Zhao Pu

A Chinese politician during the founding period of the Northern Song Dynasty. His pen name was Zokuhei. He was from Ji County, Youzhou (Ji County, Tianjin City). During the Later Zhou Dynasty, he became a staff officer for Zhao Kuangyin (the Song's Grand Ancestor), and in 960 he played an active role as a central figure in the movement to appoint Zhao Kuangyin to the throne, successfully seizing power from the Later Zhou Dynasty. For his achievements, he was promoted to the Right Councillor, and served as a Privy Councillor, among other positions, before becoming Prime Minister in 964. He was highly trusted by Taizu and often offered advice to Taizu during his term, demonstrating his skill in governing both domestically and internationally. He promoted a civilian-style centralization of power, including the dismantling of the feudal domains and the strengthening of the Imperial Guard, and sought to establish a system of control over the Song dynasty. He returned to the position of prime minister during the reign of Emperor Taizong Zhao Kuangyi, but was treated poorly in his later years. Zhao Pu was a politician who had started out as a practical man, and he did not get along well with the bureaucrats who had been Jinshi. He gradually became estranged from them.

[Hiroaki Ito]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

中国、北宋(ほくそう)建国期の政治家。字(あざな)は則平(そくへい)。幽州薊(ゆうしゅうけい)県（天津(てんしん)市薊県）の人。後周(こうしゅう)の時代、趙匡胤(ちょうきょういん)（宋の太祖）の幕僚となり、960年には趙匡胤推戴(すいたい)運動の中心人物として活躍し、後周から政権を奪取することに成功した。その功によって右諫議大夫(うかんぎたいふ)となり、枢密使などを歴任し、964年宰相に就任した。太祖の信任が厚く、在職中しばしば太祖に献策して、内外の治政に手腕を振るい、藩鎮(はんちん)解体、禁軍の強化をはじめとする文治主義的な中央集権化を推し進め、宋朝支配体制の確立を図った。太宗趙匡義の時代にふたたび宰相に返り咲いたが、晩年は不遇であった。趙普は実務家あがりの政治家で、進士出身の官僚とは反りがあわず、しだいに疎んぜられていった。

［伊藤宏明］

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