Huangpu River - Huangpu River

A tributary of the Yangtze River (Changjiang) that flows from the southeastern part of Jiangsu Province to Shanghai in China. It originates from Lake Dingshan in Qingpu County, east of Lake Taihu, flows east, turns north east of Minhang, Shanghai County, joins the Wusong River (Suzhou River) in the eastern part of Shanghai, and flows into the Yangtze River at Wusongkou. It is 114 km long. In the past, it flowed directly into the sea, but the course changed with the development of the Yangtze Delta, and it gradually began to flow into the Yangtze River. During the Song Dynasty, as the development of the Jiangnan region progressed, its importance as a waterway for the Huangpu River increased. In 1404, Ming politician Xia Yuanji carried out large-scale dredging at the request of Ye Zongxing, which directly connected the Yangtze River waterway. This connected the river to numerous small canals as the main east-west artery of the Yangtze River delta, increasing its economic value. After Shanghai was opened to the public at the end of the Qing Dynasty, large-scale dredging was repeatedly carried out between Shanghai and Wusongkou, making it possible for large ships of tens of thousands of tons to navigate. Numerous berths were established on both sides of the river, supporting Shanghai's robust economic activity.

[Kazuo Hayashi]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

中国、江蘇(こうそ／チヤンスー)省南東部から上海(シャンハイ)市を流れる揚子江(ようすこう／ヤンツーチヤン)（長江(ちょうこう／チャンチヤン)）の支流。太湖(たいこ／タイフー)の東、青浦(せいほ)県の定山(ていざん)湖に源を発し、東流して上海県閔行(びんこう)の東で北に折れ、上海市街の東部で呉淞江(ごしょうこう／ウーソンチヤン)（蘇州河(そしゅうが／スーチョウホー)）を合流したのち、呉淞口に至り揚子江に注ぐ。全長114キロメートル。古くは直接海に注いでいたが、長江三角州の発達により流路が変化し、しだいに揚子江に注ぐようになった。宋(そう)代になり江南地方の開発が進展すると、黄浦江の水路としての重要性が増した。1404年明(みん)の政治家夏原吉(かげんきつ)が葉宗行(ようそうこう)の上言により大規模な浚渫(しゅんせつ)を行い、揚子江水運と直結した。そのため長江三角州の東西の幹線として数多くの小運河と連結し、経済的価値を高めた。清(しん)末、上海の開港後は上海―呉淞口間がたびたび大浚渫され、数万トン級の大型船舶の航行が可能となった。川の両岸に数多くのバース（係留地）が設けられ、上海市の旺盛(おうせい)な経済活動を支えている。

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