Zhao Gao

A eunuch from the Qin Dynasty in China. He was a subordinate of King Zhao during the Warring States period, but became a eunuch and served the First Emperor of Qin. As the commander of the Central Chariot Office, he looked after the First Emperor's youngest son, Huhai, and when the First Emperor died in 209 BC, he and the Prime Minister Li Si suppressed the eldest son, Fusu, and carried out a plot to make Huhai the second emperor. He later killed Li Si and became the Prime Minister. He presented the second emperor with a deer, falsely representing a horse, but when his subjects tolerated it out of fear of Zhao Gao's power, he killed the second emperor as well. However, he was later killed by Ziying, who ascended to the throne. By the time Zhao Gao came to power, the Chen Sheng and Wu Guang Rebellions and anti-Qin forces such as Xiang Yu and Liu Bang had already arisen, and the Qin dynasty was on the verge of demise.

[Kazuyuki Tsuruma]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

中国、秦(しん)の宦官(かんがん)。戦国時代の趙王の遠属であったが、宦官の身となり秦(しん)の始皇帝に仕えた。中車府令として始皇帝の末子胡亥(こがい)の世話をしていたので、紀元前209年始皇帝が死去すると、丞相李斯(じょうしょうりし)とともに長子扶蘇(ふそ)を抑え、胡亥を二世皇帝とする謀略を実行した。その後、李斯を殺して丞相となる。二世皇帝に対しても、シカをウマと偽って献じたにもかかわらず、臣下が趙高の権勢を恐れて黙認するのをみて二世皇帝も殺してしまう。しかし、のちに即位した子嬰(しえい)に殺された。趙高が権力を握ったころは、もうすでに陳勝(ちんしょう)・呉広(ごこう)の乱や項羽(こうう)・劉邦(りゅうほう)らの反秦勢力がおこり、秦も滅亡寸前であった。

［鶴間和幸］

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