Altan Khan

Tumed, chief of Inner Mongolia, during the Ming Dynasty in China. Also written as Ledaohan or Altanhan. He expanded his power by conquering northwestern Mongolia and the Qinghai area, and became the strongest khan in Mongolia. In 1570, he made peace with the Ming and was given the title of King Shunyi. In 1575, he received the title of Guihua City from the Ming for his residence in Hohhot (Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region). Around this time, he began to believe in Tibetan Buddhism (Lamaism), and in 1577, he built a temple near Qinghai Lake, which was given the title of Yanghua Temple by the Ming. The following year, in 1578, he invited the Third Dalai Lama, head of the Yellow Hat sect of Tibetan Buddhism, to this temple and became his follower. At this time, the khan bestowed the title of Dalai Lama, which was the beginning of the title of Dalai Lama.

[Hiroshi Wakamatsu]

"The Great Wall of China" by Tomitaro Aoki (1972, Kondo Publishing)

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

中国、明(みん)代、内(うち)モンゴルのトゥメト部長。俺答汗、阿勒坦汗とも書く。西北モンゴリア、青海方面を征伐して勢力を伸ばし、モンゴル最強のハンとなった。1570年明と和して、順義王の号を受け、また1575年居城フフホト（内モンゴル自治区）に対して明から帰化城の号を受けた。このころからチベット仏教（ラマ教）を信ずるようになり、1577年青海湖の近くに寺院を建立し、明から仰華寺の号を受けた。翌1578年ここに黄帽(こうぼう)派チベット仏教の教主ダライ・ラマ3世を招いてその信徒となった。なお、このときハンはダライ・ラマという称号を献じたが、これがダライ・ラマ号の始まりである。

［若松　寛］

『青木富太郎著『万里の長城』（1972・近藤出版社）』

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