Shō Hashi
The "aji" arose around the twelfth century as local leaders began to build "gusuku" (Ryukyuan castles). Shō Hashi was an "aji" who later unified Okinawa Island as king. The title "aji" variously designated sons of the king and regional leaders. During the Second Shō Dynasty, when the "aji" settled near Shuri Castle, the word came to denote an aristocrat in the castle town.