Rouran - Rouran

A nomadic people and their state active on the Mongolian Plateau in the 5th and 6th centuries. The prevailing theory is that they are of Mongolian origin. They are also called Zhanzhen, Zhuzhen, and Zhezei, but the original language is unknown. In the early 5th century, a clan leader conquered the Gaoche and Xiongnu peoples of the Mongolian Plateau and founded a state, adopting the title of Khagan (Khan) for the first time and organizing military and administrative structures based on the decimal system. Later, they also brought the Tarim Basin under their control, and invaded the northern border of the Northern Wei Dynasty in conflict with it, while also connecting with the Southern Dynasties via Tuyuhun in the Qinghai area. However, Gaoche, who was under his rule, rebelled and moved westward in 485-486 to establish an independent state in the Dzungar Basin, which caused the Rouran to decline, and in the middle of the 6th century, they were destroyed by the Turks, a tribe of the Tiele people, descendants of Gaoche. They are said to be the same as the Avars who appear in Western historical documents, but this is not certain.

[Masao Mamoru]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

5～6世紀にモンゴル高原で活躍した遊牧民族およびその国家。モンゴル系と考える説が有力。蠕蠕(ぜんぜん)、茹茹(じょじょ)、苪苪(ぜいぜい)などとも写されるが、原語は不明。5世紀初頭に、一族長がモンゴル高原の高車(こうしゃ)、匈奴(きょうど)の遺民などを征服して建国し、ハガン（可汗）という君主号を初めて採用して、十進法に基づく軍事・行政組織を整えた。そののち、タリム盆地をも勢力下に置き、北魏(ほくぎ)と対立してその北辺に侵入する一方、青海方面の吐谷渾(とよくこん)を経て南朝諸国に通じた。しかし、支配下の高車が、反乱を起こし485～486年に西走してジュンガル盆地に独立国を建てたため、柔然は衰え、6世紀の中ごろ、高車の後裔(こうえい)である鉄勒(てつろく)の一部族、突厥(とっけつ)に滅ぼされた。西方史料に現れるアバールと同じものといわれるが、確実ではない。

［護　雅夫］

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