Zhang Juzheng

A Chinese Ming dynasty official. Born in Jiangling, Hubei Province. His courtesy name was Shuda. His pen name was Taiyue. His posthumous name was Wenzhong. He became a Jinshi in 1547, and started out as a Shokishi, but was promoted thanks to the kindness of Xu Jie, who was the first Chief Advisor from the end of the Jiajing era (1522-66) to the Longqing era (1567-72). In 1567, he became a Daishonin of the Eastern Palace and joined the cabinet. When Emperor Wanli (reigned 1572-1620) ascended to the throne, he allied with the Empress Dowager and the eunuch Feng Bao to oust Gao Gong and become Chief Advisor, and held the highest power as the emperor's teacher until his death. In domestic affairs, he demonstrated his skill in enforcing discipline among the bureaucracy, streamlining redundant officials, carrying out flood control works in the lower reaches of the Yellow River, and uncovering hidden fields through land rationing nationwide. Externally, he dispatched the famous generals Qi Jiguang and Li Chengliang from Manchuria to Mongolia to strengthen border defenses. He also demonstrated outstanding political power by peacefully improving the state of war with Mongolian Altan Khan and reopening mutual relations. However, he was a rigid character and was too strict with both the emperor and other bureaucrats, which earned him resentment from others, and he was attacked for not mourning his father's death. After his death, his family was abdicated (their property was confiscated).

[Mamoru Kawakatsu]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

中国、明(みん)の官僚。湖北省江陵(こうりょう)の人。字(あざな)は叔大(しゅくだい)。号は太岳。諡(おくりな)は文忠。1547年に進士となり、庶吉士(しょきつし)を振り出しに嘉靖(かせい)（1522～66）末～隆慶(りゅうけい)（1567～72）初の首輔(しゅほ)であった徐階の知遇を得て累進し、67年東閣大学士となって入閣した。万暦(ばんれき)帝（在位1572～1620）が即位すると、皇太后や宦官馮保(かんがんふうほ)と結んで高拱(こうきょう)を退けて首輔となり、以後死亡時まで、帝の師として最高権力を掌握した。内政では官僚の綱紀粛正、冗官の整理、黄河下流の治水工事や全国的な土地丈量による隠田摘発などに敏腕を振るった。外には名将の戚継光(せきけいこう)、李成梁(りせいりょう)を満州からモンゴリア方面に派遣して辺防を強化した。モンゴルのアルタン・ハンとの戦争状態も平和的に改善し、互市を再開するなど、卓越した政治力を示した。しかし、性格が剛直で、皇帝に対しても他の官僚に対しても厳格にすぎたところがあって人の恨みを買い、父の死に服喪しなかったことを攻撃された。死後、一家は籍没（財産の没収）された。

［川勝　守］

出典　小学館　日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)について　情報 | 凡例