Liu Zhiyuan

The first emperor of the Five Dynasties Later Han Dynasty in China (reigned 947-948). His temple name was Gaozu. He was of the Turkic Shatuo tribe and initially served Li Siyuan (later Emperor Mingzong of the Later Tang Dynasty), but after he rescued Shi Jingtang (later Emperor Gaozu of the Later Jin Dynasty) from danger, he was transferred to his subordinate and achieved success. After the establishment of the Later Jin Dynasty, he controlled the core of the Imperial Guard and served as a governor in various regions, eventually becoming Hedong governor (ruled in Taiyuan, Shanxi Province). However, when the second emperor, Shu, ascended to the throne and the Khitan invasion began in earnest in 944, he predicted the defeat of the Later Jin Dynasty and ignored orders to defend the Khitan, instead working to preserve and strengthen his own power, and in 947, when the Later Jin Dynasty was destroyed by the Khitan, he ascended to the throne in Taiyuan. Furthermore, after failing to govern China due to fierce rebellion, he took advantage of the situation when the Khitan rebelled north, conquered the Central Plains, made Kaifang his capital, named the country Da Han, and changed his name to Kou, but died of illness after only one year in power.

[Tsuguo Takahashi]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

中国、五代後漢(こうかん)の初代皇帝（在位947～948）。廟号(びょうごう)は高祖。突厥沙陀(とっけつさだ)族の出身で、初め李嗣源(りしげん)（のちに後唐の明宗）に仕えたが、石敬瑭(せきけいとう)（のちに後晋(こうしん)の高祖）の危難を救い、その配下に移されて功をたて、後晋成立後は禁軍の中枢を掌握しつつ各地の節度使を歴任し、河東節度使（治所は山西省太原(たいげん)）となった。しかし第2代出帝が即位し、944年契丹(きったん)の本格的な侵攻が始まると、後晋の敗滅を予想して契丹防御の命令を無視し、自己勢力の保全強化に努め、947年契丹による後晋滅亡に応じて太原で即位した。さらに、激しい反抗にあって中国統治に失敗した契丹が北へ撤退するのに乗じ、中原(ちゅうげん)を制して首都を開封(かいほう)、国号を大漢と定め、名を暠(こう)と改めたが、在位わずか1年で病没した。

［高橋継男］

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