Tradition holds that Satto was born in 1321 to a farming family in the Urasoe district, and he is also known as the hero of the 'Feather Robe' legend, in which he married a celestial maiden by hiding her robe. Rising to power on his own merits, he overthrew Seii, the last king of the Eiso dynasty and lord of Urasoe, becoming king of Chuzan and ruling from Urasoe Castle. Following the founding of the Ming dynasty in 1368, he sent his brother Taiki to China in 1372 to pay tribute, receiving investiture as King of Chuzan -- the beginning of roughly 500 years of tribute and investiture relations between Ryukyu and China. The advanced technology and goods gained through trade with Ming China greatly contributed to Ryukyu's development. He died in 1395; his line passed to his son Bunei, but was overthrown in 1406 by Sho Shisho, father of Sho Hashi.

A self-made figure said to have risen from farmer to king through sheer ability. He displayed farsighted judgment in establishing diplomatic relations with China, laying the practical groundwork for centuries of Ryukyuan prosperity.

The tribute relationship with Ming China that Satto opened became the foundation of the Ryukyu Kingdom's later prosperity as an entrepot trading power. Urasoe Castle, his seat of rule, is remembered in history as the center of Ryukyuan politics before Shuri Castle.