Chen Youliang

One of the heroes of the late Yuan Dynasty in China. A native of Mianyang (Hubei Province). Born the son of a fisherman, he was fond of reading and initially became a minor county official. However, this did not suit his personality, and in 1351, when Xu Shohui rebelled, he joined him and became the secretary of his subordinate, Ni Wenjun. After that, he gained power through repeated military feats, and rose to the rank of marshal. Later, he defeated Ni, combined his military forces, and became independent. In 60, he killed Xu Shohui, proclaimed himself emperor, and founded the state of "Daihan." He made Jiangzhou (Jiujiang, Jiangxi Province) his capital and at one time brought Jiangxi, Hunan, Hubei, and western Anhui under his influence. He repeatedly fought against the Wu state of Zhu Yuanzhang (the ancestor of the Ming dynasty), which was then expanding its power with Nanjing as its base. However, he was defeated and killed in battle at Lake Poyang in 63.

[Noriko Taniguchi]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

中国、元(げん)末群雄の1人。沔陽(べんよう)（湖北省）の人。漁夫の子に生まれたが、読書をよくし、初め県の小役人となった。しかし性にあわず、1351年徐寿輝(じょじゅき)が反乱を起こすとそのもとに走り、彼の部将倪文俊(げいぶんしゅん)の書記役となった。その後しばしば戦功をたてて勢力を得、元帥に進み、のち倪を倒してその兵力をあわせると自立した。さらに60年には徐寿輝をも殺して自ら帝を称し、「大漢(だいかん)」国を建てた。彼は江州（江西省九江）に都して、一時は江西、湖南、湖北、安徽(あんき)西部を勢力下に入れ、当時南京(ナンキン)を本拠に勢力を拡大しつつあった朱元璋(しゅげんしょう)（明(みん)の太祖）の呉国と抗争を繰り返したが、63年鄱陽(はよう)湖の決戦に敗れて戦死した。

［谷口規矩雄］

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