[2] He succeeded Shō Nei, whose reign saw the invasion of Ryukyu by Japanese forces in 1609 and the subjugation of the kingdom to Satsuma Domain, and ruled from 1621 until 1640.

In 1616, he was appointed kokushō,[3] a high government position akin to prime minister or chief royal advisor, which would later be replaced with sessei.

In addition, while Shō Hō retained powers related to organization of offices and administration of punishments, along with all the ritual prestige of the throne, Shō Nei was the last king of Ryukyu to rule personally, directly, and absolutely as monarch.

At the start of Shō Hō's reign, Okinawan tribute ships were only welcome in Fuzhou once every ten years.

In fact, these tribute missions, the only legal method of trading with Ming China, were essential to the kingdom's economic prosperity.