Zhao Tuo

Founder of the Nanyue Kingdom in China. Born in Zhending (Zhengding County, Hebei Province). After the First Emperor of Qin's strategy to conquer Lingnan, he became the governor of Longchuan County in Nanhai, but after the First Emperor's death, he replaced Ren Xiang as the commander of Nanhai. After the fall of Qin (207 B.C.), he became independent, attacked the neighboring Guilin and Xiang Commanderies, and founded the Nanyue Kingdom, calling himself King Wu and making Panyu (Panyu County, Guangdong Province) his capital. When Emperor Gaozu Liu Bang of the Han Dynasty ascended to the throne in 202 B.C., he was powerless to attack them, so he sent an envoy to make Zhao Tuo the King of Nanyue and seek peace. However, during the reign of Empress Lü, the Han Dynasty banned the export of ironware to Nanyue, so Zhao Tuo rebelled against the Han Dynasty, proclaimed himself emperor, invaded the southern border of the Han Dynasty, including Changsha Commandery, and subjugated the neighboring Minyue and Xiouluo. However, after Emperor Wen ascended to the throne in 180 B.C. and again sent envoys to negotiate peace, Zhao Tuo outwardly became a vassal of the Han Dynasty, but continued to proclaim himself emperor within the country.

[Fujiwara Riichiro]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

中国、南越(なんえつ)国の創立者。真定（河北省正定県）の出身。秦(しん)の始皇帝の嶺南(れいなん)経略ののち、南海郡の竜川県令となったが、始皇帝の死後任囂(じんごう)にかわり南海郡尉となった。秦が滅んだ（前207）のちは、自立して隣の桂林(けいりん)・象郡を討ち、南越国を建て、武王と名のり、番禺(ばんぐう)（広東(カントン)省番禺県）を都とした。やがて紀元前202年、即位した漢の高祖劉邦(りゅうほう)はこれを討つ力がなく、使を遣わして趙佗を南越王に封じ和親を図った。ところが呂后(りょこう)のとき、漢が南越への鉄器の輸出を禁じたことから、趙佗は漢に抗し、自ら皇帝を称し、長沙(ちょうさ)郡など漢の南辺を侵し、また隣の閩越(びんえつ)や西甌駱(せいおうらく)をも服属させた。しかし、文帝が前180年に即位し、ふたたび使を遣わして和を図らせてからは、趙佗は表面上漢に臣事したが、国内では引き続き皇帝を称した。

［藤原利一郎］

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