Chen

The last dynasty of the Southern Dynasties in China (557-589). It was founded by Chen Baxian (Emperor Wu) of Wuxing Commandery (Zhejiang Province). Chen Baxian was a low-ranking military man, but he built up his power by working hard to suppress the Hou Jing Rebellion at the end of the Liang Dynasty. When Emperor Yuan of Liang was assassinated by the Western Wei in Jiangling, he installed Emperor Jing, and eventually ascended to the throne after Emperor Jing abdicated, establishing a dynasty in Jiankang (Nanjing). After his death, his brother's son Emperor Wen succeeded him, and he was followed by Emperor Xuan, who dethroned him, but was destroyed by Emperor Wen of Sui during the fifth reign of Emperor Later. Chen Baxian's territory only covered the area south of the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River and the area of ​​Huainan that was seized from Northern Qi during Emperor Xuan's reign. During this time, many of the Southern Dynasties aristocrats had fallen into decline following the Hou Jing Rebellion, and the political center was made up of military commanders and low-ranking Kanjin people, which made the Sui Dynasty unique among the Southern Dynasties. At the time of its downfall, the population of the Sui Dynasty was said to be 2 million.

[Keiji Nakamura]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

中国、南朝最後の王朝（557～589）。呉興郡（浙江(せっこう)省）の人、陳覇先(ちんはせん)（武帝）が建立した。陳覇先は身分の低い軍人であったが、梁(りょう)末の侯景の乱に際しその鎮圧に奔走して勢力を築き、梁の元帝が江陵で西魏(せいぎ)に襲殺されると敬帝をたて、やがて敬帝の禅譲を受けて即位し、建康（南京(ナンキン)）に王朝を開いた。その死後、兄の子文帝が継ぎ、ついで廃帝、宣帝と続いたが、第5代の後主のときに隋(ずい)の文帝に滅ぼされた。その領域は、わずかに揚子江(ようすこう)中・下流以南と、宣帝の時代に北斉(ほくせい)から奪った淮南(わいなん)一帯を占めるにすぎなかった。この時期、南朝貴族は侯景の乱を境に多く没落しており、政治の中枢にあったのは武将出身者や身分の低い寒人(かんじん)であって、その点南朝のなかでは特異である。滅亡時、隋に入った人口は200万という。

［中村圭爾］

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