Haneji

Haniji, also read Haneji, founded the kingdom of Hokuzan in northern Okinawa during the Sanzan period. Ryukyu tradition holds that he overthrew the aji of Nakijin, then in 1322 renounced Chūzan's overlordship and styled himself King of Hokuzan, ruling from Nakijin Castle. His name may derive from Haneji, a northern settlement.

He first appears in Ming records in 1383, when he sent a tributary mission after the Ming court ordered the three kings to make peace. Five missions went under his name before his last contact in 1390. On his death around 1395 his son Min succeeded him; because the reign covers nearly seventy years, some scholars suspect the name covers several same-named rulers.

The realm his house founded, the poorest Sanzan kingdom, ended in 1416 when Shō Hashi of Chūzan stormed Nakijin and the last king killed himself.