Pei Xingjian - Haikouken

A famous general of the early Tang Dynasty in China. A native of Wenxi, Jiangzhou (Wenxi County, Shanxi Province). He was recommended to the Ming Ching and became the Chancellor of Chang'an in 657. He opposed making Empress Wu Zetian the empress and was demoted to Chief Clerk of the Western Province Commandery, but he made an effort to manage the Western Regions and became the Grand Protector of Anxi in 665. He served as the Assistant Minister of Personnel from 669 to 679 and was praised for his ability in setting standards for official appointments. He was also skilled in military tactics, and was appointed Commander of the Left Two Armies of Taozhou in 676, after which he conquered the Tubo, and again engaged in the strategy of the Western Regions. In 679, he defeated the Western Turks and built the Saiyo Fortress in order to send back the prince of the Sassanid Empire who had fled to the Tang Dynasty. He was praised for his military prowess and was made Minister of Rites, Inspector, and Grand General of the Right Guard. Later, as the Grand Commander of the Dingxiang Road, he led over 300,000 troops to defeat the Eastern Turks, and in 681, he pacified them, but died of illness the following year. He was skilled in cursive writing and wrote a collection of 20 volumes of writings, but none of them are known to this day.

[Shuichi Kaneko]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

中国、初唐の名将。絳州聞喜(こうしゅうぶんき)（山西省聞喜県）の人。明経(めいけい)にあげられ、657年に長安令となった。則天武后(そくてんぶこう)を皇后とするのに反対し、西州都督(ととく)府長史に左遷されたが、西域(せいいき)経営に努め、665年安西大都護となった。669～679年吏部侍郎(りぶじろう)に在任し、官人登用に基準を定めて有能をうたわれた。用兵にも長じ、676年洮州(とうしゅう)道左二軍総管に任命されて吐蕃(とばん)を討伐して以来、ふたたび西域経略にも従事した。679年には唐に亡命したササン朝ペルシアの王子を送り返すに事寄せて、西突厥(とっけつ)を討って砕葉(さいよう)城を築き、文武兼資を称されて礼部尚書(しょうしょ)兼検校(けんこう)右衛大将軍となった。その後、定襄(ていじょう)道行軍大総管として兵30余万を率いて東突厥を討ち、681年これを平定したが翌年病没した。彼は草書に巧みで、文集20巻などの著作があったが、いまは伝わらない。

［金子修一］

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