Taihang Mountains

A mountain range that runs north to south on the border between the North China Plain and the Shanxi Plateau in China. It originates in the Yanshan Mountains in the northwest of Hebei Province in the north, runs southwest, branches off into the Hengshan Mountains and Wutai Mountains in northern Shanxi Province, and reaches the north bank of the Yellow River in the south. It is made up of old strata that existed before the Paleozoic era, and has been well dissected. In general, the north is higher, and the topography is more gradual in the west and steeper in the east. Although the altitude is not high, at 1,000 to 2,000 meters, the eastern side forms a steep fault scarp, blocking seasonal winds from the East China Sea, and exerts a great influence on the climate of northern China. Historically, it played a role in dividing the east and west of the North China Plain, where the capital was located, and was considered a second Great Wall, while the rivers and mountain passes that cross the mountain range served as gateways between the east and west. Among these mountain passes, the eight routes including Jingxing and Feihu are known as the Taihang Eight Routes and have been famous since ancient times. The foothills on the east and west sides of the mountain are treasure troves of mineral resources such as coal, iron ore, and sulfur.

[Motohide Akiyama]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

中国、華北平原と山西高原の境を南北に走る山脈。北は河北省北西部の燕山(えんざん)山地より発し、南西走して山西省北部に至る恒山(こうざん)、五台山を分岐し、南は黄河北岸に至る。古生代以前の古い地層からなり、開析はよく進んでいる。一般に北のほうが高度が高く、また西に緩く東に急な傾動性の地形をもつ。標高は1000～2000メートルと高くはないが、東側が急峻(きゅうしゅん)な断層崖(だんそうがい)をなし、東シナ海からの季節風を遮るなど、気候上、中国北部に与える影響力は大きい。歴史的にも、都のある華北平原の西の障壁として東西を区分する役割を果たし、第二の長城とみなされる一方、山脈を横断する河川や峠道は東西交通の関門となった。これらの峠道のなかで、井陘(せいけい)、飛狐(ひこ)などの八路は太行八陘(たいこうはっけい)とよばれ、古来有名である。また東西の山麓(さんろく)は、石炭、鉄鉱、硫黄(いおう)など鉱物資源の宝庫である。

［秋山元秀］

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