Choji - Chochi

A prefecture-level city in the southeastern part of Shanxi Province, China. It governs two city districts and 10 counties, including Changzhi County, and acts as the administrative center for Lucheng City (as of 2016). It has a population of 3,392,000 (2014). It is located in a basin that opens up into the upper reaches of the Zhuozhang River (Lu River), a tributary of the Wei River that crosses the southern part of the Taihang Mountains and flows into the North China Plain. As a strategic location overlooking the Central Plains, it has been a place of territorial disputes between various countries since the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period. The Qin Dynasty established Shangdang County here, and the Han Dynasty established Huguan County and Changzi County, and it continued to be the center of Shangdang, Luzhou, and Lu'an Prefectures.

Changzhi and its southern neighbor, Jincheng (Zezhou), are rich in coal and iron ore, and iron products have been produced here since ancient times. Needles and nails in particular are known throughout the country. Even today, steelmaking and machinery manufacturing are well developed. Other traditional industries include woolen textiles and wine brewing. Changzhi is a key transportation hub where the Taijiao Line (Taiyuan-Jiaozuo) and the Handan-Changzhi Line (Handan-Changzhi) intersect, and Changzhi Wangcun Airport is located near the city center.

[Motohide Akiyama, Editorial Department, October 19, 2017]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

中国、山西(さんせい)省南東部の地級市。2市轄区、長治県など10県を管轄し、潞城(ろじょう)市の管轄代行を行う（2016年時点）。人口339万2000（2014）。太行(たいこう)山脈の南部を横断して華北平原に注ぐ衛河(えいが)の支流、濁漳河(だくしょうが)（潞水）の上流に開ける盆地に位置し、中原(ちゅうげん)を望む要地として、春秋戦国時代から各国が領有を争う所であった。秦(しん)はここに上党(じょうとう)郡を置き、漢は壺関(こかん)県、長子県などを置き、その後も上党、潞州、潞安府の中心であった。

　長治とその南の晋城(しんじょう)（沢州(たくしゅう)）にかけて豊富な石炭、鉄鉱石が分布し、古くから鉄製品が生産され、とくに針や釘(くぎ)は全国でその名を知られていた。現在も製鉄、機械工業が発達している。そのほか毛織物業、酒造業も伝統的産業である。太焦線（太原(たいげん)―焦作(しょうさく)）と邯長(かんちょう)線（邯鄲(かんたん)―長治）が交差する交通の要衝で、市街近くには長治王村空港がある。

［秋山元秀・編集部　2017年10月19日］

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