Guanzhong - Kanchu

A historical place name in the central part of Shaanxi Province, China. Originally, it referred to the area west of Hangu Pass, established by the Qin Dynasty during the Warring States period (located in a gorge of the Yellow River, northeast of present-day Lingbao County, Henan Province). It has sometimes been used to include northern Shaanxi Province and the area south of the Qinling Mountains, but generally refers to the Wei River Plain, also known as the Guanzhong Plain. Bounded by plateaus and mountains to the north and south and with a narrow area to the east and west, the area was a natural fortress, and was one of the most militarily and politically important areas in northern China throughout ancient and medieval times. The Yangshao culture has flourished since the Neolithic period, and since the Qin Dynasty made Xianyang its capital, the region has been the site of successive national capitals, so there are many cultural remains. The land covered with loess is fertile, and agricultural development has progressed since ancient times. In particular, irrigation canals have been developed in the Wei River alluvial plain, making it a major production area, mainly for wheat and cotton. Cities such as Xi'an and Xianyang have also developed, and it is also the most densely populated region in Shaanxi Province.

[Motohide Akiyama]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

中国、陝西(せんせい／シャンシー)省中央部をさす歴史的地名。元来、戦国時代に秦(しん)の設けた函谷関(かんこくかん)（現河南(かなん／ホーナン)省霊宝(れいほう)県の北東、黄河(こうが／ホワンホー)が峡谷をなす所にあった）より西部をいう。陝西省北部や秦嶺(しんれい／チンリン)山脈以南をも含んで用いられたこともあるが、一般には渭河(いが)平原一帯をさし、関中平原ともいう。南北を台地や山地でくぎられ、東西に狭隘(きょうあい)の地をもつ地形は、自然の要害をなし、古代、中世を通じ、中国北部で軍事的、政治的にもっとも重要な地域の一つであった。新石器時代から仰韶(ぎょうしょう)文化が栄え、秦が咸陽(かんよう／シエンヤン)を国都としてより、歴代の国都のある地域であったため、文化遺跡も非常に多い。黄土に覆われた土地は肥沃(ひよく)で、古くから農業開発が進み、とくに渭河沖積地は灌漑(かんがい)水路も整備され、小麦、綿花を中心とした一大生産地となっている。西安(せいあん／シーアン)市、咸陽市をはじめとした都市も発達し、陝西省でもっとも人口稠密(ちゅうみつ)な地域でもある。

［秋山元秀］

出典　小学館　日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)について　情報 | 凡例