Xiao He

An ancient Chinese politician. He was a vassal of Emperor Gaozu Liu Bang from the beginning, and was born in the same hometown as Liu Bang, Fengyi, Pei (Feng County, Jiangsu Province). He was originally a low-ranking official in Pei County, Qin, and was said to have been a capable official. He supported Liu Bang since he was a farmer, and later, when Liu Bang went to the capital Xianyang on business, he gave Liu Bang more farewell gifts than anyone else, something Liu Bang would never forget for the rest of his life. After Liu Bang raised his army, he and his entire family joined him as his advisors, and he played an active role as a civil administrator rather than a warrior, often saving Liu Bang from difficult situations. After Liu Bang pacified the world, he was ranked first among his meritorious ministers and was enfeoffed as the Marquis of Jiang, and eventually promoted from Prime Minister to Prime Minister. During the conflict with the Qin army, while the Han generals who had taken the capital, Xianyang, fought over gold and silver, it is well known that he alone managed to preserve the Qin records, which allowed Liu Bang to gain a good understanding of the state of the world.

[Akira Kasugai]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

中国古代の政治家。前漢朝高祖劉邦(りゅうほう)の最初からの臣で、劉邦と同郷の沛(はい)の豊邑(ほうゆう)（江蘇(こうそ)省豊県）の生まれ。初め秦(しん)の沛県の主吏掾(しゅりえん)という下級官吏で、有能だったらしい。劉邦が一農民だったころから援助しており、のち、劉邦が役目がら首都咸陽(かんよう)へ行ったとき、他の者より多くの餞別(せんべつ)を出したことは劉邦にとって終生忘れがたいことであったようだ。劉邦の起兵後はその参謀として一族をあげて加わり、武人としてよりも民政官として活躍、劉邦の窮地をしばしば救った。劉邦が天下を平定すると功臣中第一に推され酇侯(さんこう)に封ぜられ、やがて丞相(じょうしょう)から相国となった。秦軍との抗争中、都の咸陽城を落とした漢軍の諸将が金銀を争奪したのに、彼ひとり秦の記録文書を収め、それによって劉邦が天下の形勢をよく知りえたのは有名である。

［春日井明］

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