The Seinan Incident

A civil war broke out in China at the beginning of the Ming Dynasty over the succession to the throne. Emperor Taizu Zhu Yuanzhang, hoping to ensure the stability of the imperial family, purged meritorious officials and allocated princes to key positions throughout the country. They were forbidden from involvement in civil affairs, but were given military powers and expected to act as guardians of the imperial family, and their number rose to 25. However, Emperor Jianwen, who succeeded Emperor Taizu, consulted with his aides and adopted a policy of eliminating the influence of the various kings, resulting in the deaths of the Kings of Zhou, Xiang, Qi, Dai, and Min. The King of Yan, who was in Beiping (Beijing), sensed that the plan of the elimination of the feudal domain was reaching him, and raised an army in July 1399. The war lasted for four years, but ended when the King of Yan captured the capital (Nanjing), and in 1402 he ascended to the throne as Emperor Chengzu Yongle. Emperor Jianwen died in the flames of war, but many rumors have been circulated about his life and death out of sympathy for the unfortunate emperor. The name Jingnan comes from the fact that when the King of Yan raised his army, he used the pretext of eliminating the evil ministers around the emperor and easing the difficulties of the imperial family.

[Takanobu Terada]

"Emperor Yongle" by Takanobu Terada (1966, Jinbutsu Oraisha)

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

中国、明(みん)初に起こった皇位継承をめぐる内乱。太祖朱元璋(しゅげんしょう)は帝室の安泰を願って功臣を粛清し、皇子を全国の要所に分封した。彼らは民政にかかわることは禁じられたが、軍事権を与えられ帝室の藩屏(はんぺい)となるべく期待され、その数は25に上った。ところが、太祖の後を継いだ建文帝は側近の議をいれ、諸王の勢力を排除する政策をとり、周王、湘(しょう)王、斉王、代王、岷(びん)王らが犠牲となった。北平（北京(ペキン)）にあった燕王は、削藩の計が自分に及ぶのを察知して、1399年7月に挙兵した。戦乱は4年にわたったが、燕王が京師(けいし)（南京(ナンキン)）を攻略して終了し、1402年燕王は即位して成祖永楽(えいらく)帝となった。建文帝は兵火のなかに没したが、悲運の皇帝への同情から、その生死については数々の風説が伝えられている。なお、靖難というのは、燕王が挙兵にあたり、君側の奸臣(かんしん)を除き皇室の難を靖(やす)んずるという名目を掲げたのに基づく。

［寺田隆信］

『寺田隆信著『永楽帝』（1966・人物往来社）』

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