Lee Wonho

The first emperor of the Western Xia Dynasty (reigned 1032-48). His temple name was Jingzong. Born as the eldest son of Emperor Taizong Li Deming, he was gifted with creativity, knowledgeable in military strategy and law, and also well versed in Buddhism. In 1032, after Li Deming's death, he succeeded to the throne of Xiping, changed his surname to Weiming, and called himself Wuzu (meaning emperor in the Western Xia language) to oppose the Song Dynasty. He renamed the state capital of Xingzhou to Xingqing Prefecture (Yinchuan City, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region), made it the political and military center, and named the state Da Xia. He aimed to advance into the Hexi region from an early stage, and occupied Guazhou, Shazhou, and Suzhou in succession, gaining control of the entire Hexi Corridor and solidifying the foundation of the Western Xia Dynasty. Not only was he a rare military hero, but he also excelled politically as a builder of a new nation and demonstrated his talent in cultural policy.

[Tatsuo Nishida]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

西夏国初代の皇帝（在位1032～48）。廟号(びょうごう)は景宗。太宗李徳明の長子として生まれ、創造の才に富み、兵法、法律に詳しく、仏学にも通じた。1032年、李徳明の死後、西平王の位を継ぐと、姓を嵬名(ぎめい)と改め、吾祖（西夏語で皇帝の意）と称し宋(そう)に対抗した。国都の興州を興慶府（寧夏(ねいか)回族自治区銀川市）と改め、政治、軍事の中心とし、国名を大夏とした。早くから河西地域への進出を目ざし、前後して瓜(か)州、沙(さ)州、粛(しゅく)州を占拠し、河西回廊全部を手中に収め、西夏国の基礎を固めた。軍事的にまれにみる英傑であるのみならず、政治のうえでも新興国家の建設者として優れ、文化政策にも有能な才幹を示した。

［西田龍雄］

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