakasone Yohito, Irabu Shui Ufuyaku, and others. From the lineage of Upuntara, Chosho, a grandson of Chofuku, held position as the head of Shimoji in 1851, and Choryo, the great-granson of Chosho was the mayor of Hirara village in 1919. Chosho was involved in the Warikasamikoku Incident (1848) and the Zansho Incident (1860). Choryo is known as a historical researcher of Miyako.

The records stored with the household are mostly those related to Chosho and Choryo. Although these records are from the 19th century and onward, they are valuable in learning about the shifts in power of this clan and of the social situation after the period of the Bakumatsu.