Princess Waban

A Chinese princess who married a ruler of a different ethnic group for political reasons. A princess is the daughter of an emperor or a female member of the imperial family. Examples include Wang Zhaojun (Xiongnu), his wife and Princess Kaiyu (Wusun), Princess Yicheng (Turkish), Princess Wencheng (Tuban), Princess Ningguo, Princess Xiannan, and Princess Yamato (all Uighurs). The Heban princesses played a major role in spreading Chinese culture among different ethnic groups. The word qunchuy, which is a corrupted version of the word princess, is used in Turkic inscriptions to refer to the wives and concubines of Khagan and their daughters.

[Masao Mamoru]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

政略上、異民族の君長に嫁いだ中国の公主。公主とは天子の娘または皇族の女子をさす。王昭君（匈奴(きょうど)）、細君(さいくん)・解憂(かいゆう)公主（烏孫(うそん)）、義成公主（突厥(とっけつ)）、文成公主（吐蕃(とばん)）、寧国(ねいこく)公主・咸安(かんあん)公主・大和公主（以上ウイグル）などがある。和蕃公主は異民族の間へ中国文化を浸透させるうえで大きな役割を果たした。突厥碑文でハガンの妻妾(さいしょう)・娘などをクンチュイqunchuyと称するのは、公主の語がなまったものである。

［護　雅夫］

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